Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 2: The 5 best moments from The Mall Rats

One pair breaks up, one trio joins. Relationship problems abound.

First of all, Stranger Things does an amazing job of bringing back the old phones. Not only does Eleven have a massive brick phone, but Billy actually uses a phone booth, and Mike’s mom listens in on a call he has with Eleven. Speaking of that.

2. Puppy love

The kids have obviously aged. Along with that comes awkward, adolescent courtship. Mike is avoiding Eleven because he’s scared of Hopper, and Eleven senses something is wrong. So she goes to see Max while Mike gets advice from Lucas.

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Long story short, young boys have no clue, and young girls develop much more quickly in this realm. Put another way, Lucas tells Mike he’s in deep s**t for lying, and Max decides to show Eleven why boys are not necessary every day. Max says boyfriend’s lie all the time.

Even at such a young age, Max knows she has control of the relationship seesaw, and it doesn’t move without her permission. Lucas has been dumped five times and has groveled back to her each time. Based on his advice to Mike, he has won Max back each time – he believes it “fixes” everything, even though it doesn’t – with shiny, expensive gifts.

The most amazing result of this small separation is when all the kids end up at the Starcourt Mall. The boys to buy a gift, and the girls to have fun. So it’s appropriate that “Material Girl” blares while the girls go through not one, but TWO wardrobe changing montages, replete with horrible styles, huge belts, super loud colors, and one of those hideous fashion shoot booths. Total throwback.

3. Hiring a translator

Dustin tells Steve about intercepting a secret, Russian communication, and his plan to get all the girls after being declared a hero. Problem: neither understands Russian. To the rescue is Robin, who proves their ignorance when they mistake her Pig Latin for Russian. Eventually Robin deciphers the following:

The week is long
The silver cat feeds
When blue meets
Yellow in the west

What in the world does that mean?