On Friday, November 1, 2019, I watched the episode “Chapter Five: The Flea And The Acrobat” of season 1 of Stranger Things for a second time. In this segment, Chief Hopper breaks into the laboratory if you didn’t catch it at the beginning of this episode. Also, if you missed it, too, Lonnie Byers returns to handle Will’s funeral while he prepares to sue for accidential death. As well, Dustin figures out something is wrong with the magnetic field in Hawkins. Finally, Nancy, Jonathan, Lucas, and Mike are got up in fights. These are just some story lines, which caught my eye in this second go around of Stranger Things season one.

Before the famous Stranger Things intro has a chance to begin, we see a Chief Hopper breaking into the Hawkins Laboratory. Futhermore, he looks like a common criminal when he commits this illegal act. Essentially, he sneaks around around the laboratory before assaulting two guards.

Meantime, Lonnie Byers, Joyce’s ex, returns when Will Byer is about to be buried. During Lonnie’s return, Lonnie and Jonathan disscuss Joyce’s mental health. With that, Lonnie takes control of Will’s funeral arrangements.

During “Chapter Five: The Flea And The Acrobat,” the state continues to infringe on local jurisidiction. Deputy Callahan comments to Chief Hopper, saying, “Oh hey, they found Barbara’s car.” Also, deputy Powell adds, “Barbara Holland’s car. It seems she ran away after all. Staties found it last night at a bus station.” Further, deputy Callahan smiles, saying, “Funny right. They keep doing our job for us.” Finally, Chief Hopper replies, “Yeah, it’s funny.”

Afterward, deputy Callahan makes a comment to deputy Powell about Chief Hopper.

“Is he off his meds again?” Deputy Powell sighs and says, “He’s been spending too much time with Joyce Byers.”

During this segment, Lonnie wants to sue the Satler company for accidental death. “You know, it’s a shame what they done to this family. The Satler company. I went to the quarry on the way over here. I just wanted to look around, you know. I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t believe it. No warning signs, no fence, no nothing. Ought to he held accountable, if you ask me.”

Additionally, in this broadcast, Dustin realizes the earth’s magnetic field has been disrupted according to his compass.”You change the direction of a compass with a magnet. If there is the presence of a more powerful magnetic field than the needle deflects to that power. And then I remembered what Mr. Clark said, ‘The gate would have so much power.'” Apparently, the upside down is interfering with the earth’s magnetic field.

Meanwhile, Joyce catches on to Lonnie’s materialist ends when she finds a lawyer’s leaflet in Lonnie’s duffle bag. In a state of anger, she screams at Lonnie, saying, “You were here for the money, the money. Admit it! You weren’t here cause of Will. You never cared about him. You never did.” Immediately, Joyce orders Lonnie out of the house.

Interestingly, in one scene at the funeral, Lonnie Byers is carrying a gun in the glove compartment of his car. That being said, however, the US Supreme Court hadn’t resolved this issue of the right to carry a hand gun outside of the home during the 1980s. In fact, the court hadn’t resolved the issue of the right to have a hand gun at home, which would be resolved by Heller v. DC in 2008. Nevertheless, Lonnie Byer was running around with a hand gun in his car when most states had banned hand guns.

“Chapter Five: The Flea And The Acrobat” sees Nancy target practice as she discusses her messed up family with Jonathan. “I don’t think my parents ever loved each other. My mom was young. My dad was older, but he had a cushy job, money. He came from a good family. So they bought a nice house at the end of the cul de sac. And started their nuclear family. Yeah, screw that.”

However, Jonathan takes the opportunity at this moment to chat with Nancy. He explains to Nancy, saying, “Hey, don’t take it so personal. I don’t like most people.”

Consequently, Nancy starts an argument with Jonathan. “I was thinking, Jonathan Byers, maybe he’s not the pretentious creep everyone says he is.”

As a result of Nancy’s comment, Jonathan has a comment for Nancy. “I was just thinking you were ok. I was thinking Nancy Wheeler. She is not just another suburban gIrl who thinks she’s rebelling by doing exactly what every other suburban girl does, until that phase passes and she marries and they marry some boring one time jock who works sales, and they live out their perfectly boring life at the end of the cul de sac. Exactly like their parents who they thought were so depressing. But now, hey, i get it.”

Meanwhile, Lucas figures out Eleven is interfering with the magnetic field during this airing. “It’s not a magnet. She’s been acting weirder than normal. If she can slam doors with her mind, she can definitely screw up a compass.”

Moreover, Lucas confronts Mike with this fact. Lucas yells at Mike, saying, “Screw you Mike. You’re blind cause you like that a girl is not grossed out by you. But wake up man, wake the hell up!… She’s the monster?” However, Mike won’t accept the truth and begins to fight with Lucas.

Toward the end of this episode, Chief Hopper finds an electronic bug in his home.

“They bugged my place. They put a microphone in the light,” despartely cries Hopper, “because I am on to them. And they know it. I thought they might be watching you too. I don’t know. The CIA, the NSA, the Department Of Energy. I don’t know.”

Lastly, Chief Hopper tells Joyce about the fake Will Byers body. “I went to the morgue last night, Joyce. It wasn’t him. Will’s body was a fake.”

In retrospect, I enjoyed this broadcast. I enjoyed watching Chief Hopper break into the Hawkins Laboratory like a common criminal. Also, I like the part where a Lonnie Byers returns to handle Will’s funeral while he prepares to sue for accidential death. Addditionally, Dustin, once again, proves to be the smart one of the Stranger Things kids when he figures out something is wrong with the magnetic field in Hawkins. Lastly, Lucas looks to have some brains when he puts the dots together about Eleven. This was an enjoyable second go around of Stranger Things season one.