History Recap / StrangerThingsS3E2ChapterTwoTheMallRats

* CreepyBasement: The old lady with the fertilizer problem leads Nancy and Jonathan into a poorly lit basement.

* DoubleStandard: In-Universe. Billy verbally abuses a fat boy in public? Okay, cool, he's still cool and attractive. Heather calls for a boy to stop dunking, Karen's pool friends lament her as an annoying ValleyGirl with [[CuteButCacophonic a voice that is "nails on a chalkboard"]].

* OrificeInvasion: During the flashback to Billy's encounter in the warehouse, a tentacle attaches itself to Billy's face, seemingly shoving something down his throat.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "Boyfriends lie. All. The. Time."

* WhamLine[=/=]WhamShot: Dustin and Steve realize the Russians are in Hawkins. The Russian general's henchman is at the restaurant where Hopper was supposed to have a "not-date" with Joyce.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: So Hopper was worried about Mike and Eleven's relationship. Too bad his interference drove Eleven straight to Max, who gets her to reject Hopper's rules, go to the mall and use her powers in public, and possibly jeopardize Hopper's deal with Dr. Owens.

* LandlineEavesdropping: Mike's mother, who has previously shown lacking a sense of privacy towards Nancy, decides to listen in to Mike and Eleven's phone call. She involuntarily reveals herself when she cannot suppress her shock over Mike lying about his grandma being terminally ill.

* ObnoxiousEntitledHousewife: Karen's pool friends, members of Billy's fan club, display both [[FemaleMisogynist internalized misogyny]] and GossipyHen traits as they criticize Heather for her voice as she scolds a boy for dunking in the pool (despite the fact the object of their lust cruelly scolded a boy for his weight in public for running around the pool before). It also must be said all four women are housewives with not much to do in the summer but check out teenage lifeguards.

* WomensMysteries:
** Nancy uses this as a means to get time away from running errands to explore the story about the rats by mentioning to Tom that she needs to go to the doctor for "girl troubles". He nearly chokes on his coffee.
** During the ShoppingMontage, the boys run into the front entrance of a lingerie shop featuring some skimpy and bright colored articles that either freak them out or intrigue them before running.

* {{Irony}}: So Hopper was worried about Mike and Eleven’s relationship. Too bad his interference drove Eleven straight to Max, who gets her to reject Hopper’s rules, go to the mall and use her powers in public, and possibly jeopardize Hopper’s deal with Dr. Owens. [[SarcasmMode Way to go, Hopper!]]

* DeusExScuseMe: Nancy calls Jonathan away just ''seconds'' before the rat explodes into material which then makes it way to the warehouse.

* MissedHimByThatMuch: Nancy calls Jonathan away just ''seconds'' before the rat explodes into material which then makes it way to the warehouse.

* RewatchBonus: Grigori (the Russian Terminator) walks out of the Mayor's office, hinting at their connection.

** During the ShoppingMontage, the boys run into the front entrance of a lingerie shop featuring some skimpy and bright colored articles that either freak them out or intrigue them before running.

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: The Mind Flayer approaches Billy as a doppelganger of himself accompanied by a horde of shadowy people.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Grigori (the Russian Terminator) walks out of the Mayor's office.

* GirlPosse: Erica has a crew of girls her age behind her as she demands another free sample of Peppermint Stick flavor from Robin.

* RewatchBonus: Grigori (the Russian Terminator) walks out of the Mayor's office.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: While Hopper's heart was in the right place with setting "boundaries", his actions lead to Mike and Eleven breaking up. They were perfectly happy and Hop ruined it.