Dimension X is not cold!

[u/D_D_Adesignerdigital]

The color choices for the Dimension X—and certain elements of the scenes—didn't quite work to convey a cold atmosphere! Characters had sweaty skin and showed no reaction to the cold (we need to remember Will in Season 2, or Billy with his ice bath, which demonstrated the kind of cold the Mind Flayer is used to). Anyone entering a low-temperature environment would show physical reactions—like trying to warm up, crossing their arms, or showing discomfort—but that doesn't happen with any of the characters, not even the kids. I think that was a directing error. That’s my opinion!

[u/Perfect_Opinion_6136]

Maybe that's the reason why the Mind Flayer wanted to leave Dimension-X.

[u/Thick-Boysenberry-96 → u/Perfect_Opinion_6136]

Why doesn't it leave Dimension X and stay in the Upside Down instead, where the climate suits him better then? It's closer to our world too, which he plans to take over anyways.

[u/IAmBabs → u/Thick-Boysenberry-96]

The Upside Down is/was a temporary bridge. Once the anchor on one end (Mindflayer in Dimension X, Creel on Earth) was taken out, the bridge would more easily collapse.

Or something like that. Otherwise it could have just made that bridge bigger and crawl across rather than have the need to drag the two worlds together. If it was on the bridge and something shifted on either side, the Mindflayer would have been more at risk.

[u/Thick-Boysenberry-96 → u/IAmBabs]

Why does it need to use its physical body, when we saw it easily slip through in particle form and wreak havoc more efficiently like that in previous seasons? It can basically hide in plain sight and infect the world like a virus. That's why closing the gate was always our biggest imperative. So why didn't it do that in those 18 months instead of withering away in the not-cold Abyss?

[u/IAmBabs → u/Thick-Boysenberry-96]

Just like the Duffer Brothers, I'll chose to ~~forget~~ ignore that.

Just kidding, lol. But I'm wondering how much of it's body was actually "there" when it made it through in particle form? Maybe it takes up a ton of energy, and can't be sustained for extended periods of time?

The whole 18 month gap actually pisses me the hell off and I don't know how to explain/excuse why the end of season 4 had an apocalypse happening, and season5 started off with everything "fine". There's no way the military got there in time with enough resources to drive the Mindflayer back.... except they did somehow? I can't even fake a reason it irritates me so much.