The first season of Stranger Things played out like an eight hour movie, and while this sequel follows a similar structure, it feels even more cinematic than the first. Like with many sequels, the budget is bigger and the stakes are higher. We see familiar faces in different situations, and meet some entirely new characters. But unlike most sequels, Stranger Things 2 is just as good as the original.
While the driving force behind season one was the disappearance of Will Byers, we didn’t get to see him in very many scenes. This time around Will is a major player, as his trauma from his time spent in the Upside Down ends up being a driving force in this season’s action. Since escaping the dark alternate dimension, Will has been haunted by flashes of the Upside Down that can seemingly happen at any moment, taking away his sense of safety.
Mike also hasn’t been himself since last season’s finale, as he is still desperately trying to get in contact with Eleven. Nancy, Mike’s sister, is still dealing with the guilt she feels for her friend Barb’s death. Many of the main characters are unable to follow the government’s orders and forget about what happened to them the previous year. While some characters, like Steve Harrington, are doing their best to move on with their lives, they are doing this by ignoring the elephant in the room.
However, last season’s events can only be ignored for so long, as after Will follows the advice of his mom’s good natured boyfriend Bob, the Shadow Monster that has been haunting Will takes over his body. This was a really interesting direction to take Will’s character, as it not only paid homage to possession movies like The Exorcist, but also gave actor Noah Schnapp a much needed chance to shine. Schnapp was able to expertly switch from timid, to horrified, to creepy. It’s almost as if he was making up for his lost time in season 1.
One of the other references to classic horror can be found in Dustin’s storyline. Similar to the plot of Gremlins, he takes in a strange new pet that quickly turns dangerous. While it was clear from the outset that things weren’t going to end well for Dustin’s relationship with his “demodog” Dart, it was great to see his character show courage at the end of the season when he and Dart meet for the last time.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see Dustin team up with Steve, when at first it seemed like the likable jock was going to be left out of the action. As the two actors discussed on the after show Beyond Stranger Things, the two both went through heartbreak before they came together, and used their shared experience to bond despite their completely different personalities.
As I mentioned in my review of episode 1, the new characters in the show had me a bit worried at the start. However, all of them won me over by the end of the season. The love triangle between Dustin, Max and Lucas did not feel as forced as I thought it would, and bringing in an outsider to the party made for a compelling conflict. Mike’s reaction to Max’s inclusion in the group made sense based off where his head was at after Eleven’s disappearance, but it was a bit of a bummer to see Mike act like such a downer for the bulk of the season. Thankfully he becomes the Mike we know and love by the finale.
Bob, Joyce Byers’ boyfriend, honestly seemed too nice to be real at the start of the season. Part of me was expecting his dopey personality to be just a front, as if he was actually a sinister government agent. Fortunately this didn’t happen, and he turned out to be just a nerdy guy who ended up playing a big role in saving the day. He was likely the most expendable protagonist in the show, so his death, while sad, wasn’t a shocker.
The marketing for this season was pretty fantastic. In the week leading up to the show’s release, Netflix released a few clips teasing Eleven’s reunion with the party, making me think it would happen early on in the season. However, we had to wait until the penultimate episode to see her return—and it was worth it. Building up her relationship with Hopper was also amazing, as seeing Hopper become a father figure again has been one of the most emotionally satisfying parts of the show so far.
Now that the gang is all back together, and the gate to the Upside Down is closed for now, the season mercifully ended with not too many loose ends. However, we’re left unsure about a few key points of interest, like Nancy’s relationship and Will’s general well being. Overall, I loved the season's conclusion, as having to wait over a year for new episodes after a cliffhanger ending would just be cruel.
What did you think about Stranger Things 2? How does it compare to season one? Comment below.