We’ve seen the terrifying nightmare that the
Demogorgon brought in season one. Now, something larger and more menacing
haunts the quiet town of Hawkins in this season two of Stranger Things.
Stranger
Things returned for its second season last October 27. It is a
science fiction supernatural horror created, written, directed, and co-produced
by The Duffer Brothers. It stars Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim
Hopper), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven / El / Jane
Ives), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Hederson), Caleb
McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Maxine Mayfield / Max / Madmax),
Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve
Harrington), Dacre Montgomery (Billy Hargrove), Linnea Berthelson (Kali /
Eight), Paul Reiser (Sam Owens), and Sean Astin (Bob Newby). The show was
produced by 21 Laps Entertainment and
Monkey Massacre Productions, and was
distributed by Netflix.
(SPOILER ALERT!!!)
(You’ve been warned!)
The second season is set a year after the
events of season one. As the group thought they had escaped the bloodlust of
the Demogorgon and hellish realm called Upside-Down, a new terror appears in
the shadow, getting ready to deliver its plan and unleash a new danger unto
Hawkins.
Stranger
Things still gave that 80’s nostalgic vibes, not just because
of the settings, but also with all those pop culture references, easter eggs,
and allusions. It really made me wonder what it would be like for me if I was
born and grew up on that era.
Season two was amazing. Every time I hear that
opening theme music, I get more excited than I should. I love how this season was
written and made. New and bigger problems appeared. Every main character had enough
screen time, story, and development. The dark atmosphere of a horror movie, an
enjoyable amount of humor, mysteries that had us wondering, emotional moments,
and a pinch of romance that was just enough to spice up the show to give us the
taste that I craved for. I don’t know which season I like better, but I’m
pretty darn sure that I don’t like this one any less.
This season went deeper on who Eleven really
is. We got to see more about where she came from and what happened about her
biological mother. Brown, as she did in the previous season, was amazing.
Eleven, as well as Brown, will continue being loved by the fans with the way
she delivered. I also did love her “dark” look, and that Darth Vader tribute
when she used that forced choke, one word… “Bitchin’”.
We already knew from season one that Jim Hopper
is probably the most reliable cop in Hawkins, always thinking outside the box,
constantly investigating and will punch people to get to the truth, but in this
season, Harbour squeezed some of that fatherly side to show Jim’s relationship
with Eleven, as he showed genuine concern towards her, being strict to her, and
giving her a home. Harbour still was simply excellent in his performance as Jim
Hopper.
Joyce Byers on the other hand was the same
Joyce we saw from last season, and still the Joyce that we love. She was still
the ever protective and loving mother. I enjoyed Ryder’s whole performance, especially
whenever Joyce loses control of her emotions or turning into this “crazy mother”
whenever his son is in trouble then finds a new way to redecorate their home. I
do wonder what will happen to the Byers house next season.
Steve Harrington got the best character
development. In season one, he started off as somewhat a jerk, but at the end of
that season he started to redeem himself. In season two, he matured more. He was
a good boyfriend to Nancy. He was there for her, and even handled their
breakup, decently. He was even a better bigger brother than Jonathan. While
Jonathan and Nancy was away doing their own mission, Steve was babysitting and
looking after the kids, always ready to swing his bat right on those Demo-dogs’
faces. His relationship with Dustin should be given a good notice, since it
seemed like Dustin doesn’t have an older brother or a father-figure to look up
to. Giving the kid some advice and even driving him to the Snow Ball was one of
the reasons why he is one of the fan-favorites. Keery really did a superb job
in portraying his role. Too bad for him, he got his ass kicked and his face
beaten on both seasons, but that Farra Fawcett-sprayed hairstyle though, still
keeping that hair lookin’ great.
We were also introduced to new characters
including Bob Newby, Max Mayfield, and Billy Hargrove. A new set of faces I
hope to see more next season.
Sink and Montgomery did fit it perfectly in
the show. Sink gave Max the right chemistry to mix pretty well with the main
group. And Montgomery brought out that tough guy, big bully, and alpha male
attitude, and placed it on Billy. The cliché bad boy needed to antagonize
Steve.
Then there was Bob Newby, superhero. Astin,
another actor who started a career in the 80’s, was another reason why this
season became amazing. He made Bob easier to be loved by the viewers. The only
thing you would see interesting in his character at first was him playing this
role, but then the more the show progresses and the more we see Bob, the more
we would start to like him. And after finding out how useful Bob was with his
puzzle-solving skill cleverness and how he still was there for the Byers
despite not being fully aware of the situation, there is not much to hate about
this character. But his death was pretty obvious and expected. The very moment
he accepted the task to turn the electricity back on, I already knew there was
a great chance he wouldn’t make it to season 3. We’ll miss you, Bob.
Now let’s talk about the baddies, the
monsters. A single Demogorgon is terrifying enough, but how about we take the
same creature, shrink and weaken it just a bit, and multiply it into an army.
Well, that’s how they came up with the Demo-dogs. I think adding these Demo-dogs
was a good idea to keep the party busy and running around. Something to add
some action and more thrill to the story. And for the reason that I love dogs,
I did find Dart a bit adorable, most specifically his last moment with Dustin,
but he did still eat the cat.
The Mind Flayer. I find this monster more
frightening than the Demogorgons. We are yet to learn more about this
malevolent entity that looms over Hawkins, but as of now, we know that this
being is powerful as it can control and host a human and commands the Demo-dogs.
It does remind me of Stephen King’s The
Mist and H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of
Cthulhu with the way it appears as a shadow in the clouds and its sheer
titanic size. If you have a fear of looking outside your window and seeing something
colossal blocking the sky, then The Mind Flayer is the nightmare for you.
The climactic part of the season was
astounding. The Mind Flayer being exorcised out of Will, Steve’s group fighting
Billy then diverting the monsters attention to them, and Eleven closing the
gate. Every part of it was a thrill.
But the scene that I really waited for was
Eleven and Mike’s reunion. The very moment Mike saw Eleven at the Byers house,
I literally clapped my hands. And I admire these young actors, Brown and
Wolfhard, for their chemistry in the show and the way they can deliver it, plus
their Snow Ball Dance scene was perfect and emotional.
Overall, it was a fantastic and an amazing
season. A round of applause to The Duffer Brothers and of course the cast on
how they made and delivered the show. I enjoyed the whole story and how the
characters grow and develop. And just like how I was last year, I can’t wait
and I’m really for the next season.
Rating: 9.8/10
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