SeasonΙΙ
Can the upside-down unleash another monster hit?
Stranger Things is BACK! The Duffer Brothers cult
phenomenon returned for binge worthy viewing just in time for Halloween. The Halloween theme runs
right through the season. Complete with Rotting
pumpkins, trick or treating
and an evil supernatural entity
spooking kids… Netflix and chill anybody?
E1: MAD MAX
It
chokes me to say it, but the series starts with a less of a bang and more of a
whimper. The first scene semi-introduces a rag tag bunch of Cindy Lauper wannabes in a car chase,
who are these people?. After a quick flash of a familiar looking numerical
tattoo and its back to the, surprisingly sleepy, town of Hawkins. The old gang is back together
and as charming as ever. The real jewel of this show really is the younger
cast. They're adorkably charming
and perfectly cast.
The
first episode plays the retro homage perfectly with a trip to the arcade. Here The magic of the 80’s is in full force,
We see the young nerds saving up their pennies only to discover their high
score has been beaten! Who is the mysterious mad max tormenting the gang? The goonies vibe is strong as the
young cast adds simple preteen melodrama to the mix, John Hughes would be proud. New characters are introduced this
season via Dacre Montgomery and, the new token girl of the group, Sadie Sinks' Max. Who is the new douchebag duo? Not
much is revelead. Yet. But where is the suspense? Everything is pretty normal, too normal!
There is no real mention of what happened. Even Winona Ryder's Joyce is pretty sane… which is pretty
unnerving in its self. But I wanted something more, strange, to happen.
Will,
played by Noah Schnapp, is at the heart of the, somewhat limited, supernatural
offerings. He keeps seeing visions of the upside down and a new war of the
worlds style threat is teased. His ordeal from series one is lightly skimmed
over as he regularly gets check ups from a new, apparently, friendly doctor.
Will, is no longer just speaking through fairy lights he’s the central guy.
But, is he able to become a leading man? He definitely has the acting chops so
we'll see kid.
There
aren’t many ‘Stranger Things’ happening in episode one, we are spoon-feed plot
point. But it’s a happy return to the
eighties romp of preteen gang adventure we all loved before, even if a
little slow on the strange. But of course in true Netflix fashion, episode one
ends with a juicy hook… Oh yes, she's
back!
E2: TRICK OR TREAT,
FREAK
Round
two and back to where season one left off. Eleven is alive! Sporting a wavy new
hairdo a la Beverly Marsh from
It. As we all guessed she didn’t perish with the demogorgon but instead popped back to upside down before escaping
through a goo hole and to the woods. Episode two revolves around Elevens
return. She’s alive and well and with Hopper grumpily eating Eggos, she even
manages to spook a laugh in her little ghost outfit, is Eleven now funny? But
the lure of Halloween brings up the animosity of forced hiding. While Eleven is
locked up the rest of the gang are on full on nerd patrol, complete with ghost buster outfits.
This episode is perfect
for Halloween with a fun burst of fan-boy fun as the younger crew goes trick or
treating and Nancy gets white girl
wasted with a poor Steven. The show has undercurrents of a justice for
Barb subplot, yet to be revealed. Nancy is struggling with her part in Barbs
death and drunkenly exclaims, “I can’t keep doing this”… I agree with Nancy but
less about Barb and more around the frustrating fact that no one in Hawkins
truly acknowledges season ones events!… I wouldn’t let Will trick or treat
alone either after season one!
E3: POLLYWOG
When there’s something
strange in your neighborhood… Dustin can surely be enthusiastically found. Gaten Matarazzo who stars as the
loveable goof and truly is a star of the series. Matarazzo plays the adorable
dweeb superbly and would fit perfectly into a weird science or goonies remake! Episode 3 centers on Dustin and
his new pet monster d’Artagnan (Dart). A
slightly gross slug thing complete with generic cute monster growls. Dustin
finds Dart in the trash and of course takes him home for nougat. But cute Dart
is not. Netflix difintly missed a trick with cute monster merchandise
potential.The homage to eighties awesomeness is strong with this one. Gremlins
instantly comes to mind as Dustin breaks the cardinal rule of feeding the
little slimer.
The
plot thickens throughout the episode with Eleven breaking free and showing herself to be the jealous type,
watch out Mike and Max. Nancy can’t take the pressure of
her involvement in Barbs disappearance.
But whys is the phone bugged hmm? The adults even get some of the spotlight too
as Joyce’s frantic mama routine finally comes back and Sean Astin delivers a spookily sharp monologue to inspire Will,
even if Mr Baldo did reek of Pennywise copyright claims.
Stranger Things Season 2
available now onNetflix!
