STRANGER THINGS SEASON 2 REVIEW: EP 1-3

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!

The episode flips back and forth to Elevens journey to her and Hoppers struggling father-daughter status. The state of her hair is the only indicator of where each scene fits into continuity. Eleven is sadly close to becoming a sleeper character; even the nosebleeds are few and far between for now. Just as Halloween comes to an end in Hawkins, finally!, something strange happens… Who you gonna call?

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.

And inspire it does. As Dart grows bigger and escapes the gang, Will notices something eerily familiar about the slimy little bugger. He decides to take on the monsters haunting his visions but do they back down? As usual find out next episode where the slime gets thicker and Stranger Things Season 2 excitedly picks up the pace…

Stranger Things Season 2 

available now onNetflix!