⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Creators (Platform): The Duffer Brothers (Netflix)
Publisher (Release): Netflix (2017)
Length: 9 episodes
Genres: Young Adult; Fantasy; Sci-Fi; Horror; Action
❗️Disclaimers❗️:
some violent scenes and horror themes
this review contains low-level spoilers
recommendation: must watch
👍 Pros 👍
A variety of plots create a near-perfect puzzle
The plentiful cast never overburdens the show, with stellar performances and ample time for each character
Visually and audibly stunning
👎 Cons 👎
The puzzle stumbles a little to begin with
Eleven’s story, in the beginning, feels side-lined
👀 Synopsis & Trailer 👀
In the fall of 1984, Will Byers is faced with the aftermath of season one as a bigger, badder enemy sets its eyes on Hawkins from The Upside Down. As each of our heroes tackle their own journeys, the fractured group will need to set aside their differences and come together if they ever hope to survive.
🛎️ Introduction 🛎️
After the near perfection of season one, season two of Stranger Things had the difficult task of capturing lightning twice and, while not as tight as its origins, season two is nine episodes of tantalising thrills.
🧩 Plots 🧩
We return to Hawkins, Indiana, one year after the events of season one. With newcomers and a fractured group, Stranger Things’ second adventure focuses on consequences and identity, fitting its coming-of-age themes like a glove. Branching, personal plots are a little haphazard in their progression before coming together to form the bigger picture. It’s not seamless, with time spent also building foundations of future stories, but it is effective.
We all need someone who has our backs
A slow start gets to work on the overall story, gaining traction with some nifty little episode cliffhangers that guarantee the viewer will throw themselves into the next episode. Balanced science fiction and fantasy elements are grounded with more personal, coming-of-age ones, bolstered by an eighties electronic soundtrack and vivid colours.
A Phoenix always rises
The finale itself is a satisfying spectacle of action and heart-warming closure. All those dangling story threads are smartly tied, with just enough sticking out to justify a third season.
Stranger Things’ second adventure focuses on consequences and identity
🎭 Characters 🎭
Despite being arguably the main, main character, Eleven (played with heart-breaking innocence by Millie Bobby Brown) is a little bit side-lined. It’s not a huge negative, but I was surprised by how long it took for her story to get up and running.
Eleven’s sense of self is shattered
In the meantime, sharper focus is placed on Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) as they face a new threat from the alternate dimension The Upside Down, along with newcomers Max (Sadie Sink) and, hot bad boy alert, Billy (Dacre Montgomery).
Eleven, however, is not alone
Relationships between just about everyone are kinetic and brought to life by a passionate cast. Even poor Lucas, who I came this close to hating in season one didn’t annoy me half as much, and I give props to the creators for attempting to fix his darker outlook by trying to make his inclusion a bit more organic.
…they face a new threat from the alternate dimension The Upside Down…
🧠 Final Thoughts 🧠
Overall, Stranger Things 2 honours its legacy with a justified and heartfelt story, a cast of fantastic performances, and a world with a season finale that goes big, blasting the roof of the show’s lore wide open. The sheer passion of the cast and crew involved screams ‘we have more to tell’, and, I, for one, will be there to watch and listen as they play in their neon 80s sci-fi sandbox.
The Phoenix Project 
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