*SPOILER WARNING*
Created by The Duffer Brothers
Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Cara Buono
The Plot: Picking up roughly a year later after the events of Season 1, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) now deals with an entity from the alternate dimension trying to establish a connection of the Upside Down inside of him. So, the group has to prevent this connection from escalating for the many dangers of the Upside Down is coming to their own reality.
Now, of course, I was very excited to finally see the next season of Stranger Things because I was a big fan of the last season. It still told a cohesive story, but when it ended on a cliffhanger I was so engaged in its overall story that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. So for that reason it just proves to show that the series wasn't just a fun 80s throwback, but that there was a compelling story involved that made me want to watch what happened immediately after the first season ended. So after finally watching the entirety of Stranger Things 2 I can finally say that its successor didn't disappoint because I thoroughly enjoyed watching this season from beginning to end.
Like the first season, this was the case where all episodes put together felt like the 8/9 hour movie I just didn't want to end. Another easy binge where all episodes were paced so well that mid season it didn't feel like any episodes dragged and that because of the great length of the entire season I was never taken out of it. I felt every episode had a great level importance and that there was always a fine balance of drama and humor. I also can't believe how enraptured I was in the more dramatic moments because even though this is a very fun and at times a funny show, I was beyond moved when there was dramatic tension between these characters.
And since the tension felt so real that's because the cast that's lined-up for this show is incredibly second to none. I can't praise enough every original cast member who returned for this season and that they utilized every ounce of effort to make these characters feel so damn alive. Every performance was flawless, but two that really stuck out to me were Millie Bobby Brown's performance as Eleven, who is slowly becoming one of my all time favorite characters just in all of pop culture.
I loved how in this season that she becomes progressively more humanized as she was discovering more about herself and her past. The episode where she visits her mother really got under my skin and I love that this added backstory can make us as viewers rethink the previous season. That also proves to show that usually the best sequels are the ones that make you rethink the original since a reveal in the sequel changes the context of the overall story. A very thought-provoking aspect and that's why I adore this show so much. There's also something else about Eleven's backstory that I want to get back to, so hold that thought.
More about the cast. Noah Schnapp I thought was incredible and definitely agree that his performance is truly Emmy worthy. He truly captures the pain and agony of the character dealing with these new horrific scenarios. I was completely on board with the fate of his character because of how he was able to showcase his performance. It was also really awesome this time around that the entity corrupting him opened up so much more about what the Upside Down entailed. And that there are so many questions involved and where things could end up next.
I also loved seeing more of the fatherly side of Hopper, played once again brilliantly by David Harbour. It was just awesome to see another side of the character we hadn't seen before other than the stern police chief. I was so compelled to see how he did whatever it took for him to raise and protect Eleven and that it all related back to the affections he had to his late daughter. He wanted the best for Eleven to keep her safe.
One of the scenes that stuck out to me was with the two arguing when Hopper finds out she left the cabin. A beyond intense scene. The tension between the characters worked so well because of how the performances brought me into the scene, but the reasoning behind both characters in this moment felt so relatable on both sides. Like they don't make things one sided and I was able to gain a level of empathy for both characters.
Winona Ryder is also once again really good as Joyce Byers with encapsulating such a very believable role as Will's mother. Also, not to mention this time around the inclusion of her new boyfriend Bob played by the newest addition to the cast Sean Astin. I, of course, love Sean Astin, but he brings such a great lovable personality to this character. He called for great comic relief, but it was also great to have him bring another nuance of an intellectual who's also very tech savvy.
He was able to serve a purpose for the story and team up with these characters well, so it really did hit me to eventually see his character be killed off. I know there was probably that intention because the show wants to lead you more into focusing on the bond between Hopper and Joyce and that there might be a romance there. But, Bob never felt like an afterthought and was a very likable character in the grand scheme of things and for the context of the story the fate of his character was appropriate.
Speaking of new characters I also really loved the addition of Max played by Sadie Sink who I thought did a great job with her role. She once again gives a performance that like the other cast members felt so rich with emotion and very believable. I mean this backstory is an absolute gut punch with facing the abuse from her brother. I'm so glad a character like her was someone else to root for, but also a welcome addition to the gang and that the tomboyish personality was something new for the show. It was also fun to see her character play off of the rest of the cast members especially Dustin and Lucas in regards to how they're starting to crush for girls in their early teen years. A very nice personal touch.
Max's brother Billy was obviously a character you rooted against, but could understand his motivations, which made him a very believable antagonist. Dacre Montgomery does a spectacular job portraying this character and it was really interesting to see him create tension with Steve's character, once again played greatly by Joe Keery. Steve's redemption arc just continues to escalate in this season and it was so refreshing to actually feel something for the character where this time around he cares about the safety of the gang and even giving girl advice to Dustin, which I thought was another nice touch. It did get under my skin to see Billy beating Steve to a pulp, but it was good to see Steve make it out fine in this season and as for Billy who knows if he'll be redeemable. I don't see it happening personally, but it would be quite shocking otherwise.
Gaten Matarazzo is once again fun as Dustin as is Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas who I'm so glad both had a little more time to shine than in the last season. It was cool to see more of their homelives and with especially Dustin finding the miniscule creature he calls Dart, which, oh man, caused a whole lot of trouble, didn't it? Also, rest in peace, Muse.
Also, to see what they did with Mike played once again fantastically by Finn Wolfhard facing difficulties in life without Eleven was a very emotionally resonating arc and to see the two finally reunite was nothing short of uplifting. I can't tell you how amazing it is to have characters in a film or show that have convincing story arcs and motivations. It's the idea that writers actually take their time and put in the effort to give us characters that we can fully understand in a show that may only come off as fun nostalgia. It's truly something more.
The 80s aesthetic and the sci-fi element are an added bonus, but a story to engage in with layered characters are purely the reasons why this show has become a favorite of mine. Why else would I want to stay up till 1 or 2 in the morning to find out what happens in the next episode? It's because, to me, the show is just that good for handling story by raising the stakes compared to last season and locking into the emotion, for these characters are challenged.
Speaking of characters who are challenged, there was an episode in particular, where Eleven is trying to find herself when joining a gang with one of the members being a science experiment like her at Brenner's lab. It was episode 7 and this was an episode that from what I understand divided a lot of people and although I can't speak for most, I can honestly say that for myself that I loved the episode mainly because of Eleven.
She's still on this journey of finding purpose for herself and although the gang is full of hooligans, I thought the reasoning for the gang to commit these crimes made sense in the long-run. I like that they weren't developed as mindless criminals, but for them to have revenge on people who wronged them added great tension. Eight was an interesting little character that I'm interested to see how she'll be incorporated in the future, but to see how she ended up on this strange path of crime despite all that she'd been through added so much to her character. People may see this episode as a detour and hate it for that reason and because the characters they introduce aren't good enough. I saw it as being a great way to add more to the story as well as adding more to the development of Eleven's character.
For this season to add a lot more stakes with crazy plot points such as an entity corrupting Will's consciousness and the creation of a Demigorgon army, aka Demidogs, I can't deny and say this season wasn't on par with last season. I mean not only was the season in its entirety written with a lot of great ideas for events to go along with solid character depth, but the suspense and intensity in its execution made the season truly the best it could've been. There truly was not a single aspect, episode, or moment of Stranger Things 2 that I disliked. I was entertained and moved from beginning to end and because of that this season worked for me in every way.
I hope you enjoyed this recent season as much I did and if you did read this review without having seen it, I'm sorry you were spoiled, but do yourself a favor and go watch it! I'm very excited to watch this season again and even more excited for the future in store. Loved that there was some closure with this season and nothing got to set-up-y for a shared universe. It was very cohesive, but still gives a little idea about where the next season could go. All and all I really loved this season.
Stay tuned for more reviews soon. Life's been a little crazy lately, but I'm alright and still have plans in store for this blog. I will still continue my Star Wars review series before The Last Jedi. I have Rogue One up next.
As for new releases I'll tackle those reviews as often as I can. Life's been a little busy lately, but I do want to review Justice League this weekend and Thor even though I haven't had the chance to see it yet. But please keep your eyes peeled and thank you so much for sticking by me.
For more updates be sure to follow me in the links below as well as a link to my review of Stranger Things Season 1:
Thank you for taking the time to read this review and as always see some great freakin entertainment!
Take care. :-)
Created by The Duffer Brothers
Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Cara Buono
The Plot: Picking up roughly a year later after the events of Season 1, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) now deals with an entity from the alternate dimension trying to establish a connection of the Upside Down inside of him. So, the group has to prevent this connection from escalating for the many dangers of the Upside Down is coming to their own reality.
Now, of course, I was very excited to finally see the next season of Stranger Things because I was a big fan of the last season. It still told a cohesive story, but when it ended on a cliffhanger I was so engaged in its overall story that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. So for that reason it just proves to show that the series wasn't just a fun 80s throwback, but that there was a compelling story involved that made me want to watch what happened immediately after the first season ended. So after finally watching the entirety of Stranger Things 2 I can finally say that its successor didn't disappoint because I thoroughly enjoyed watching this season from beginning to end.
Like the first season, this was the case where all episodes put together felt like the 8/9 hour movie I just didn't want to end. Another easy binge where all episodes were paced so well that mid season it didn't feel like any episodes dragged and that because of the great length of the entire season I was never taken out of it. I felt every episode had a great level importance and that there was always a fine balance of drama and humor. I also can't believe how enraptured I was in the more dramatic moments because even though this is a very fun and at times a funny show, I was beyond moved when there was dramatic tension between these characters.
And since the tension felt so real that's because the cast that's lined-up for this show is incredibly second to none. I can't praise enough every original cast member who returned for this season and that they utilized every ounce of effort to make these characters feel so damn alive. Every performance was flawless, but two that really stuck out to me were Millie Bobby Brown's performance as Eleven, who is slowly becoming one of my all time favorite characters just in all of pop culture.
I loved how in this season that she becomes progressively more humanized as she was discovering more about herself and her past. The episode where she visits her mother really got under my skin and I love that this added backstory can make us as viewers rethink the previous season. That also proves to show that usually the best sequels are the ones that make you rethink the original since a reveal in the sequel changes the context of the overall story. A very thought-provoking aspect and that's why I adore this show so much. There's also something else about Eleven's backstory that I want to get back to, so hold that thought.
More about the cast. Noah Schnapp I thought was incredible and definitely agree that his performance is truly Emmy worthy. He truly captures the pain and agony of the character dealing with these new horrific scenarios. I was completely on board with the fate of his character because of how he was able to showcase his performance. It was also really awesome this time around that the entity corrupting him opened up so much more about what the Upside Down entailed. And that there are so many questions involved and where things could end up next.
I also loved seeing more of the fatherly side of Hopper, played once again brilliantly by David Harbour. It was just awesome to see another side of the character we hadn't seen before other than the stern police chief. I was so compelled to see how he did whatever it took for him to raise and protect Eleven and that it all related back to the affections he had to his late daughter. He wanted the best for Eleven to keep her safe.
One of the scenes that stuck out to me was with the two arguing when Hopper finds out she left the cabin. A beyond intense scene. The tension between the characters worked so well because of how the performances brought me into the scene, but the reasoning behind both characters in this moment felt so relatable on both sides. Like they don't make things one sided and I was able to gain a level of empathy for both characters.
Winona Ryder is also once again really good as Joyce Byers with encapsulating such a very believable role as Will's mother. Also, not to mention this time around the inclusion of her new boyfriend Bob played by the newest addition to the cast Sean Astin. I, of course, love Sean Astin, but he brings such a great lovable personality to this character. He called for great comic relief, but it was also great to have him bring another nuance of an intellectual who's also very tech savvy.
He was able to serve a purpose for the story and team up with these characters well, so it really did hit me to eventually see his character be killed off. I know there was probably that intention because the show wants to lead you more into focusing on the bond between Hopper and Joyce and that there might be a romance there. But, Bob never felt like an afterthought and was a very likable character in the grand scheme of things and for the context of the story the fate of his character was appropriate.
Speaking of new characters I also really loved the addition of Max played by Sadie Sink who I thought did a great job with her role. She once again gives a performance that like the other cast members felt so rich with emotion and very believable. I mean this backstory is an absolute gut punch with facing the abuse from her brother. I'm so glad a character like her was someone else to root for, but also a welcome addition to the gang and that the tomboyish personality was something new for the show. It was also fun to see her character play off of the rest of the cast members especially Dustin and Lucas in regards to how they're starting to crush for girls in their early teen years. A very nice personal touch.
Max's brother Billy was obviously a character you rooted against, but could understand his motivations, which made him a very believable antagonist. Dacre Montgomery does a spectacular job portraying this character and it was really interesting to see him create tension with Steve's character, once again played greatly by Joe Keery. Steve's redemption arc just continues to escalate in this season and it was so refreshing to actually feel something for the character where this time around he cares about the safety of the gang and even giving girl advice to Dustin, which I thought was another nice touch. It did get under my skin to see Billy beating Steve to a pulp, but it was good to see Steve make it out fine in this season and as for Billy who knows if he'll be redeemable. I don't see it happening personally, but it would be quite shocking otherwise.
Gaten Matarazzo is once again fun as Dustin as is Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas who I'm so glad both had a little more time to shine than in the last season. It was cool to see more of their homelives and with especially Dustin finding the miniscule creature he calls Dart, which, oh man, caused a whole lot of trouble, didn't it? Also, rest in peace, Muse.
Also, to see what they did with Mike played once again fantastically by Finn Wolfhard facing difficulties in life without Eleven was a very emotionally resonating arc and to see the two finally reunite was nothing short of uplifting. I can't tell you how amazing it is to have characters in a film or show that have convincing story arcs and motivations. It's the idea that writers actually take their time and put in the effort to give us characters that we can fully understand in a show that may only come off as fun nostalgia. It's truly something more.
The 80s aesthetic and the sci-fi element are an added bonus, but a story to engage in with layered characters are purely the reasons why this show has become a favorite of mine. Why else would I want to stay up till 1 or 2 in the morning to find out what happens in the next episode? It's because, to me, the show is just that good for handling story by raising the stakes compared to last season and locking into the emotion, for these characters are challenged.
Speaking of characters who are challenged, there was an episode in particular, where Eleven is trying to find herself when joining a gang with one of the members being a science experiment like her at Brenner's lab. It was episode 7 and this was an episode that from what I understand divided a lot of people and although I can't speak for most, I can honestly say that for myself that I loved the episode mainly because of Eleven.
She's still on this journey of finding purpose for herself and although the gang is full of hooligans, I thought the reasoning for the gang to commit these crimes made sense in the long-run. I like that they weren't developed as mindless criminals, but for them to have revenge on people who wronged them added great tension. Eight was an interesting little character that I'm interested to see how she'll be incorporated in the future, but to see how she ended up on this strange path of crime despite all that she'd been through added so much to her character. People may see this episode as a detour and hate it for that reason and because the characters they introduce aren't good enough. I saw it as being a great way to add more to the story as well as adding more to the development of Eleven's character.
For this season to add a lot more stakes with crazy plot points such as an entity corrupting Will's consciousness and the creation of a Demigorgon army, aka Demidogs, I can't deny and say this season wasn't on par with last season. I mean not only was the season in its entirety written with a lot of great ideas for events to go along with solid character depth, but the suspense and intensity in its execution made the season truly the best it could've been. There truly was not a single aspect, episode, or moment of Stranger Things 2 that I disliked. I was entertained and moved from beginning to end and because of that this season worked for me in every way.
Verdict: A+
I hope you enjoyed this recent season as much I did and if you did read this review without having seen it, I'm sorry you were spoiled, but do yourself a favor and go watch it! I'm very excited to watch this season again and even more excited for the future in store. Loved that there was some closure with this season and nothing got to set-up-y for a shared universe. It was very cohesive, but still gives a little idea about where the next season could go. All and all I really loved this season.
Stay tuned for more reviews soon. Life's been a little crazy lately, but I'm alright and still have plans in store for this blog. I will still continue my Star Wars review series before The Last Jedi. I have Rogue One up next.
As for new releases I'll tackle those reviews as often as I can. Life's been a little busy lately, but I do want to review Justice League this weekend and Thor even though I haven't had the chance to see it yet. But please keep your eyes peeled and thank you so much for sticking by me.
For more updates be sure to follow me in the links below as well as a link to my review of Stranger Things Season 1:
Twitter and Instagram: @alexjcorey
Thank you for taking the time to read this review and as always see some great freakin entertainment!
Take care. :-)
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