'Stranger Things 2' review- The Duffer Brothers craft a brilliant, glorious return to the Upside Down
*With good reason, people are really sensitive about spoilers for Stranger Things 2. While I won't touch anything from the latter half of the show, I will be discussing some basic plot elements that could be considered spoilers. So yeah, VERY MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*
I was late to the game when it comes to Stranger Things. While the rest of the world consumed the hit Netflix show when it was first released in July 2016, I didn't catch up until October of that same year. By the time I pressed the play button, my entire family had already seen the show. I had seen thinkpieces about what the show did right and what it did wrong. I knew what the Demogorgon and the Upside Down were without watching a single episode. These characters and concepts were already in the cultural lexicon, and so many of the iconic images of the show were already familiar to me. Simply put, I was analyzing Stranger Things in a different context than everyone else. For me, gone was the opportunity for discovery and surprise. Essentially, the highly-acclaimed show was either going to live up to the hype or bitterly disappoint me.
As indicated by the article I wrote after binging the first season, Stranger Things lived up to the hype and still managed to surprise me in an unexpected way. While I knew many of the secrets and twists of the sci-fi throwback, what stunned me was the way Matt and Ross Duffer told their story. They were working in the format of a Netflix television show, but in reality, they had crafted a 6 hour movie. And though they certainly leaned into nostalgia for the work of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg, they created a genuine phenomenon that somehow felt fresh in a sea of comic book heroes and remakes. Everybody watched Stranger Things, and the anticipation levels were at an all-time high going into this weekend. Making a follow-up that would match or surpass the original was going to be damn near impossible, and living up to the weight of expectations from fans would be even more challenging. And yet, the Duffer Brothers and their creative collaborators did it- they pulled off a minor miracle.
Stranger Things 2- the title alone is further proof that the Duffers are making the first long-form film series- is an imperfect journey. The story often feels less nuanced than it should. Certain new characters feel superfluous to the overall narrative. All of the pieces don't fit together, especially a single episode that has already been vastly criticized on the internet. But for all of the minor quibbles that one may have with this hotly-awaited second season, Stranger Things 2 is as close to perfect as you can get. Even in the format of a bigger, more action-packed sequel, the Duffer Brothers have made something that feels right, a natural continuation of the story that maintains the look and feel that made the original so special. It was surely enticing to delve deeper into the mythology of the Upside Down, but this sequel smartly turns away from that, dialing up the focus on the characters and the bonds that serve as the show's greatest asset. With the foundation that was already in place from its predecessor, it was virtually impossible for Stranger Things 2 to fail. But the fact that it ended up being this terrific is truly worth celebrating.
October 1984. After conquering the Demogorgon and rescuing Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) from the Upside Down that lurks beneath Hawkins, Indiana, the town is slowly moving on from the strange happenings of the last year. But for those who lived through it, nothing will ever be the same. Will suffers from bizarre episodes- but are they memories or visions? Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) is convinced that something is very wrong with Will, but Dr. Owens (Paul Reiser), the new leader at the improved Hawkins Labs, tells her that's it's just a result of post-traumatic stress. Meanwhile, the other kids are dealing with the struggle in their own distinct way. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) is reeling after the disappearance of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), calling her every night on the radio and hoping that one day she'll respond. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) find themselves entranced by Max (Sadie Sink), the new girl in town, who somehow managed to beat their scores at the Hawkins arcade.
On a slightly more serious note, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Steve (Joe Keery) are still mourning the death of fan favorite Barb, lamenting the fact that the nature of her death must be kept a secret. As things heat up in Hawkins, Nancy will once again team up with Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) in order to expose the conspiracy that lies at the heart of Hawkins. But the trouble is only just beginning in this sleepy Indiana town. Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is tasked with exploring a series of rotting pumpkin fields, something that simply couldn't be the work of malevolent farmers. As Will's connection with the mysterious monster in the Upside Down intensifies, a new battle between good and evil will wage, and everyone in Hawkins will find themselves in danger once more.
Perhaps the worst thing about the current internet environment is the way that fans and audiences can influence art. The bigger the fandom, the greater the impact. There's a notable sense of self-awareness to Stranger Things 2, and as it references some of the cultural hallmarks of the first season, it's almost distracting. Fans clung onto Barb (Shannon Purser) after her untimely (and let's be honest, irrelevant) death at the hands of the Demogorgon, and the Duffers are hellbent on answering the calls for justice. There's also an acknowledgment of critics who called the show a mere nostalgia trip- when Lucas tells Max about the events of 1983, she remarks that his story is "derivative" and lacking in originality. These are things that the fans will love, but what the Duffers have made with this follow-up is so perfect that I almost wish they had ignored these elements.
It has always been hard to tell if the Duffers are true visionaries, or whether they're just stealing from the best. I think Stranger Things 2 firmly solidifies that they have something more on their mind than just re-living the best of the 1980s, and these themes and ideas reveal themselves in the first few episodes. This season shows an uncommonly intense desire to examine the impact of traumatic events- they're never just part of the past. It's something that doesn't just affect Will or Joyce, but a plague that touches everyone in Hawkins. The happenings in the Upside Down can't just be forgotten, and things will never be normal again. Especially for these kids, it's something that will hang over their lives like a cloud. The examination of this material makes for some heavy episodes, ones more rich in emotional complexity than blockbuster action.
Although if you think about it, that has always been the driving force of Stranger Things. The Duffers created some cool sci-fi concepts, and it's fun to play in the spooky world of a desolate, terrifying alternate reality. But none of this would be nearly as fun without such a compelling cast of characters and the pitch-perfect actors who play them. There are a few new characters along for the ride in Stranger Things 2, and while it's always a danger to add more and more people to the mix in sequels, the attempts at fresh blood are mostly successful. Dacre Montgomery's Billy is the only real failure- he's great in the role, but his character has only one minor purpose that could have been given to someone else. Sadie Sink's Max is a great addition to the crew, and she gives Caleb McLaughlin some fun material to work with as Lucas. As someone who thought Lucas was underused in the original, it was nice to see such great chemistry with Max. Sean Astin absolutely kills it as Bob the Brain, Joyce's sweet, dopey new boyfriend, and Paul Reiser perfectly channels the spirit of Burke (his nefarious character from James Cameron's Aliens) in order to pull off Dr. Owens.
But with the possible exception of Max, the heart of Stranger Things 2 remains with the characters that we came to love in the first season. Of course, being such a large ensemble means that certain characters get pushed to the side. Finn Wolfhard, with this show and September's IT, is developing into a really great actor, but he's relegated to the sidelines for much of this season, helping Will and moodily hoping that Eleven will return soon. Speaking of Eleven, her arc is already the most controversial in a season that will likely be one of the most-discussed cultural events of 2017. Eleven is connected to the central narrative in a way that I don't want to spoil, but she spends much of her time away from the core group. Millie Bobby Brown gives a knockout performance, and while I enjoyed the episode where Eleven goes off on her own to explore her past and identity, there's no denying that it breaks up the momentum of the show. It's good stuff on its own, but it could have come at a better moment.
Winona Ryder's Joyce Byers has a little less time in the spotlight this season, but she's still great as a mother coming to grips with a world that has been virtually destroyed before her very eyes. The arc for Hopper is a stroke of genius, and David Harbour continues to give depth and warmth to the most developed character on the show. Gaten Matarazzo remains the show's most reliable form of comic relief, and he strikes up a friendship with Joe Keery's Steve Harrington that is one of the season's greatest surprises. As someone who didn't much care for Steve in the first season (and was ultimately pissed that he ended up with Nancy), Keery completely turned around my opinion of the character. He's one of the standouts of Stranger Things 2, and I hope the Duffers are ready to give him a big part in the third installment. Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton continue to crush it as Nancy and Jonathan, respectively, and as someone who loved their initial dynamic, I was happy to see that become a major factor here. But Noah Schnapp might just be the greatest surprise of Stranger Things 2- he didn't have much to do in the original and he is simply incredible.
It is pretty much impossible to not fall in love with the residents of Hawkins, and I adored the way that this season continued to develop them in rich, engaging ways. People can chalk it up to cheap nostalgia as much as they'd like, but I maintain my belief that the popularity of Stranger Things lies in the fact the characters are so tremendous. While superhero movies and comic book franchises remain as popular as ever, I think there's a reason that shows like this and movies like IT are becoming smash hits. There's something magical about watching flawed, ordinary people deal with the extraordinary, and if you think about it, that's what makes much of 80s cinema so rich with populist value. With Stranger Things, the Duffers are making a uniquely American portrait of childhood, friendship, and the loss of innocence. If they maintain this kind of quality as the show continues, we're looking at something that could be mentioned in the same breath as Harry Potter one day.
While the Duffers tap into universal myths and age-old themes, they also just prove to be masters of old-fashioned storytelling. Last year, I commented on how it felt like Stranger Things played out like a long movie. There are still shades of that in Stranger Things 2, but I can't say I entirely agree with my previous assessment. This time around, it feels almost like a novel that you can't put down. From the chapter structure, to the occasional asides, to the wonderful way that every narrative thread merges together in the end, Stranger Things 2 is like a classic page-turner. The show is always fascinating, but it picks up in momentum around the fourth episode and never looks back (well, maybe excluding Episode 7). In addition to the Duffers, credit should go to Andrew Stanton, Shawn Levy, and Rebecca Thomas, who create brilliant individual episodes within the overall arc of the show. And of course, what would Stranger Things be without the wonderful music of Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, a thundering electronic score that perfectly captures the slick intensity of this thrilling journey.
Stranger Things 2 filled me with a kind of joy that I can barely describe. I've done my best through the course of this rather lengthy review, but in a way, you kinda just have to see it for yourself. If you're a fan, I think you'll be filled with that same kind of pure happiness. By the time that the finale rolls around, Stranger Things 2 solidifies itself as one of the best sequels in recent memory, and also cements the franchise's place in the annals of pop culture history. The Duffers have made a magical, disturbing, exciting, go-for-broke roller-coaster ride, and I can't wait to see what else they have in store for us. I don't know how they'll top this, but after the propulsive narrative and character-focused mastery of this genius sequel, I wouldn't be surprised to see something even better when Stranger Things 3 rolls around.
Images courtesy of Netflix
I was late to the game when it comes to Stranger Things. While the rest of the world consumed the hit Netflix show when it was first released in July 2016, I didn't catch up until October of that same year. By the time I pressed the play button, my entire family had already seen the show. I had seen thinkpieces about what the show did right and what it did wrong. I knew what the Demogorgon and the Upside Down were without watching a single episode. These characters and concepts were already in the cultural lexicon, and so many of the iconic images of the show were already familiar to me. Simply put, I was analyzing Stranger Things in a different context than everyone else. For me, gone was the opportunity for discovery and surprise. Essentially, the highly-acclaimed show was either going to live up to the hype or bitterly disappoint me.
As indicated by the article I wrote after binging the first season, Stranger Things lived up to the hype and still managed to surprise me in an unexpected way. While I knew many of the secrets and twists of the sci-fi throwback, what stunned me was the way Matt and Ross Duffer told their story. They were working in the format of a Netflix television show, but in reality, they had crafted a 6 hour movie. And though they certainly leaned into nostalgia for the work of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg, they created a genuine phenomenon that somehow felt fresh in a sea of comic book heroes and remakes. Everybody watched Stranger Things, and the anticipation levels were at an all-time high going into this weekend. Making a follow-up that would match or surpass the original was going to be damn near impossible, and living up to the weight of expectations from fans would be even more challenging. And yet, the Duffer Brothers and their creative collaborators did it- they pulled off a minor miracle.
Stranger Things 2- the title alone is further proof that the Duffers are making the first long-form film series- is an imperfect journey. The story often feels less nuanced than it should. Certain new characters feel superfluous to the overall narrative. All of the pieces don't fit together, especially a single episode that has already been vastly criticized on the internet. But for all of the minor quibbles that one may have with this hotly-awaited second season, Stranger Things 2 is as close to perfect as you can get. Even in the format of a bigger, more action-packed sequel, the Duffer Brothers have made something that feels right, a natural continuation of the story that maintains the look and feel that made the original so special. It was surely enticing to delve deeper into the mythology of the Upside Down, but this sequel smartly turns away from that, dialing up the focus on the characters and the bonds that serve as the show's greatest asset. With the foundation that was already in place from its predecessor, it was virtually impossible for Stranger Things 2 to fail. But the fact that it ended up being this terrific is truly worth celebrating.
October 1984. After conquering the Demogorgon and rescuing Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) from the Upside Down that lurks beneath Hawkins, Indiana, the town is slowly moving on from the strange happenings of the last year. But for those who lived through it, nothing will ever be the same. Will suffers from bizarre episodes- but are they memories or visions? Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) is convinced that something is very wrong with Will, but Dr. Owens (Paul Reiser), the new leader at the improved Hawkins Labs, tells her that's it's just a result of post-traumatic stress. Meanwhile, the other kids are dealing with the struggle in their own distinct way. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) is reeling after the disappearance of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), calling her every night on the radio and hoping that one day she'll respond. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) find themselves entranced by Max (Sadie Sink), the new girl in town, who somehow managed to beat their scores at the Hawkins arcade.
On a slightly more serious note, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Steve (Joe Keery) are still mourning the death of fan favorite Barb, lamenting the fact that the nature of her death must be kept a secret. As things heat up in Hawkins, Nancy will once again team up with Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) in order to expose the conspiracy that lies at the heart of Hawkins. But the trouble is only just beginning in this sleepy Indiana town. Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is tasked with exploring a series of rotting pumpkin fields, something that simply couldn't be the work of malevolent farmers. As Will's connection with the mysterious monster in the Upside Down intensifies, a new battle between good and evil will wage, and everyone in Hawkins will find themselves in danger once more.
Perhaps the worst thing about the current internet environment is the way that fans and audiences can influence art. The bigger the fandom, the greater the impact. There's a notable sense of self-awareness to Stranger Things 2, and as it references some of the cultural hallmarks of the first season, it's almost distracting. Fans clung onto Barb (Shannon Purser) after her untimely (and let's be honest, irrelevant) death at the hands of the Demogorgon, and the Duffers are hellbent on answering the calls for justice. There's also an acknowledgment of critics who called the show a mere nostalgia trip- when Lucas tells Max about the events of 1983, she remarks that his story is "derivative" and lacking in originality. These are things that the fans will love, but what the Duffers have made with this follow-up is so perfect that I almost wish they had ignored these elements.
It has always been hard to tell if the Duffers are true visionaries, or whether they're just stealing from the best. I think Stranger Things 2 firmly solidifies that they have something more on their mind than just re-living the best of the 1980s, and these themes and ideas reveal themselves in the first few episodes. This season shows an uncommonly intense desire to examine the impact of traumatic events- they're never just part of the past. It's something that doesn't just affect Will or Joyce, but a plague that touches everyone in Hawkins. The happenings in the Upside Down can't just be forgotten, and things will never be normal again. Especially for these kids, it's something that will hang over their lives like a cloud. The examination of this material makes for some heavy episodes, ones more rich in emotional complexity than blockbuster action.
Although if you think about it, that has always been the driving force of Stranger Things. The Duffers created some cool sci-fi concepts, and it's fun to play in the spooky world of a desolate, terrifying alternate reality. But none of this would be nearly as fun without such a compelling cast of characters and the pitch-perfect actors who play them. There are a few new characters along for the ride in Stranger Things 2, and while it's always a danger to add more and more people to the mix in sequels, the attempts at fresh blood are mostly successful. Dacre Montgomery's Billy is the only real failure- he's great in the role, but his character has only one minor purpose that could have been given to someone else. Sadie Sink's Max is a great addition to the crew, and she gives Caleb McLaughlin some fun material to work with as Lucas. As someone who thought Lucas was underused in the original, it was nice to see such great chemistry with Max. Sean Astin absolutely kills it as Bob the Brain, Joyce's sweet, dopey new boyfriend, and Paul Reiser perfectly channels the spirit of Burke (his nefarious character from James Cameron's Aliens) in order to pull off Dr. Owens.
But with the possible exception of Max, the heart of Stranger Things 2 remains with the characters that we came to love in the first season. Of course, being such a large ensemble means that certain characters get pushed to the side. Finn Wolfhard, with this show and September's IT, is developing into a really great actor, but he's relegated to the sidelines for much of this season, helping Will and moodily hoping that Eleven will return soon. Speaking of Eleven, her arc is already the most controversial in a season that will likely be one of the most-discussed cultural events of 2017. Eleven is connected to the central narrative in a way that I don't want to spoil, but she spends much of her time away from the core group. Millie Bobby Brown gives a knockout performance, and while I enjoyed the episode where Eleven goes off on her own to explore her past and identity, there's no denying that it breaks up the momentum of the show. It's good stuff on its own, but it could have come at a better moment.
Winona Ryder's Joyce Byers has a little less time in the spotlight this season, but she's still great as a mother coming to grips with a world that has been virtually destroyed before her very eyes. The arc for Hopper is a stroke of genius, and David Harbour continues to give depth and warmth to the most developed character on the show. Gaten Matarazzo remains the show's most reliable form of comic relief, and he strikes up a friendship with Joe Keery's Steve Harrington that is one of the season's greatest surprises. As someone who didn't much care for Steve in the first season (and was ultimately pissed that he ended up with Nancy), Keery completely turned around my opinion of the character. He's one of the standouts of Stranger Things 2, and I hope the Duffers are ready to give him a big part in the third installment. Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton continue to crush it as Nancy and Jonathan, respectively, and as someone who loved their initial dynamic, I was happy to see that become a major factor here. But Noah Schnapp might just be the greatest surprise of Stranger Things 2- he didn't have much to do in the original and he is simply incredible.
It is pretty much impossible to not fall in love with the residents of Hawkins, and I adored the way that this season continued to develop them in rich, engaging ways. People can chalk it up to cheap nostalgia as much as they'd like, but I maintain my belief that the popularity of Stranger Things lies in the fact the characters are so tremendous. While superhero movies and comic book franchises remain as popular as ever, I think there's a reason that shows like this and movies like IT are becoming smash hits. There's something magical about watching flawed, ordinary people deal with the extraordinary, and if you think about it, that's what makes much of 80s cinema so rich with populist value. With Stranger Things, the Duffers are making a uniquely American portrait of childhood, friendship, and the loss of innocence. If they maintain this kind of quality as the show continues, we're looking at something that could be mentioned in the same breath as Harry Potter one day.
While the Duffers tap into universal myths and age-old themes, they also just prove to be masters of old-fashioned storytelling. Last year, I commented on how it felt like Stranger Things played out like a long movie. There are still shades of that in Stranger Things 2, but I can't say I entirely agree with my previous assessment. This time around, it feels almost like a novel that you can't put down. From the chapter structure, to the occasional asides, to the wonderful way that every narrative thread merges together in the end, Stranger Things 2 is like a classic page-turner. The show is always fascinating, but it picks up in momentum around the fourth episode and never looks back (well, maybe excluding Episode 7). In addition to the Duffers, credit should go to Andrew Stanton, Shawn Levy, and Rebecca Thomas, who create brilliant individual episodes within the overall arc of the show. And of course, what would Stranger Things be without the wonderful music of Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, a thundering electronic score that perfectly captures the slick intensity of this thrilling journey.
Stranger Things 2 filled me with a kind of joy that I can barely describe. I've done my best through the course of this rather lengthy review, but in a way, you kinda just have to see it for yourself. If you're a fan, I think you'll be filled with that same kind of pure happiness. By the time that the finale rolls around, Stranger Things 2 solidifies itself as one of the best sequels in recent memory, and also cements the franchise's place in the annals of pop culture history. The Duffers have made a magical, disturbing, exciting, go-for-broke roller-coaster ride, and I can't wait to see what else they have in store for us. I don't know how they'll top this, but after the propulsive narrative and character-focused mastery of this genius sequel, I wouldn't be surprised to see something even better when Stranger Things 3 rolls around.
Images courtesy of Netflix
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