Quite a feat, which was repeated and developed further this season (especially when Steven and Dustin were starring in a “Stand By Me” spinoff). He began as a preppy joke, but transformed into a credible hero. But what proves to me that the writers are capable of wonders is the redemption of Steve the Haircut. There were issues, this season and last, with wobbly or inconsistent character development. Steve as a surprisingly responsible babysitter. I can get past most of “Stranger Things’” missteps because it often grounds its storytelling with these kinds of compelling performances. Noah Schnapp powerfully depicted all the gradations of his character’s distress asked to step up and take the spotlight in Season Two, he did so in spectacular fashion.
His situation is particularly heartbreaking: He is both affected by an evil presence and worries that he is a conduit for that evil.
“I felt frozen.” So much of what Will goes through functions well as a metaphor for PTSD, profound loneliness and other kinds of trauma. That’s why scenes of El using her powers are so often cathartic: Who wouldn’t want to be able to control matter, time and space - and right wrongs - with supernatural abilities? If anyone had any doubts about whether El would be as compelling this season, Brown’s work this season (especially in the finale) put those to rest. All were in difficult situations that frustrated them - but they often had to keep a lid on their emotions in order to get by. If El, Kali/Eight and Max had anything in common, it’s that they were mostly misunderstood and often had to retreat into survival mode. And Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin is a continual wonder his attempts to raise and then trap that cute little version of Dart were great.Īnd thanks to these excellent combinations, I have ideas for Season 3: Dustin and Nancy hang out! Lucas and El go on important missions! Joyce and Steve go shopping for hair products! The combinations are endless. Nancy and Jonathan’s budding romance was generally quite sweet, subtle and engaging. Steve and Dustin were also pure gold, as were Nancy, Jonathan and their new friend, the slightly sketchy but generally lovable freelance journalist Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman FTW). Hopper’s anger toward El was frightening, but Harbour, with his typically detailed performance, made it very clear that his rage was a cover for his deep love for El and his worries about her future and safety. That’s no surprise, given that David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown are both extraordinary actors. Though it was a bit annoying that Eleven was separated from almost everyone else for much of the season, she and Hopper together were generally quite effective. (Spoilers from here on out.)Įxcellent new character combinations. Whatever other highs and lows, the last two hours were certainly among the most entertaining “Stranger Things” outings ever. If I had to rank the two seasons, I’d still put Season One first, but after a slow start, “ Stranger Things 2” turned out to be a solid endeavor, and eventually, in the home stretch, it was a lot of a flat-out fun.
Thankfully, Season Two did a respectable amount of the latter, as I noted in my review. What if an intensely retro show became nostalgic for its own first season, copied what had made it popular, and repeated the same story (with slightly different pop-culture references) in Season Two? Would “Stranger Things” become a bloated celebration of itself and forget to tell a story, or would it have fun with Stephen King, Devo and “Alien” but still go for the emotional jugular? Season Two would have to up its game in order to be as nearly addictive.Īnd there’s no doubt Season Two ran the risk of turning into a nostalgia ouroboros. The show is now a known quantity, and so the joyful sense of discovery that accompanied Season One could never be recaptured.