Stranger Things 2 Review
Stranger Things 2 - Review
The Empire Strikes Back is revolutionary in many ways, one of the more impactful being that it first presented the idea that sequels should be bigger, bolder, and darker than their predecessors. Since that film was released in 1980, it’s become commonplace to enlarge the scope and darken the tone of a sequel. With this in mind, it’s interesting that Stranger Things 2, the second season to hit Netflix, identifies itself as a sequel rather than just a traditional second season. It’s not Stranger Things Season 2. It’s Stranger Things 2.
The aforementioned effect of Empire is evident here. The ambition of the show’s sophomore season clearly outpaces its first, as changing the consequences from one monster-thing being loose to essentially the destruction of mankind, which is definitely something that needed to be told on a larger scale. For the first time, the show leaves its suburban base and enters a bigger world, which the first season seemed to ignore. Tonally, the show focuses on more sensitive topics and hits more emotional cues than it’s predecessor. And for the most part, Stranger Things 2 succeeds with more ambitious episodes, due to the show’s tight storytelling and focus on characters rather than just the plot itself.
Kids, as actors, tend to be held to a much lower standard than their adult counterparts. So, it’s absolutely astounding that Carmen Cuba, the casting director, managed to find six incredibly talented young performers. Not a single child feels like a cop-out character or turns in a subpar performance. Each player brings something different and positive to their roles. The obvious standout is Millie Bobby Brown, who portrays Eleven. Her nuanced and mature performance, which garnered her an Emmy nomination last year, continues to be one of the best on TV, even among adults. A superstar in the making, Brown is a scene-stealer who never fails to amaze in the role.
Of course, the adults do incredible work as well. Winona Ryder gives her best performance in years as Joyce Byers, the persistent mother who will stop at nothing for her son’s well being, and David Harbour, the beloved supporting actor, is as amazing as Jim Hopper, the police chief with a tragic past. Newcomer Sean Astin (whose casting almost feels like an 80’s reference, which is not a rarity in the show, as it’s based in 1984) brings a warmth and newfound adult stability to the show, along with a lovable persona. Certainly, the cast is one of the show’s many strong suits.
As mentioned, this season takes a more somber tone than the first. One of the more prevalent topics is the effect of the loss of a child. Hopper, who dealt with the passing of his daughter, takes a father figure role with Eleven (going as far as to legally adopt her in the season finale). The Hollands, dealing with the loss of a child as well, desperately fight to find their daughter as they maintain false hope. Also in this season, Eleven reunites with her mother, who had a complete breakdown after losing her. Will, who physically returned home in Season 1, has his mother still constantly fighting for him throughout this season. PTSD is also mentioned and discussed, as Will and Joyce have suffered severe psychological trauma from the events of the previous season. Stranger Things 2 takes a darker tone, while never losing the charm and fun that is the show’s staple.
The show primarily focuses on supernatural horrors, but some of the most interesting material to watch comes from the coming-of-age aspect. Similarly to It, the kids in Stranger Things grow and mature over the course of a story that follows them fighting demonic terrors. Starting off as young and immature, we watch as these characters slowly evolve into independent and heroic people. They remake their identity alongside the thrilling story, growing into more mature and adult individuals.
In the first season, much of the fun came from the children and their interactions with one another, and while Stranger Things 2 doesn’t completely get rid of this element, an issue this season faces is separating the characters who were so much fun together. There are episodes where the boys rarely speak to each other, and Mike and Eleven, whose relationship was such an integral part of the first season, don’t even see each other until the ending of the penultimate episode. The instantly notorious seventh episode, which is being widely panned by critics and fans alike, doesn’t feature any recurring characters except for Eleven. By themselves, the characters are interesting, but together, they’re electric. Separating them dampens their impact and ruins part of the fun.
Even though the finale is a cliffhanger, you can’t finish the season without a sense of satisfaction. The ninth episode, one of the best in the show’s history, builds up to a remarkable, entertaining, yet emotional and beautiful climax. The incredible ending to an incredible season perfectly satisfies, yet frustrates viewers, leaving them counting down until Stranger Things 3 premieres. A colossal success on nearly every level, Stranger Things 2 is an exciting and wonderful sequel which goes beyond the first season in terms of scope and tone.
