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Reviews: Catch Up on Season 2 of <i>STRANGER THINGS</i>

Catch Up On Season 2 of

STRANGER THINGS

Okay, as if you aren’t binge watching seasons 1 and 2 right now before season 3 of STRANGER THINGS launches on July 4, 2019. Before you settle into a long holiday weekend of barbecues, fireworks, and a little “upside down” fun, here are my reviews from season 2 of STRANGER THINGS to refresh yourself. Why read? Uh, because reading is fun…

Be warned, spoilers ahead. 

  

STRANGER THINGS Season 2 Reviews

Max has the highest score on DigDug… whoever said “girls don’t play video games” is sadly mistaken.

Stranger Things Season 2 Premiere – “Madmax” Review. Arcades, The Upside Down, and More.

“Madmax” sort of reintroduces us to the cast (as if we could forget them), picking up a year after the events that happened in season one in the “upside down.” 
It’s October 28, 1984 in Pittsburgh, PA. A motley crew of both grown-ups and juveniles are robbing a bank. One young girl seems to have a unique supernatural gift. She crushes a tunnel with only a thought and her hand mimics an explosion…but does it really happen? 

 

“Who you gonna call?”

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 2: Trick-or-Treat, Freak” Review. Half-way Happy.

As “Chapter 2: Trick-or-Treat, Freak” begins, we see what happened to Eleven in the aftermath as she wakes up in the scary “upside down” version of the school. She begins screaming out for her new friend Mike (Finn Wolfhard) — the terrified desperation in her voice so compelling and heart wrenching and finally finds a way out to get back to the real world.

 

Dart is not cute…he’s slimy.

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 3: The Pollywog” Recap. Going to Need Bigger Paddles.

At the end of “Chapter 2: Trick or Treat, Freak,” Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) made an interesting discovery in his trash can. When “Chapter 3: The Pollywog” begins, Dustin’s new pet resembles the slimy blob Will (Noah Schnapp) threw up in season one. When Dustin feeds the little creature some of his “Three Musketeers” Halloween candy and nicknames it “D’Artagnan…Dart for short,” I was immediately reminded of the movie Gremlins.

 

Joyce is frantic (as usual) but this time for good reason.

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 4: Will the Wise” Review. Abundant Mistakes.

“Chapter 4: Will the Wise” picks up immediately after the heart pounding cliffhanger as Joyce (Winona Ryder) speeds to the school only to find her son Will (Noah Schnapp) standing in the field unresponsive, with his eyes closed. What she and his friends can’t see is what’s actually happening to Will. The “upside down” has converged with the real world and the events that happen in Will’s visions are directly affecting him in reality.

 

The spy game is very dangerous when dealing with the Demigoron

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 5: Dig Dug” Review. Top Secret Stuff.

“Chapter 5: Dig Dug” is chock full of amazing and intriguing gems, making me extremely curious as to how it will all end. The vines of the “upside down” are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as we saw Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) dig a massive hole in the pumpkin patch and jump into a series of underground tunnels at the end of “Chapter 4: Will the Wise.” What is the “shadow monster” trying to accomplish in Hawkins? 

 

Steve goes into the cellar but doesn’t find Dart…they to find a large hole where Dart escaped.

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 6: The Spy” Review. Totally Tubular.

Things are starting to take a darker turn in Hawkins, Indiana and Will (Noah Schnapp) is at the epicenter of the “Shadow Monster’s” master plan. The monster invaded Will’s body at the end of “Chapter 3: The Pollywog” to protect itself and its interests in taking over Hawkins. In the opening scene of “Chapter 6: The Spy,” we see Will being wheeled into the Hawkins lab. Throughout the episode, Will’s docile persona takes on a disturbing metamorphosis, one that will cost many people their lives.

 

Kali instructs El to tap into the things that make her angry and the pain she feels

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 7: The Lost Sister” Review. Home Sweet Home.

In the season two premiere, “Chapter 1: Madmax,” we saw a group of people exiting a building and one particular young girl who caused a tunnel to collapse, or so we thought. That girl, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), plays a major role in “Chapter 7: The Lost Sister.” If the title doesn’t give it away, let me explain. Kali and Eleven, aka “El,” (Millie Bobby Brown) have a connection.

 

Demogorons are everywhere and the lab is locked down…things look bleak.

Stranger Things 2 – “Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer” Recap. Spy vs Spy.

“Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer” picks up where “Chapter 6: The Spy” left off with ravenous monsters crawling up from the tunnels into the antechamber of the lab. 

As penultimate episodes go, “Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer” doesn’t disappoint. At times, penultimate episodes are better than the season finale because all the story lines converge into a pinnacle of chaos. People die, people cry, and people fight, and fight hard. “Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer” complements the season finale, “Chapter 9: The Gate,” but doesn’t overshadow it. It makes you anxious to see how everything will turn out and makes you wonder who will be left standing when the dust settles. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s dive into this exciting episode.

 

The reunion is bittersweet as El still has to face off against the monster.

Stranger Things 2 Season Finale “Chapter 9: The Gate” Recap. It’s Not Over.

After the traumatic events in the penultimate episode, “Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer,” the season two finale, “Chapter 9: The Gate,” dedicates two-thirds of the episode to vanquishing the evil “shadow monster.” This finale is packed with so many great moments. Warning if you haven’t watched yet, spoilers ahead.

That’s it! Now grab a snack and go watch Season 3 of STRANGER THINGS (like you needed to be told twice).

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.