Reflecting on Netflix Sci Fi Sequel Season 2

The sophomore slump or the difficult second album has generally been an expression applied to music. After a band or a solo artist launches their career with a hit record, capturing that same energy can prove challenging. Working on a best idea in solitude for years differs greatly from feeling immense pressure to follow a first hit with something better. Television often shares this fate. Many great television shows fail to deliver on their second outing, such as Heroes and True Detective.

Because of that common stumbling block, many people wondered if Stranger Things could match the excitement and storytelling of its first season after the literal phenomenon that accompanied the debut. Fortunately, the creators of the series, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, delivered a worthy second installment. While it perhaps did not quite hit the same storytelling heights of the first season, it proved deeply satisfying thanks to extraordinary new characters and the further development of existing ones.

Stranger Things 2 premiered nine years ago this week and picks up a year after the events of the first season. After being rescued from the Upside Down by Joyce, played by Winona Ryder, and Hopper, played by David Harbour, Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, finds it difficult to readjust. He keeps having visions of a giant spider-like monster that Will and his friends eventually name the Mindflayer. Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, mourns the loss of Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, who seemingly disintegrated after defeating the Demogorgon at the end of season 1. Unbeknownst to Mike, Eleven secretly lives in Hopper’s cabin deep in the woods where Hopper keeps her safe. Meanwhile, Lucas, played by Caleb McLaughlin, and Dustin, played by Gaten Matarazzo, compete for the affections of a new student named Max, played by Sadie Sink.

Life in Hawkins seems to improve until a blight strikes the local pumpkin patches. This discovery eventually reveals a series of underground tunnels beneath Hawkins connected to the Mindflayer. The Mindflayer also sends younger Demogorgons, nicknamed Demodogs, to guard the tunnels before they begin to wreak havoc on the surface.

Why season 2 of Stranger Things is so good

Season 2’s story did not match the mystery and excitement of the first season of Stranger Things, but the season achieves excellence by developing its characters, both new and preexisting.

Max added a unique dynamic to the group. The four original boys were nerds on the same wavelength. While distinct, none resembled the smartass and unscientific skater Max Mayfield. The first season party felt fractured by Will’s absence, and Eleven gradually became part of the group, but Max joining as the sixth member finally made the party feel whole.

Max’s older stepbrother Billy, played by Dacre Montgomery, made for a great villain who paid off in season 3. Joyce’s new boyfriend Bob, played by Sean Astin, added a lovable new adult character on the same nerdy wavelength as the kids. Paul Reiser joined as a fascinating, kinder face of Hawkins Lab who kept viewers guessing about his trustworthiness. Brett Gelman played Murray Bauman, an irresistibly funny conspiracy nut who paid off in later seasons. Finally, Lucas’ younger sister Erica, played by Priah Ferguson, proved to be a hilarious scene-stealer.

Season 2 also added layers to preexisting characters. Will mostly needed rescuing in the first season, but viewers finally get to know him in season 2. Eleven and Hopper develop a profound bond, evolving into father and daughter. Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, experiences the most significant change. In season 1, Steve was the cocky and unlikable jock boyfriend of Mike’s older sister Nancy, played by Natalia Dyer. In season 2, he realizes his past behavior and makes a conscious effort to become a better person, best shown in his unexpected, odd-couple friendship with Dustin.

The problem with season 2

Stranger Things is remembered now for being wildly inconsistent in its later seasons, and some strengths in the second season led to bad habits later on. The most notable habit is the addition of new characters. The Duffer Brothers introduced many new characters in season 2 and succeeded with all of them. Every future season then introduced a slew of new characters. While some additions like Robin, played by Maya Hawke, and Eddie, played by Joseph Quinn, were wonderful, the later seasons became overwhelmed with characters.

Season 2 also split up the central group of kids for a large portion of the story before reuniting them triumphantly in the second half. This worked well in season 2, but subsequent seasons repeated the gang separating and coming back together. The pattern eventually felt formulaic and made viewers miss when the characters were simply buddies.

Praising season 2 of Stranger Things without lamenting later missteps is difficult because those later failures color the whole series. Part of the frustration stems from how good Stranger Things was in its first season and how well it hit the mark in season 2.

Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Polygon