
When Stranger Things dropped in the summer of 2016, there hadn’t been much hype for the Netflix show by the then unknown Duffer Brothers.
All we know is it was the small amount of marketing — namely its title screen which was featured on Netflix for a week or two before the show premiered. It was unquestionably bold, reminding me of the covers of the horror novels I devoured in my own midwestern childhood.
And much to my delight, Stranger Things ended up being one of the best new shows of 2016, an impressive mix of suspense and fantasy, that was kid-friendly but mostly catered to an older set. Safe to say it left most of us nostalgic for an ’80s childhood we maybe didn’t even have (guilty ’90s child, party of one.)
And I’ve been patiently waiting for the next season to drop (even though the first season could have arguably lived on as a perfect single-series capsule). And it’ll be here, in all of its Halloween glory, this Friday.
Last season wrapped things up in an almost perfect package. But there were just a few little things that left us with some big questions.
1. What is going on with Will?
After Will Byers got rescued from the Upside Down at the close of season one, everything seemed calm, until we had that startling scene where he looked into the mirror and was transported back to that hell dimension.
So what is happening here? Is it possible that the Demogorgon still has its claws in Will? Or is Will dealing with some very serious PTSD? On another note, we spent minimal time with Will last season even though he was the main focus of the show. Having him back must have a significant effect on the dynamics of our crew, but it’s unclear what kind. I’d guess much of this season will be about dealing with the repercussions of what happened, and struggling to get back to normal.
2. Where is Eleven?
We definitely know Eleven is alive and will appear at some point this season. But as far as we know, Will, Lucas, and Dustin have no idea she still exists. Hopper is likely the only one in the know since he’s been leaving frozen waffles in the woods. But where did Eleven go when she vaporized the Demogorgon? And how (and why) will she come back?
3. What about Barb?
Fan favorite Barb got axed unceremoniously early on in season one of Stranger Things. I know I’m still not over it, but I can only imagine how Nancy is dealing with the grief, if it’s actually clear that Barb did in fact get taken to the Upside Down and suffered a much worse fate than Will.
4. Does the rest of Hawkins know what happened?
This entire debacle should have been a major news story in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. But all my years watching TV shows that feature the supernatural, much of the town would prefer to believe there was a gas leak, or rampant PCP usage in the area. There’s obviously a major cover-up going on with the Hawkins National Lab, and it’s unclear how far this reaches. Sure, the men directly involved with the testing on Eleven are dead, but who else was involved? And were there other kids in the program?

5. Our boys are growing up! Since Mike and his friends are rapidly approaching adolescence, there’s a good chance we’ll see some more romantic subplots. What new (or old) pairings should we keep an eye out for?
Last season, we had an excellent trope-defying faux-love triangle between Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve, as well as a sweet, budding relationship between Mike and Eleven. But will Mike continue pining after Eleven? And with the addition of a new character (a cool tomboy named Max, played by Sadie Sink), it’s possible at least Lucas, Dustin, and maybe Will (but doubtful since he’s only got that Demogorgon on his mind, natch) will have a distraction.
Stranger Things 2 premieres on Friday, October 27th on Netflix.
Anisha Vichare
Related posts
Classics
Previewing SurrealEstate Season 2 Finale + Revisiting the Season with George R. Olson
[Warning; General spoilers ahead.] Strap in, SurrealEstate fam, because we’ve arrived at the Season 2 finale, and it’s a doozy. As we saw in the closing moments of last week’s episode, Susan is back. But because we have one more episode left, it’s not as simple as all that, as…
Tyler Hynes Talks Through His Eight-Film Hallmark Holiday Library
Things you realize when you have to re-record your shows on a new DVR – just how many Hallmark movies your people have done. Fan favorite – and one of ours – Tyler Hynes has done eight Christmas movies for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries since 2018. Alongside…
Spencer Creaghan Talks About Creating SurrealEstate’s Signature Sound
SurrealEstate is winding down its second season, with two episodes left, and just as in Season 1, Spencer Creaghan’s music continues to be a character unto itself. And every week, he shares tidbits with the fans via his s social media channels, something he started to help give them an…
Andrew Walker Talks Christmas Island and the Magical Hallmark Community
[Warning: Spoilers for Christmas Island.] Now that the Screen Actors Guild strike has been resolved, we’re able to resume regularly scheduled programming and interview our favorites and yours. Up first, earlier today, I spoke with Andrew Walker about Christmas Island, which premiered last weekend and encores tonight and through the…
George Olson and Danishka Esterhazy Talk SurrealEstate “I Put a Spell on You”
[Warning: Spoilers for the episode.] Tonight’s fun new SurrealEstate found Luke caught up in an especially bewitching woman, Kay, played by Tara Yelland, Susan trapped in her house, and Zooey learning the ropes. In the next part of my conversation with showrunner George R. Olson and producing director Danishka Esterhazy,…
Danishka Esterhazy Talks SurrealEstate: “The Butler Didn’t”
[Warning: General spoilers for the episode]. Tonight’s new SurrealEstate, “The Butler Didn’t,” follows the team as they investigate the years-earlier mysterious death of a woman whose ghost now reenacts her hanging by dropping over the banister from the second floor to terrify anyone on the landing or at the bottom…
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk the From Season 2 finale
[Warning: Spoilers for the season finale.] How’s everyone doing after that finale? While we wait and wonder and hope for a third season announcement, soon, here’s what Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders had to say about their parts of the finale, and where they hope they get to go next….
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk From Season 2 + A Season Finale Preview
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] It all comes down this, #FROMily. As Sunday’s episode wraps up Season 2, we begin with the aftermath of the terrifying onset of seemingly simultaneous attacks on Julie, Marielle, and Randall, which accelerate the “We gotta get out of this place” of it all. Sara comes…
Alison Sweeney Talks About What’s Next for Hannah and Mike After Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
[Warning: Spoilers for Carrot Cake Murder.] Everybody OK after that Hannah Swensen Mystery twist? Thankfully, our favorite crime-solving couple is still on speaking term, even if they’re on a break (hopefully not that kind of break). Most importantly, we already know this isn’t the last film in the series. No…
Counting Down to From Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] We’re just shy of two weeks away from Season 2 of last spring’s obsession, From, which premieres at 9 pm/8c, Sunday, April 23rd, on MGM+ (formerly EPIX). If you never picked it up last year, now’s your chance, and you can do it for free, catching…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…