
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
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From on EPIX Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks EPIX’s From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People, which US audiences still have not been able…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
Avery Konrad Talks About Sara’s Struggle in From “Silhouettes”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Over the course of the season so far on From, we’ve witnessed Sara’s battle against the voices telling her to to do terrible things, and tonight we saw her unravel further, threatening the Matthews and lashing out in a moment of terror with horrifying results….
Hannah Cheramy Talks From “Choosing Day”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight, on EPIX’s From, the Matthews participate in the show’s version of the sorting hat, choosing where to call home–the town or Colony House. At the end of the episode, Julie makes the decision to split from her family and instead settle in with Fatima…
Ricky He Talks From “The Way Things Are Now”
[Warning: Spoilers for episode 102 of EPIX’s From.] Epix’s new series From is two episodes in and it’s already laying the groundwork for a seriously spooky season. Tonight’s episode demonstrated the careful balance of relief and horror that the show hits, with our characters’ worst fears realized, just not when…
Catching Up with Ted Lasso and Previewing Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] The not so dirty little secret about how I approach a new series is that I sometimes make a call based on the headspace I’m in at the time. It’s been a minute since I’ve picked up a show after the first season and then binge…
Interview: Henri Esteve on Grown-ish Season 3
An interview with Henri Esteve, who plays Javi on Freeform’s Grown-ish. He talks about his season three experience.
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…