Check out my Stranger Things 2 Review and 80s Quiz below!
I was a huge fan of the first season of Stranger Things! I loved the 80s retro vibe, both in terms of the setting and also the show’s homage to classic 80s movies like Stand by Me, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and more.
Stranger Things Review and an 80s quiz!
What did I think of the second season of Stranger Things?
This review and quiz will be spoiler-free for major plot points, character deaths, etc.
What/Who I Loved:
- The boys’ friendship was a central part of the first season and one of my favorite aspects of the show. I loved that this continued in major ways, but also in minor ones, like their group Halloween costume.
- Joyce. I love Joyce and she was even more awesome in this season. She’s the fiercest, most loyal mom ever and should be up for Best TV Mom of All Time. And Steve – he got so much (hilarious) character development. I wasn’t the biggest fan of him in season one, but he did a 180 degree turn for me in the second season.
- I was worried about the new characters, but I loved them all (except Billy, of course). Max, Bob, and Lucas’s hilarious little sister Erica were all fantastic additions. Murray (the conspiracy theorist guy) had me cracking up too.
- I loved the way the show balanced fantastic suspense with hilarious moments and really poignant ones.
What I Didn’t Love As Much
- Nancy. She was so awesome in season one but she felt like more of afterthought in this. Jonathan too. And the love triangle with the two of them and Steve is annoying me.
- Hopper. I loved him less this season. In season one he struck me as sort of a slacker forced into bravery, which I loved. In this season he had one mood: angry. (I’m a parent of teenagers so I get it but …I like old Hopper better.)
- Dustin. I’d been a fan of his too, but he kept doing dumb things in season two (I guess for the sake of the plot, but still.)
- Episode seven. (The trip to Chicago/ Kali and her band of punks.) That was all just so awkward to me. Their hangout looked like a set for an amateur production of Rent and they looked like they were all wearing bad Halloween costumes.
All in all, though I LOVED this season and can’t wait for more. While we’re all waiting, find out how much you remember (or learned from the show) about the 1980s!
What did you think of the show and how did you do on the quiz? Tell me in comments! WARNING – there are a few mild spoilers in there so beware if you haven’t finished the show!
I feel the same about a lot of what you said. I really love Steve now, but Nancy and even Jonathan have started to annoy me. I hated episode 7 and that whole thing. Like I guess yay for Eleven’s character development, but it was just bad all around.
I did not like Max’s older brother, Billy. He was just disgusting. And while I did like Max, I don’t really know how much she helped with the plot. I hope she becomes a bigger character in the future.
And yes, Joyce IS the best.
Whoops – when I said I liked the new characters did NOT mean Billy (except his hilarious homage to Rob Lowe’s look in St. Elmos Fire). I guess he played a necessary part in the story but he was horrible.
Haha! No worries. I figured you didn’t enjoy his character because I’m not sure why anybody would. He did play a part to create drama.
He did and I guess we need those characters. I loved to hate him though!
DearJen
I read your review of Stranger Things 2
I loved your opinion, this is mine
I think Stranger Things 2 shows the growth in Hopper. He has begun seeing Eleven as the daughter he lost long ago . I like that he has given her a sense of family.
Kali was necessary because she discovered how to use the full potential of her powers and now she teaches Eleven to focus her anger in the right way too. Her role is essentially that of a catalyst. Eleven’s powers have to be shown growing but that would not happen if she remained cooped by in the cabin.
The chemistry between Jonathan and Nancy was nice . At the same time Steve was shown becoming more mature and turning hero too, I liked that. Relationship dynamics can change but just because of that you dont have to go bad.
Each kid received focus in season 2 . Isn’t that lovely
So much more to share. But this is supposed to be a comment and not an article. So going to stop now.
Thank you for writing this piece. Was a lovely idea and good writing. Truly enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for coming to discuss! Write as much as you like next time!
I did like the Eleven/Hopper relationship (didn’t put that in my review as it’s kind of a spoiler that she’s back, but probably most people have seen the show by now). I love the aspects of the show that are about how hard it is to be a parent. But Hopper just got the role of yelling at the kids all the time – I guess that’s being a parent lol.
I am NOT shipping Nancy and Jonathan at all anymore. Maybe Steve will find someone new next season – that’s okay with me.
I agree that Eleven needed to get out of that cabin (she’d been there for so long) but I thought the Kali thing was just badly written and weird. I did like Eleven reconnecting with her family, though it was really sad too.
Glad you enjoyed my thoughts and hope you took the quiz!
Wow! I’m an 80’s scholar! lol I should be since I graduated HS in 83′
I have thoughts but I’m going to *try* and write a post but I might DM you to discuss!
For What It’s Worth
I am not surprised! Yes, do a post and then I’ll come and see all your thoughts!
5 out of 8 on the quiz so not bad!! I just started watching season 2 so I am hoping I love it!
I really loved it!
I actually have not watched this yet, I really want to, maybe this winter because it looks interesting
Watch it! And then tell me what you thought. It’s really good.
I was annoyed with Dustin too, but I loved his scenes with Steve! And yeah, Nancy became such a non-character it was ridiculous. I’m also over Will’s brother (I have no idea what his name is).
I liked season 2 but I thought season 1 was stronger. The middle part of season 2 dragged for me, or maybe it was because of the tone change.
(QUIZ QUEEN HAS RETURNED)
Okay, yes. Good point. Dustin and Steve made an incredibly cute and funny combo. You thought season one was stronger? Interesting. I thought season one was scarier (except for the season 2 scenes in the lab that reminded me of Jurassic Park – yikes.) I thought this season was funnier and sweeter. Maybe you wanted scarier?
Yes the QQ returns 🙂
I liked this season a lot more too. Pretty awesome. And I agree with all your points! I liked Joyce a lot more this time, Mad MAx was awesome, I hated Billy ha ha (what was the point of him?), Hopper was not as likable, and Dustin did do some dumb things. 🙂
The Kali trip I was ambivalent about- when I realized the whole episode was going to be about that I just sighed and expected it to suck, but by the end it won me over a little. Still have mixed feelings though- were they sort of testing out a spinoff maybe? IDK.
Steve did have some funny moments! And Nancy/ Jonathan did feel kinda tacked on, like what do we do with them? Still, a fabulous show. And even creepier than the first!
Noooo to the spin-off. I also liked this season even better than the first!
I’ve never seen Stranger Things (I’m not a TV watcher) but I’ll never pass up an 80’s quiz. LOL Sadly, I missed the Mrs. Butterworth question. *sigh*
I’m glad you could enjoy the quiz and glad I could fool you just a little bit…
Everyone is raving about this season and I felt so let down by it. I enjoyed it, but it just felt like a lead up for next season rather than standing on its own. All the characters I loved took a back seat. And Dustin… what WAS that?! I would expect that from the boys in the first season but they know better. Don’t even get me started on that random episode of nothing where she goes to see Kali. I felt like that section could have been better used on something else. Maybe she comes back in a blaze of glory next season, but I just felt like they wasted time talking about her sister that didn’t even lead anywhere. I don’t know. I still really enjoy the show and plan to watch next season. Even though he was a douche canoe, I kinda hope the red Power Ranger comes back. LoL
I can see how you felt that way. I don’t like super-scary so I was happy that, to me, this felt more like suspense than terror (except that one horrible part in the lab. I covered my eyes for all of that.) And there were a LOT of really sweet/funny parts. I really hope Kali was just a one-time thing. Not a fan of hers. And ha – I haven’t seen Power Rangers movie (though I used to watch the show with my kids). I do think Billy will be back!