STRANGER STILL
Secretive things are happening again in the Hawkins lab
Aquirky homage to 1980s classics like Steven Spielberg’s E. T. and Poltergeist, the first season of the Netflix original series Stranger Things was a global sensation. Despite a few hiccups, creators Matt and Ross Duffer mostly manage to keep the charm alive in the hotly anticipated season two— released this month.
The story begins in Hawkins, Indiana a year after season one’s finale. The anniversary of Will’s ( Noal Schnapp) vanishing into the Upside Down world is approaching. Will is suffering, both mentally and physically, having had many frightful “episodes”; Dustin
( Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas ( Caleb McLaughlin) are playfully battling for the attention and affection of newbie, the redhaired, annoyed tomboy Max ( Sadie Sink); and Mike ( Finn Wolfhard) is sulking over his missing bae El aka Eleven. Chief Hopper ( David Harbour) has a well- kept secret hidden in his remote cabin and perennially anxious mommy Joyce ( Winona Rider) has a man in her life in the geeky Bob ( Sean Astin). And secretive things are happening again in the Hawkins laboratory.
There are enough nods to 1980s songs ( from Cyndie Lauper’s Time After Time to Queen’s Hammer to Fall) and movies ( Ghostbusters, The Terminator, John Hughes’s films). Monster lovers will have the Mind Flayer and demodogs, names coined by the delightful Dustin ( Matarazzo is a standout), to discuss. Fans of Steve ( Joe Keery) will have plenty to root for as the daft high school stud turns into a pretty good babysitter, giving advice on love and looks to Dustin. Their combination delivers the fun quotient with Lucas and his adorable sister Erica ( Priah Ferguson, find of the season) adding to the laughs. Jancy ( Jonathan and Nancy) shippers may not get a storyline to meet their heart’s content but there is one defining moment which will generate many gifs. While Eleven ( Bobby Brown) gets to find her roots and discover herself with the help of an Indian no less in the most out- ofplace episode, Mike is ignored, serving out as the good friend watching the drama unfold.
The dramatic heft comes courtesy Will whose difficulties in conveying his possessed state of mind makes for compelling viewing. Schnapp gets enough screen time this season to demonstrate that he is as great as his four young co- stars, as he plays out the fear of losing control with conviction. Of course, it all ends on an inconclusive note suggesting there will be another round of strangeness in Hawkins. But it’s not as riveting a finale. Season three and Mind Flayer can wait.