Stranger Things 2 preview: the horror of Hawkins continues

The long-awaited science fiction-horror Netflix series has finally returned for its second season. “Stranger Things 2” premiered on Oct. 27. The second season has nine episodes, each one an one hour long. With the release of season two, Netflix is also releasing an after show called “Beyond Stranger Things” and has also confirmed a third season for the show.

This season sees the return of the Duffer Brothers directing and the show regulars, along with new cast members, Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove, Sadie Sink as Max Hargrove, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Paul Reiser as Dr. Sam Owens and Sean Astin as Bob Newby.

“Stranger Things 2” picks up a year after Eleven’s disappearance and Will’s return from the Upside Down. The plot follows the regular cast members as new and old forces come into play and as they begin to realize the horror of last year is not over yet. This season also shows the conflicting love triangle between Nancy, Steve and Jonathan and the budding love triangle between Lucas, Dustin and the new character, Max. The official synopsis on Netflix for season two is short but hints at what could happen during the season.

“It’s been nearly a year since Will’s strange disappearance. But life’s hardly back to normal in Hawkins. Not even close,” the Netflix description says.

Season two follows after the acclaimed first season which received several nominations and awards, including eighteen nominations at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The second season hopes to recapture the magic of the first season while also exploring the stories of the characters as they grow and attempt ing to solve the mystery of the dark forces plaguing Hawkins.

“Stranger Things’ slow-building sophomore season balances moments of humor and a nostalgic sweetness against a growing horror that’s all the more effective thanks to the show’s full-bodied characters and evocative tone,” according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Season one of “Stranger Things” barely holds on to it’s reigning place as best reviewed season of the series as season two ends out on a 92 percent to season one’s 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

With the release of season 2, the hope for the show is for it to continue the humor and fantastical action that captured viewers in season one, while also answering the unanswered questions that tormented them. The dark questions of Eleven and Barb’s disappearances and the fall-out of the Demogorgon’s warpath are the primary subjects of season two that many, including myself, hope to see answered.

With quirky humor and pop references mixed together in combination with supernatural horror, “Stranger Things 2” is getting stranger and stranger.