Stranger Thingsis a phenomenon that truly seemed to appear out of nowhere. Summer 2016 was drumming along and all of the sudden one sheets and images started to appear. They were old looking, yet they were new and they unabashedly recalled the great horror and sci-fi films from the 1980s. In a word, this show seemed perfect.
And there was no way this show could live up to the hype, right? Wrong. Sure, there are always going to be some people that feel that a “love-letter to the1980s” is derivative. At the same time, I don’t think it’s too far fetched to say that even the most beloved 80s films were derived from something before.
Ultimately, the consensus was that audiences and critics loved it. With it’sclassic 80s tropesof caste systems, kids knowing the truth while adults are in the dark, monsters…And some odd place called The Upside Down,Stranger Thingsis a show 80s aficionados have been waiting for. Though the show is meant to be dated, the characters, the storyline (what are the people at Hawkins Lab trying to hide?), and the adventure are firmly set in November, 1983.
WithNetflixbacker Reed Hastings saying it would be “stupid” not to renewStranger Things, any began to wonder what Season 2 will bring. As we near the launch date for new episodes, quite a bit has come to light about the returning binge-favorite. In today’s internet age, the playing field is leveled and we all know that we don’t have to settle for secrets. To quote the 80s, hardcore band the Cro-Mags, “We gotta know!”
And this is precisely why we’ve compiled this list. We’ve meticulously gone through all the stories about Season 2 and separated fact from fiction. So it is without further adieu that we tell you everything we know aboutStranger ThingsSeason 2.
20Stranger Things Season 2 Premiere Date
WhileStranger ThingsSeason 1 debuted in the summer of 2016, fans have to wait a little longer for new episodes. It was first revealed thatStranger ThingsSeason 2 was set to premiere over Halloween weekend 2017. A more precise release date was announced for October 27, with all episodes available to stream at midnight. This will surely makeStranger ThingsSeason 2 one of this fall’s biggest releases.
19Eleven Will Return
18The Main Cast Will Return
Yes, you read that right. Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton will all be returning. As the events from the first season are still close at hand, audiences will be happy to see how these characters have evolved one year later. Have Joyce (Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) grown closer? Have Mike and his friends grown apart as can sometime happen as youths get older? Might this be a storyline and somehow they get drawn together? The big question is the character of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). At the end ofStranger ThingsSeason 1, we saw Hopper leaving food for someone in the woods. The first thought is that it is probably Eleven? Hopefully,Stranger ThingsSeason 2 answers enough of these questions to satisfy its rabid fan base.
17Will Byers is Becoming a Monster
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, the young boy from Hawkins, Indiana who was trapped in the Upside Down, didn’t have much to do in the first 8 episodes, even though the entire story revolved around him. The young actor is coming back in a big way, though, and has been promoted to series regular forStranger ThingsSeason 2. But this won’t be the Will his friends all know and love. In an interview, Will teased that he will be going through some growing pains, and puberty might not be so kind. He says, “I threw up a slug, so Season 2 begins with what happens from there. There may have been some effect on him. I may or may not have turned into a monster. You’ll have to watch to find out.” He may not be the only one turning into a monster. There is some speculation that Eleven may also be transforming into a Demogorgon-monster.
Stranger ThingsSeason 1 was a scant (by Netflix standards, shows usually clock in at 13 episodes) 8 episodes. At the same time, it made sense for this show as there was nothing usual about it. So what might we see in that extra episode? Well, we know there are more characters inStranger Things Season 2(more on that later), perhaps the extra time was needed to expand/complete their story-lines. Also, this IS a new season so one can expect new story arcs that are (in some way) going to need to be resolved. Whatever the reason, we’re not complaining about a longer Stranger Things season and it doesn’t seem like anybody else is either.
15The Story is set in 1984
Yes, you read that right. The events inStranger ThingsSeason 2 will take take place nearly one year after the events in Season 1. As this show is a look back at the 1980s, as well as a statement about the present, one can only wonder how this time period will inform the show. First of all, the year will be 1984. That was huge year for Apple so it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see some first generation Macs now would it? More importantly, might we see a nod to George Orwell’s book of the same name? 1984 was a dystopian look at the world and many might argue that it foreshadowed where we are politically and geopolitically in 2017? There was also the first untethered space walk, the Cold War with Russia was in full swing, the PG-13 rating was introduced, etc. Basically, the year 1984 will provide a rich backdrop for what already promises to be a second season filled with complex storylines, great characters, and deft storytelling. The premiere kicks off in October, just like the launch of the series. And we’ll see the boys dressed asGhostbusters, which in their world, just came out that summer. There will also be a direct ode toGremlins, which also arrived in the summer of 1984.
14The Story will be Darker and Scarier
Producer Shawn Levy recently pulled back a few layers on the new season, which will be much darker this time around. He explains that, “Season 2 is bigger and potentially darker in its stakes. The threat, which in Season 1 was to Will Byers, has grown. That’s all I’m going to say! But, I will say Season 2 has a bigger cast and is definitely loyal to the kind of magical storytelling that we established in the first season. It’s character-based and still about our core group of characters.” Finn Wolfhard went onto tease that more character development this time around, saying, “Now that we’ve done a season, we know exactly about our characters. We are very conscious of them and can take them to the next level. I think we’ve grown up a little bit, and our characters have too. They have been through a lot and have used those experiences to help them grow and to be stronger in Season 2.”
13We’ll See More Steve Harrington
We will be seeing a lot more of Steve Harrington. It was recently announced that Noah Schapp (who played Will Byers) and Joe Keery (who portrays Steve Harrington) have been moved from recurring characters to regulars inStranger ThingsSeason 2. In the first season we saw Schapp in 7 episodes and we saw Keery in 8. Personally, they seemed like pretty regular characters asStranger ThingsSeason 1 was only 8 episodes, but TV has it’s own lingo, right? Also, it isn’t surprising that we are seeing more of Schapp.Stranger ThingsSeason One concluded with Schapp bent over a sink. He throws up something that gives a clear indication that he’s been extremely effected (internally) by the Upside Down. Keery, while many viewers probably wanted to kill him for being an awful boyfriend, did get Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) in the end. So, seeing him again, even though it is a year later, is also not that big of surprise. One has to wonder what will happen to Will Byers? Might be changing into a Demagorgon? Is he pitted against his friends? Is he a vessel to unleash new Demagorgons? What about Steve Harrington? Is he a better person now? Did he learn anything from his battle with the Demagorgon? These actors getting more prominent roles seems to suggest that some of these questions will be answered.
1280s Stars Sean Astin and Paul Reiser Join the Cast
80s icons Sean Astin (Goonies) and Paul Reiser (Aliens} will be playing important characters that are close to the mysterious events that unfolded in Hawkins, Indiana in the first season. Astin’s character reportedly works at the local Radio Shack and is friends with the kids. He becomes entangled in a love triangle with Joyce and Hopper. Reiser is playing a much more sinister character with ties to the Hawkins lab who may know more about Eleven than he lets on. Though many speculate that he’s character will be set up in the same vein asAliens' Carter Burke, with the new character redeeming himself before his death this time out.
11There are 3 More Key New Characters
At present we don’t know too much about how the new characters of Max (Sadie Sink), Billy (Dacre Montgomery) and Roman tie into Season 2. What we do know is that Max is a girl and her name is part of the premiere episode of Stranger Things Season 2. Titled “Mad Max” we don’t know too much more than she is a not a typical girly girl. As you remember, neither was Eleven but for (probably) very different reasons. Max’s brother is Billy who had been described as “muscular and hyper-confident”. Billy is also a fan of muscle cars as he drives a Camaro. It seems that this character is also given to violent outbursts. Lastly, we focus on the character of Roman. Roman is been called “gender neutral.” It seems that Roman’s early life was marred by a great loss, and Roman has made a mission in life to exact a toll on who (or what?) ever caused this tragedy. It will be interesting to see how these new characters gel with the returning cast mates (more on that later), or if, in some way, they might have parallel stories that happen to coincide?
