STARS: 4/5
When Netflix’s “Stranger Things” came out in 2016, its 8-episode tale of a vanishing boy in a supernaturally tormented 1983 Indiana town felt like the makings of a historical cultural event. The TV show’s cinematically rooted homage to ‘80s culture resonated with adult audiences, and its exploration of the struggles of growing up — exhibited through a motley crew of both pre-teens and teenagers — attracted younger fans. Everyone was talking about it, but more surprisingly, everyone liked it. Replicating that same effect a second time provided show creators the Duffer brothers with a challenge, but by playing up to its predecessor’s strengths and adopting a darker, more emotionally-charged tone, “Stranger Things 2” does it again with a binge-worthy treat.
Beginning with an extended exposition, the first two episodes of the new season serve to set the scene after the events of last season and introduce a slew of fresh faces. Season two picks up about a year later, during the days leading up to Halloween 1984. Will Byers (Noah Schanpp) has had time to adjust back to the real world but has “episodes” where he finds himself back in the Upside Down. 
This season puts greater emphasis on Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) as they deal with their first crush, new girl Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink). Max is a skate-riding, arcade-game playing tomboy, and the boys have never met anyone like her in Hawkins. On the other side of the friend group, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) is still reeling from Eleven’s disappearance, often acting out and still attempting to call her every day on his walkie-talkie.
Unknown to Mike, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is alive and well, living in an isolated, highly-protected cabin in the woods with Hopper, although she is not allowed to go outside. Through this, the show utilizes an opportunity for a touching father/daughter relationship, one of the most emotionally affective aspects of this season. 
From the third episode on out, the fast pace of the season gradually builds to a familiar climax where all the characters join forces to defeat an otherworldly evil. It’s not predictable, but it is a tad underwhelming, seeming to wrap up a little too quickly. That’s a small price to pay for what I would otherwise consider to be one of the most enjoyable television experiences around today.  
Shedding light on what it’s like to grow up has always been one of the show’s strengths, but by making a darker, more gritty season, the show is able to delve into more complicated parts of growing up. Specifically, episode seven’s exploration of Eleven’s character as she comes into herself provides for a wonderful coming-of-age tale about a character we’ve never known much about. Even better than last season, Millie Bobby Brown portrays Eleven with an emotionally astute blend of sensitivity, anger and strength — a true feat for such a young actress.  
One actor in particular steals the show with his surprise performance, as his role has been upgraded from a supporting character. Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers is not just a character, but a force of nature. On top of having to play an extremely anxious and emotionally fraught young boy, Schnapp has to portray a boy possessed by an evil shadow monster. With his big eyes and bowl cut, Schnapp is able to both elicit and represent fear. Schnapp goes all-out in his award-caliber performance, and I won’t be surprised if we start to see a lot more of him. 
The real magic of “Stranger Things,” though, lies within its characters and their relationships with one another. We saw this last season with the exploration of first loves, the bonds between parents and children and the intense beauty of platonic friendship. All of these relationships are amplified this time around, and our emotional connection to the characters has only intensified, providing us with a much more satisfying viewing experience. 
In that, one of the show’s biggest strengths is the universal relatability of the characters. Regardless of what kind of person may watch this show, it’s extremely easy to see a little bit of yourself in at least one of the characters. By doing this, “Stranger Things 2” is a show for everyone, the rare art piece that does not garner polarizing reactions from different ideological camps but unifies a world otherwise divided.