Stranger Things Season 2 Review: 9 Ups And 3 Downs

6. An Engaging, Spooky Mystery

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Netflix

The first run of Stranger Things offered an entertaining mystery for fans to follow and pick at, and in true sequel form the second season goes bigger and better in that regard.

As the marketing has teased, this is centred on the emergence of the ominous Shadow Monster and more of the Upside Down, and it's once again effectively engaging in watching this particular story strand unfold, especially as it goes in some directions you might not expect. Like the first season, it's crafted with a great use of cliffhangers at the end of episodes, starting with Will's visions and his gradual decline, which constantly keep you watching even if the show gets off to a slow start.

As mentioned the effects work is impressive, and it uses the monster - both seen and unseen - to create another truly unsettling, tense atmosphere. It's not overtly horror, but it does borrow some of the genre's tropes, and there are some genuine spooks and scares in there too.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.