Stranger Things Season 2 Review: 9 Ups And 3 Downs

4. The Genuine Emotion (And Humour)

Expanding upon that previous point, one of the most surprising things about this year is just how emotional it is. The first season hit some of those beats, but that was when we were only just getting to know these characters.

Now that we're wholly invested in them, their relationships, and their fates, the show is able to really start tugging at the heartstrings. There are moments of pure joy, others that feel devastating, and you're watching along and going through that with the characters themselves.

Hopper and Eleven are a big part of that, but Winona Ryder is once again fiercely brilliant as Will's mother, Joyce, and we get to see her compassion and love shine through as much as we do her intensity and bravery. Mike, meanwhile, is still suffering from the loss of Eleven more than anyone else, and the way the show plays on that is enough to make your heart ache. There's a strong connection between all of these characters, and in Season 2 that really extends to become a bond between them and the viewer.

It does all this, however, without becoming overly sentimental or emotionally manipulative. The show retains its sense of humour, and is even funnier than the first. There are a number of laugh-out-loud moments, the kids are all pottymouthed, and the "pull-out" line is spit-out-your-drink good.