Stranger Things Season 4: Volume 2 Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
3. It's Packed With Meaningful Character Development
As overstuffed as Volume 2 absolutely is, that larger canvas does allow the Duffers more room to explore and develop their characters.
Numerous major character dynamics - namely Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max, Hopper and Joyce, Steve (Joe Keery) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and the Byers brothers - are given far more room to breathe than they were in Volume 1.
Perhaps the highlights character-wise, however, are Max reflecting on her guilt over her brother's death, and Eddie similarly reckoning with his failure to prevent Chrissy's (Grace Van Dien) demise.
Again, it's a difficult balancing act to do justice to such a huge roster of characters without undermining the overall narrative momentum, and while Volume 2 is far from perfect in that regard, fans should enjoy getting a greater glimpse into the interiors lives of its heroes.