BY XAVIER ADAMS

Season 2 of STRANGER THINGS released in 2017 with 9 new episodes, and Season 3 released roughly two years later with 8. Both seasons are distinct in many ways, with the second season expanding on 1’s cliffhangers and season 3 having a brighter and nostalgic, yet more mysterious tone.

In both seasons, the malevolent Mind Flayer runs full-throttle, ‘flaying’ victims

by consuming their minds and bodies. Season 2 features Will Byers as a target, and Season 3 has Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) as the target as well. 

This leads to the development of other monsters and even The Gate opening from the Upside-Down, which Eleven has to stop. The Demodog, for example, appears in S2, which Dustin keeps as a pet (named Dart).

In these seasons, there is an iconic and ever-growing cast of new characters; including Alexei (Alec Utgoff), a former Soviet scientist, Murray (Brett Gelman), an eccentric private investigator, and Max (Sadie Sink), a new student/arcade master who struggles abuse from her stepbrother, Billy.

Both Season 2 and 3 are crucial turning points for the cast. The second season revolves around past trauma, while the third requires the characters to grow as people. Relationships evolve, and the dynamics of the crew change as life goes on.

Max and Lucas bicker, and Eleven dumps Mike (in an albeit iconic scene) in episode two. In contrast, Max and Eleven become best friends, and bonds with new bonds grow as old ones fade.

Even the setting of S3, Starcourt Mall, is a gold mine of secrecy. It’s bright and fun on the surface, but it’s also a source of hidden Russian experiments.

The end of both seasons are emotional, endearing, and expand on the growth of the story and characters. From the Snowball in Season 2 to Hopper’s supposed death/letter in Season 3, the homestretch is bound to be an emotional roller-coaster.