Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Stranger Things (s2, 2017)

Created by Duffer Brothers
9 episodes
@ Netflix
My rating: 3.8/5


Chapter One: MADMAX
Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak
Chapter Three: Pollywog
Chapter Four: Will the Wise
Chapter Five: Dig Dug
Chapter Six: The Spy
Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister
Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer
Chapter Nine: The Gate

I think the list of chapters above will help you visualised what was going on the show. Season 2 is already out on Netflix, so see it for yourself if you're a big fan from the previous season. I was expecting more thrills to come out from this season since Eleven, a kid who has special or kind of strange power to control things in strange way, was overcome by Demigorgon the monster and we're more hyped to figure out how could she be able to escape out from the other dimension inhabited by these ugly carnivores. It was Eleven who's responsible for opening the gate that gives way for monsters entering the real world and continuously roaming around in Hawkins town looking for the next victim. It was El's high pitch scream which breaks the laboratory wall and opens up portal for the hostile to hunt. But whoever triggers her to scream that out loud it was her Papa, the enemy. To understand more what I'm talking about you should watch the first one before jumping to the second one. Simply logic!

Now that she has opened it, is there a way to close the gate through her own strenght and makes the world a better place?

Here's the pilot episode opens Will Byers gradual recovery after the darkest trauma he'd encountered in alternate-dimension. Will's perspective is the chief thing that will help us to get to know more about the slimy monsters, and it wasn't El's, so don't let your eyesight off from him. The other characters were sort of distraction and went sideways from main objective. One thing I don't particularly admire from new casting was MADMAX. The new image kiddo all the way from California. Her role on this show is somewhat sluggish and I was annoyed every time she steps into the scene like I was right at the corner thinking why it takes Demigorgon too long to gulp this character alive. I don't know exactly, but that how it turns out for me. What producers were being planned was making her an element to provoke other kids as a form of love interest and for testing one's loyalty. Like really? I think what they needed to improve was a compelling script for MADMAX become more acceptable. Max is good at skateboarding, but still not very entertaining.

Another new cast from the show, that was quite opposite from what I thought of MADMAX overall character, was Bob aka newbie superhero at Hawkins besides Hopper. It was bubbly Bob encouraged Byers family to fight for good and stay alive no matter what daily risks are kept shadowing. His wisdom and special talent in computer programming saved the world. I liked him. So I guess, whatever Maxine or Max or Madmax flaws on the show could be tolerable, because of him maintaining the balance.

Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister. You might be wondering who's sister are they referring to whom? It was El's. She's not her biological sister or anything connected by blood, but instead her company or other patient from Hawkin's Lab. Kali has that quirks same as what El is capable of doing and also her punk appearance represents as rebellion which influence El to become one. Seriously, this whole episode is another overrated. It ran a single episode to introduce this lil girl and, I think, it wasn't much needed to elaborate that longer than 45 minutes or maybe again the staff were trying to show us 80's style of punk. Like "Yow! This is how convincing, fearlessly bitchin' we are in 80's. Millennials, show us what you got." Nevertheless, I have my own theory about this girl for the upcoming season 3. I think she's going to team up with El and together be called as heroes the "mind blowers" or something to fight back the gigantic monsters. Be ready to scream out loud for more surprising events.

Now if you'll ask me who's my favorite character for this season then it goes to William Byers. This boy nailed it. I thanked Duffer Brothers for making him a star for this season, 'cause if you remember the last time he disappeared his character was almost getting killed or should I say almost next to nothing. I barely see his own potential in acting because he's been cocooned at doom unlike from his friends Mike, Dustin, Lucas who moved freely from their feet. Will played by actor Noah Schnapp was absolutely great the entire episodes. I liked him screaming his lungs out, terrified and all, convinced me that he was possessed by hideous parasites and that he simply wanted to live the way normal kids did in his neighborhood. His soft character makes you think that he deserves a better life. He's very very convincing indeed.

And my favorite episode would be Chapter Eight. This is the beginning of all suspense. All emotions were plainly laid on the table. All in all the show was really entertaining except the first four, the suspense level was high, very imaginative. The cinematography was perfect. The only thing that bothers me is maybe the new casting and its slow pace to maintain the thrill. So for now, 3.8/5. 

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