Stranger Things is one of the most watched Netflix Original of all time. It’s loved by everyone that watches it and it shocked audiences when it quietly released on Netflix in summer 2016. It’s been a few months since we last covered Stranger Things, so here’s your definitive guide to everything you need to know about Stranger Things season 2 which is set to premiere on Netflix on Halloween 2017.
We’ll keep this page updated as time goes on with any and all news we come to get a hold-off, so keep it bookmarked.
Season 1 Recap
Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin in Stranger Things Season 1
The show is based in a little fictional rural town of Hawkins, which is thrown into chaos after a young boy goes missing one night on the way home. Now it’s down to the ex-big city cop in a town that is very rarely subject to any crime more serious than kids stealing gnomes. The show is full of mysterious Government ‘agents’ that follow the appearance of a small telekinetic girl called simply ‘Eleven.’
The series is not only inspired by Stephen King, but takes many references from him and other popular movies and television, including Jaws, and heavily from ET. For example, the opening and closing shot of the first episode is a direct reference to E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, directed by Stephen Spielberg.
Spoiler Alert – The last 20 minutes of the final episode left us with quite a few remaining questions. Eleven is seemingly dead (although confirmed to be starring in season 2), Will doesn’t seem to be completely back to normal and Hopper has seemingly made a deal with the company.
Stranger Things Season 1 Awards
Netflix is no stranger to awards show but has managed to secure a few awards that no other Netflix Original has been able to get their hands on. Here’s a quick overview as to what the show has won so far.
Awards Won
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (SAG Awards)
- TV Program of the Year (AFI Award)
Nominated Highlights
- Best Television Drama (Golden Globes 2017)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama (Golden Globes 2017)
- Best Drama Series (Critics Choice Television Awards 2016)
- Favorite TV Show & Favorite Premium Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series (People’s Choice Awards)
Notably, at the SAG Awards, the cast of Stranger Things went slightly political thanks to the introduction of a travel ban the week before it. Trumping that (eh?) was probably the faces that Winona Ryder was pulling throughout that made her an internet meme sensation.
Stranger Things Season 2 Plot
This season will be set one-year later in 1984 and will no doubt still be jam packed with 80’s pop culture references that bring such nostalgia to a lot of people. This next season is said to be a much darker one, with the series going more in-depth with the Upside Down and all the undiscovered horrors that might lurk inside it.
The super bowl trailer (featured below) reveals that the kids have bigger fish to fry with the upside-down essentially spilling into the normal world. Expect season 2 to also progress relationships started in season 1 too, we’ve also been told that Barb will be getting some justice in season 2 as well.
New Cast in Stranger Things Season 2
Stranger Things in Ghostbusters outfits
The majority of the cast from season 1 is returning including Millie Bobby Brown who died at the end of the first season. Also returning are Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers) and Joe Keery (Steve Harrington).
Unconfirmed for season 2 is Mike Wheeler’s father played by Joe Chrest who is only showing up for the first ten episodes. Also unconfirmed but expected to return is Matthew Modine (Dr. Martin Brenner) and John Reynolds (Officer Callahan).
- Sean Astin is among the new actors scheduled to be appearing in the second season. You’ll remember Sean Astin from his iconic role as Sam-wise in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Linnea Berthelsen who will play Roman is confirmed. The young actress is pretty new to the acting scene and resides in Denmark.
- Dacre Montgomery will play Billy.
- Sadie Sink will play Max.
Stranger Things Season 2 Episode Names
In the first teaser trailer which confirmed the existence of season 2, they gave us seemingly random words but actually were confirmed to be the episode names for season 2. This also confirms the number of episodes too meaning we’re going to be getting nine new episodes instead of season 1’s eight.
The teaser trailer revealed all the episode titles for the second season:
- MadMax (Season 2 – Episode 1)
- The Boy Who Came Back To Life (Season 2 – Episode 2)
- The Pumpkin Patch (Season 2 – Episode 3)
- The Palace (Season 2 – Episode 4)
- The Storm (Season 2 – Episode 5)
- The Pollywog (Season 2 – Episode 6)
- The Secret Cabin (Season 2 – Episode 7)
- The Brain (Season 2 – Episode 8)
- The Lost Brother (Season 2 – Episode 9)
Stranger Things Season 2 Superbowl Ad
Netflix first dropped a tweet early in the week that hinted at a reveal for Stranger Things season 2 coming on Superbowl 51. What arrived was a 40-second teaser full of references, teasing and the official release date for season 2.
Teaser Breakdown
[0:00] – we see an Eggo commercial playing on an old fuzzy TV. Eggos was the food that Eleven seemed to like the best.
[0:04] – briefly cut to an outside area with a red light in the background (we see this again later) plus a spinning arcade sign.
[0:07] – Eleven wakes with Mike screaming ‘Eleven.’ Note that she has blood running down her nose, a consequence of using her abilities.
[0:09] – Only three of the boys are found riding their bikes while in Ghostbusters outfits. Likely suggests that one of the boys are missing again.
[0:14] – Someone in protective gear armed with a flamethrower seems to be entering the upside down
[0:15] – Multiple monitors with one appearing to have one of the kids along with a doctor and mother. Could this be Will Byers?
[0:16] – Eleven is grabbing her head and then it cuts to drawings which could’ve been drawn by her envisioning what’s to come from the upside down.
[0:18] – Will Byers is standing looking outside his door with the red light showing again but much brighter with lightning strikes.
[0:20] – Holy crap – what the f*** is that!?!
Stranger Things Season 2 Release Date
Our initial impression that Stranger Things season 2 would be coming around a year after season 1 dropped but the Superbowl spot confirmed that we’d have to be waiting quite a while later. The official release date is Halloween 2017 which could be specifically October 31st, 2017 or in the general vicinity. Most Netflix Originals drop on Friday’s meaning it could be on October 27th, 2017 which would fall more in line with their usual lineup. The trailer also features the date October 30th, 1984 which could also point to an actual release date but that’s just speculation.
Are you looking forward to season 2 of Stranger Things? Express your anticipation in the comments below!
