Finished Stranger Things 2 last night. So bummed it's over!! I'm a HUGE fan of the show and I really enjoyed it. I didn't have many expectations going into 2, so I enjoyed it greatly for what it was. It's got a slow start, but once it gets going, boy does it get going. Probably not as good as the first and it had some flaws, but overall I thought it was 'b*tchin'.
So many great things! Glad they did some world building, expanding what the Upside Down is and the kinds of beings that inhabit it. The Mind Flayer was a really neat villain - they really upped the ante from the lone Demagorgon. Every scene with Hopp and Eleven was epic. I got a kick out of the obvious Gremlins references with Dustin and Dart. Poor Will never gets a break, but dang did that kid do a great job with that role! Joyce was great too, and it was great how they trashed her house again - can't wait for what it will look like in 3 haha. Steve playing Mr. Mom at the end was amazing and totally unexpected! The Snow Ball dance at the end was fantastic in every way. I laughed my ass off when Dustin showed up with the new hairdo and it was so sweet of Nancy to dance with him. This show never fails to warm my heart.
Lots of great character arcs, but I wasparticularly happy how well written Steve's was this time around. I always liked him in the first, but now that he's a full-on awesome dude, he's my favorite character.
I agree with the previous sentiments about ep. 7. I get that Eleven needed her Luke/Yoda moment and I did enjoyed the jarring punk setting juxtaposing the rural town of Hawkins. I just thought it slowed the pacing dramatically just as things were getting totally crazy back in Hawkins.
As for our new additions...Bob was great! I didn't quite get him at first, but once he grew on me I was sad he didn't make it. I also didn't quite get Max in the beginning either. I kept waiting for her to turn out to be another experiment and was honestly disappointed she was just a normal girl. Billy was interesting and mysterious, and I liked what they were going for, but I just wished he'd been more of a pressing threat to the kids throughout the whole thing and not just the finale. I kind of hope he in in 3.
Dr. Owens was pretty good too. I don't think I ever fully trusted him at any point, though. I wonder if that was intentional. Even after he decides to step up and actually help, there's just something that's still kind of creepy about him that I just don't like. I wonder how big of a role he'll have going forward.
Those are just some thoughts I have after my first viewing. Can't wait for Stranger Things 3!