The Netflix series spins its wheels exploring familiar terrain.
So by late July you were getting invitations toStranger Thingsparties and everyone was talking about Barb.
The algorithm behindStranger Things particular nostalgia (the nostalgiorithm?)
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A group ofGooniesrodeETbikes with their pal Dark Phoenix, while the local teensPretty in Pinkd until theyHalloweend.
And the performers, many previously unknown, were great.
And Millie Bobby Brown was a genuine discovery.
Eleven was nicer, obviously, and comparingStranger Thingsto its more obvious inspirations made the show feel sanitized.
The newer character misunderstands Lucas confession and thinks hes spinning a fictional story.
But a lack of originality wasneverthis shows problem.
When you go to see an 80s cover band, youre not listening for new material.
And there was the possibility that the Duffers would getmoreambitious in their remixing.
Could they emptyallthe toys into the sandbox?
avatars of gendered playtime mixing together into one wondrous whole.
But thats a throwaway bit.
Last season,Stranger Thingsripped off the greats.
This season, its ripping offStranger Things.
Stranger Things 2begins roughly a year after last years finale.
Mike (Finn Wolfhard) misses Eleven.
Dustin and Lucas share a crush on a skateboarding gamer named Max (Sadie Sink).
Hopper is investigating curious disturbances around town.
And Eleven is…somewhere.
Tantalizing possibilities are hinted at, then hinted at again a full episode later.
The cast remains full of delightful performers, but they sprawl in different directions, many of them boring.
And thats the effect of alotof this season, actually.
Wills in a bad place,which you already knew from last seasons cliffhanger.
Full credit to Schnapp, a phantom presence last year, for delivering a sensitively freaked out performance.
Hes smaller than the other performers and seems constantly likely to break into dust from sheer fright.
Will Has A Scary Vision, whoops, I just spoiled the first few cliffhangers.
In place of Matthew Modine,Stranger Things 2gives us Paul Reiser as a new Mysterious Doctor.
And theres a new shadow monster, very large, with more tentacles.
Other weirdlies linger about.
How can the same s happen to the same guy twice?
pondered our man John.
New s lingers on the margins.
Theres a character with a mohawk, and a character who brags about stealing from war criminal billionaires.
This rebel energy feels beyond the shows spirit.
So there is no excuse for wheelspinning through tired story beats.
No one will complain ifStranger Things 3rips off the concept of brevity.C
