'Stranger Things 2' Recap - 'Chapter One: MADMAX'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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Television shows that are instant hits or considered to be a ‘phenomenon’ when it comes to storytelling are truly magical in their own right. After all, they latched onto something special with the audience, found a way to instantly suck them in and that’s precisely what Netflix’s Stranger Things managed to do in its inaugural season. It found a way to please fans of nostalgia and horror by providing those folks with a gripping and terrifying storyline set in an era that many look upon fondly. But most importantly, it broke free of any niche audiences by delivering an incredible story with vibrant characters that drew everyone in.
 
That kind of perfect storm is incredibly difficult to replicate because when a story comes together that easily and becomes a phenomenon and darling in its own right, everything that follows after it will be held to the standard of that original tale and I think that’s what was on all of our minds when we tuned in this week to see what the second season of this explosive saga had in store for us and I’m pleased to say that if the season two premiere of this series, ‘MADMAX’ is any indicator of what the rest of year two is going to be like, than Stranger Things has become the equivalent of lightning striking twice. 
 
Because it doesn’t take long for this story to suck you right in and make you feel at home and really, there were two key things that I absolutely adored when it came to this premiere, the fact that the horror elements that brought me plenty of joy in season one were still prevalent in this tale and the fact that the writing when it comes to the characters and the depth surrounding them has improved leaps and bounds over season one. I say that, because in essence, last year was all reactionary storytelling, wherein everyone’s best was brought about because of Will’s disappearance and of course, their survival instincts when dealing with the Upside Down, but in this premiere, we finally learned more about who these characters are as people and what they want in life.

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​Much of that was achieved by way of a key theme hanging over just about all of the story; the need to move on from a traumatic past, because so many in this tale were working hard to forget about the horrors that happened a year ago in Hawkins and their strife made for some compelling and heartbreaking television. Case in point, Joyce, a mother who so desperately wants to see her family come together again that she’s willing to get involved with someone that at least in my opinion, she really isn’t that interested in, but appears to be in order to create a family environment for her boys so they can all feel whole again and use that to heal all of their pain. 
 
Yet what made this push for mental peace so incredibly fascinating is the fact that Joyce and so many others understand that it’s going to be a long hard road to recovery since momma Byers is fully cognizant of the fact that her son is still struggling with what he experienced in that other world and some…well they’ve not fully recovered at all as was evidenced in the devastating dinner scene with Barb’s parents where her folks expressed their continued dedication to bringing home their baby girl, rather than accept the possibility (and fact) that she’s dead. And of course, we cannot forget the true surprise when it comes to this episode, in that Sheriff Hopper is the only person to apparently have found a way to work through his pain by playing dad to a surrogate daughter in Eleven, the one character we thought was gone forever…
 
However, while one can easily lose themselves in this beautiful style of storytelling, I made mention of the fact that the horror is still there waiting for us and my goodness, the show simply didn’t mess around when it comes to that. Because it’s clear something horrible is brewing behind the scenes and something powerful is looking to find its way into our world, by way of Will, and no good can come of the fact that it appears to have found him at the end of the episode. Either way, this was a wonderful beginning to season two, I love how rich the characters have become and I’m delighted that the hints of trouble to come sent utter chills down my spine and with that in mind, it’s time to tell Netflix to play the next episode of this incredible show so I can see what terrors from the Upside Down await us, until next time.   

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