'Stranger Things 2' Recap - 'Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Finding the perfect balance, has to be one incredible task for the brave souls that enjoy the title of ‘Showrunner’ when it comes to our favorite television shows. Because it is up to that all important person or persons to help the Writer’s Room figure out how to properly tell their tale over the course of a season and if too much of the plot is advanced up front, you’re left with a weak and unsatisfying season finale and if the saga takes too much time getting to the point, then everything feels rushed when you get to the last few episodes of the season.
 
Which is why many television sagas, Stranger Things included, make use of the ‘transitional episode’, a tale that helps keep the plot grounded and balanced by breaking away from the big storyline for a brief moment and I think we can all agree that this particular storytelling device often delivers mixed results. At times, they seem like lost episodes, just a tale thrown into the mix to fill the episode count while at other times, they’re completely and utterly brilliant, finding a way to give us just enough plot wise while still finding ways to entertain, as was the case with the second chapter of season two of this phenomenal show, ‘Trick or Treat, Freak’.
 
Because Chapter Two, not only advanced the plot just enough to satisfy, it slowed down the story to allow for us to get some answers to some burning questions, and follow up on some of the issues brought forth in the season premiere. Case in point, how Eleven escaped the Upside Down and the hardships she’s faced ever since, and how she’s yearning now to escape her current situation and her past and live a new life free from isolation and oddly enough, the notion of living one’s life free from the past was precisely how the story followed up with everyone who was trying to move forward in the prior episode. Because in reality, we came to realize in this tale that Nancy and Joyce are doing their best to move forward by not dealing with all of the incredible events that happened a year ago and they’re quickly coming to realize…that’s just not feasible. That in order to move forward they’ve got to face their pain and their fears and it should be interesting to see how that comes together later on in the season.

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​Yet, what truly made this episode such an enjoyable ride through and through, was the fact that it was just downright fun. We got to see these kids being kids, and I won’t lie, the entire costume sequence, where the guys were able to suit up with pride in their Ghostbusters attire took me right down memory lane and I’m sure I’m not alone in that since plenty of us geeks and nerds wore our costumes back in the day with pride and endured our own parental photo shoots to preserve the wonder of that particular moment, and the joy from this sequence didn’t end there. The whole segment with Mad Max was downright hilarious and it’s a good thing we had some fun with the kids in this episode, because dark things are on the horizon.
 
Because, we cannot forget that something sinister is brewing in Hawkins behind the scenes, there’s something eating its way through the pumpkin fields in town with glee and holy cow, we need to take a moment and discuss the whole Upside Down sequence with Will because that was completely and utterly terrifying. There is something supremely unwholesome about seeing a creature like that suddenly rise up from seemingly nowhere and tower over Will and the audience and what made that sequence all the more chilling is the sheer fact that whatever this awful thing is, it’s clearly hell bent on finding and getting close to Will and no good can come from that.
 
In the end however, I think this episode serves as proof that season two is just as good as season one, in fact it may be better. Because I am loving the depth we are seeing from the characters here, and the fact that the past is haunting so many. It’s making for a truly engrossing storyline, one that is moving along as the Duffer Brothers see fit and what made this transitional episode so amazing for me, is the sheer fact that it flew by while watching it. If anything, I’m definitely hooked and I’m dying to know what Dustin found in the trashcan and I cannot wait to find out what that massive hulk of a monster has planned for Will and Hawkins, which means…I should probably bid you all farewell and go watch episode three. Until next time.  

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