Stranger Things (TV Series) Chapter One: MADMAX (2017) User Reviews

Chapter One: MADMAX (#2.1)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 19 May 2019]

The first episode of the season isn't very eventful but it was a nice reintroduction to the characters to see how they are. There is also a new character Mad Max who I feel will be playing an important role. Finally somebody mentioned Barb, now they think she was taken by the Russians. It is interesting what Will is going through. And what he sees when he has those episodes is absolutely beautiful. I mean, it is extremely terrifying for him, but very beautiful for us. Again such a well done setting of Upside Down. And yes, 80's were beautiful makes me want to live in them.

The Beginning of a New Season

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 1 January 2018]

Near the Halloween, Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will find that Dustin´s score in an Arcade game has been beaten by someone with the nickname MadMax. They believe the newcomer in school Maxine is the player. Hopper investigates what has happened to pumpkins that have been poisoned and the owner blames his neighbor. Will has visions from the Upside Down and he goes with Joyce and Hopper to a clinic for medical examination.

"Chapter One: MADMAX" is the weak beginning of a new season of "Stranger Things". So far, nothing is happening but Will´s visions and the intriguing appearance of El in the end of the episode. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Chapter One: MADMAX"

A Great Introduction

[lbrosprod · 9/10 · 1 November 2017]

For over a year, people have been talking about Stranger Things. However, they are mostly talking about the characters. The 80s nostalgia is talked about, too, and so is the plot, but it's the characters everyone is praising. Therefore, I hoped that they would set up the characters. And did they! I enjoyed seeing what happened to the characters between 1983 and 1984 -- figuratively speaking. This episode is character development heavy. No plot heavy. But that's okay! I wanted to know that the characters have developed, and developed they have. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Don't Spy! Creeps

[deepakdst · 10/10 · 15 June 2019]

I think it is the most attractive and thoughtful series ever made and this episode is a perfect new beginning of Strange Things. Madmax's attitude, Will's quick connection to The Upside Down, Eleven's reappearance and No. 008. It is awesome.

Dirk the dunderhead!

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 7 February 2020]

One of the first things we see in Hawkins is the introduction of the local penny arcade, and the advent of Dragon's Lair- one of the first video games which actually used a laserdisk, a dollar per play. It was very difficult to control "Dirk the dunderhead"- after wasting about $50 on that game I just gave up. It was practically impossible to beat.

Every season I was aghast at the realism that they poured into actually getting us to believe that this was the 80s, they nailed it.

We also get to see the introduction of "mad max" and Billy.

While everybody is recovering from the catastrophe of season one, a new catastrophe that is thousands of times worse is developing- right under their feet!

And Joyce is still driving that Pinto, I had a Pinto the exact color as that.

Welcome back

[Fluke_Skywalker · 8/10 · 2 November 2017]

Plot; A year later, things have seemingly returned to normal in Hawkins, Indiana, but below the surface darkness brews.

This first episode of S2 is a bit of a slow burn, reacquainting us with the characters and easing us back into the view askew that is Hawkins, Indiana. There's a lot to enjoy for returning viewers, but for the uninitiated, there's little here latch onto and even less to hook you. In short; if you haven't watched S1... go watch S1 first.

By this point the solid ensemble cast have their characters down, and newcomers like Sean Astin and Paul Reiser blend in seamlessly. I have a feeling neither character will be who or what they seem.   Beyond the intriguing (and never again referenced or explained) opening and the shocking revelation in its last few minutes, "MADMAX" doesn't offer much that needs to be unpacked. This is a reorientation more than it is a first step, but for fans it should feel good to be Strange once again.

A really great start

[gavin-thelordofthefu-48-460297 · 10/10 · 5 September 2020]

The 1st season of Stranger Things was great. It established the whole idea of the whole Upside Down concept in the 1980's while providing some good drama, good suspense, and very relatable characters. Upon learning that the show got renewed for a 2nd season, I got very excited and watched the entirety with anticipation. From what I've got, it was very good. Sure, it wasn't as strong as the 1st season, but it does it's job in continuing the story line that was established.

The first episode is a great start and sets up a character that could play a vital part in the story (in this case, Max). It also expands more on the events that happened in the first season where Will now has PTSD due to his disappearance in Hawkins at the Upside Down world while providing some good suspense and drama.

The visual effects are great especially the scene where Will sees the Upside Down world version of Hawkins outside the arcade, the pacing is very brisk where it doesn't have a dull moment, the directing is great, and the music score continues to compliment the 1980's setting very well.

The acting is still good with everyone bringing some pathos to their respective characters. Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp continue to shine in their chemistry as Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will, Winona Ryder is still good as Joyce Byers and David Harbour is still great as Jim Hopper while Sean Astin (known as Mikey from The Goonies and Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings trilogy) is a surprise as Bob Newby. Millie Bobby Brown also surprise as Eleven near the end of the episode.

Overall, a great start to a pretty good 2nd season.

The Band is back together

[CatcHing-firE · 9/10 · 26 November 2017]

Season 2 of Stranger Things picks up about a year after the events of the first season. Before we get to the main gang however we are introduced to a new set of characters in a brief and brisk prologue, who we're sure to see later in the story.

Okay this is my first review, and I'm gonna try and get better with these as I keep on writing them, especially with keeping them spoiler free. I don't think my intro is a spoiler but I'll let IMDb decide.

Anyway this was a great episode to welcome the viewers back for another season with these characters. The episode does a great job of showcasing where all the characters are a year later, and starts setting the narrative for what the season has in store. If you thought the demogorgon was the only threat from the Upside Down, this episode sure teases an even bigger monster to come.

The references to 1980s pop culture is also quite evident in the episode and it's welcome nostalgia to some iconic films and video games.

The episode also introduces some new characters, namely Bob, Mad Max, and Billy who are sure to play a large part in the story. I'm especially curious to see the back story of Max and Billy who seem less than happy to be stuck in Hawkins. Sean Astin as Bob is also interesting, especially since it seems lately he's been cast in a lot of things only to meet a tragic fate so I'm curious to see what will happen here. Still rooting for Hopper and Joyce though.

I guess the one downside to this episode is they seem to be putting a lot of story lines in motion and that can have a tendency to keep characters apart for long periods of time a la The Walking Dead, and I hope this isn't the case with Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Mike being apart from El for much of the season.

That's all for now, review of the second episode coming soon.

Stranger Things is back!!

[ououzaza · 8/10 · 27 September 2019]

A great introduction to the new season. packed with new characters, some mystery and set-up the villian of this season.

Not quite high-scoring

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 13 July 2021]

Season 1 was a very good, and at its best excellent, start to one of Netflix's better shows, was not expecting 'Stranger Things' to be a hit but it did turn out to be that. Although a couple of episodes weren't as strong as the others (two and six being the weakest), none of the eight episodes that made the season up were less than decent and the best of them were outstanding (especially the last two). So expectations were high for Season 2.

High expectations that generally were met. After re-watching all three seasons up to date after Season 3 aired, Season 2 went slightly down in my estimations but is still very much worth watching. "Chapter 1: Madmax" is not one of the best Season 2 episodes in my mind, but it is a solid start and sets up what is to come and introducing more chess pieces quite well. A lot of many fine things here, as well as a few things that could have been done a lot better.

Am going to start with listing those. The story this time round is rather slow moving and can be quite thin at times, feeling over-stretched. Meaning that there are moments of dull pacing in particularly the middle act where not an awful lot happens. Other episodes delivered more on the suspense and surprises, including the last two episodes of Season 1.

Character progression is definitely here and a good deal richer but the story doesn't as much. "Chapter 1: Madmax" actually doesn't have much that is catastrophically wrong, other episodes just had better and more consistent story and pace execution.

However, there are many things done very well to outstandingly. The production values are typically very stylish and atmospheric, with some beautiful and unsettling images. The music is suitably haunting and nostalgic and the direction does well in creating enough tension when needed when things get going in the final act and also some breathing space also when needed.

Despite occasional melodramatic and forced moments, the usual brains and heart quality is present in the writing with some welcome levity when needed. The story is at least coherent and while a long way from perfect in momentum it is not a tonal muddle, has some intrigue and some tension towards the end. The character writing advances a good deal all round and the characters don't bore or frustrate. The acting is very good, with the younger cast faring better than the older ones (found this in a lot of episodes of 'Stranger Things').

Overall, solid beginning to Season 2. 7/10.

Overrated episode!!

[jgkamunye · 1 November 2017]

This episode was fair and okay but it I don't think it deserves the high praise and big rating.I never got any build up of characters hoping I ll see more of that as the season progresses.But don't get me wrong.Am a fan of these show.I hope this season gets better.Nice to see Eleven back by the way.It gets a 7.2/10 from me.

Life marches on . . .

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 13 November 2017]

The hype leading into Season 2 was no laughing matter, and I think it was a stroke of genius to let this (re)introductory episode focus on the larger picture of Hawkins, Indiana. There isn't really a central character (yet, at least), and they're all just pieces on a game board.

To that end, it's an exciting board game to return to, and opens things up for new faces (Paul Reiser and Sean Astin); and the existing characters have just the right amount of familiarity. Dustin's efforts to maintain his Dig Dug high score made for some of the best scenes. To a great extent, this is just a big Welcome Back sign. While this show has been about creating eerie environment, it's a place I've been wanting to get back to. The soundtrack is fantastic, and the song selection really helps enhance the mood.

In the end, it's really that mood (not the '80s references) that pulls me time and again. This is a hell of a start to a new season.

8/10

Stranger Things - MadMax

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 22 September 2018]

We are dropped into the cast's lives on the anniversary of Will's return from the Upside Down, how he feels like a freak, is considered "zombie boy" by the students in school who often want to avoid him (except his gang), and must visit a doctor at a special hospital (Paul Reiser; "Mad About You" & "Aliens") occasionally for "checkups". His mother, Joyce, has since become romantically involved with just a lovable "Average Joe" (Sean Astin; "Lord of the Rings" movies" & "The Goonies"), while his brother, Jonathan, still pines for Mike's sister, Nancy, who since rekindled her teen romance with senior, Steve. Something about the Upside Down continues to re-emerge as Will finds himself "back there" when at the Arcade with Mike, Dustin, and Lucas. Speaking of the Arcade, cue the Devo "Whip It" music and visit Dustin as he fails to upend the game, Dragon's Lair. But the gang realizes there is a new gamer among them starting to make notice, Max, later to be determined as a skater girl they nickname "MadMax", a red-head with plenty of 'tude. Her older brother rocks a mullet and pops the pistons on his muscle ride when parking into high school. So while the gang become smitten with Max, Will begins to really envision the Upside Down, feeling that this isn't so contained in the hospital of the first season...later, after the visit to the doc, it is revealed that Reiser's Dr. Sam Owens has essentially replaced Modine, watching as an officer goes near the Upside Down "gateway", using a blowtorch in what appears to be an attempt to burn "it" away.

The emphasis on 80s pop culture is quite extensive with plenty of nods in regards to music (the aforementioned "Whip It"), movies ("The Terminator" on the theater marquee), Presidential race (Reagan/Bush sign in the yard), arcade games, form of dress, hair/clothing styles, and vehicles. Fans of retro 80s everything will be more than satisfied, I think. And I thought the coupling of Ryder and Astin as a fun touch considering their nostalgic ties to many of the show's fans who grew up with them. The rotting, maggot-infested pumpkins Sheriff Hopper is called to investigate at a farmer's field sort of nods at the Upside Down's potential invasion of Hawkins. It connects to what Will is also experiencing. While Joyce is finally happy for a change, although her consistent worry is obvious, poor Jonathan remains a lonely outcast who, at the very least, isn't ignored by Nancy. And Jonathan's chat with a troubled Will about his treatment by those around him (not intentionally trying to bother him, but nonetheless a bit too precious towards him due to his disappearance) gives the brothers a warm moment...embracing being a "freak", not letting it get to him, Jonathan eases Will's pain. With Hopper trying to avoid Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), hired by Barb's parents to find her, who brings to him what he believes to be a "Russian spy" theory he might want to investigate (Murray's reporting of aliens in the past has him the brunt of ruthless jokes in the sheriff's department), the sheriff has continued to remain associated with Will and Joyce, not forgetting what happened a year ago...and the nice twist involving Eleven hiding away at his cabin, sort of having become a surrogate daughter and safe from the probing experimental eyes of others, establishes that he has provided her a stable environment, a sense of some normalcy considering what happened to her a year before.

Nothing special

[piero_ribas · 4/10 · 3 November 2017]

Let me start by saying that I wasn't really impressed with season 1 of Stranger Things. To me it was basically a copy of the Twin Peaks seasons 1 and 2 story condensed in fewer episodes with a ton of references from other movies and series blended in as well. The debate on the use of references and appropriation is very dense and often left out to personal taste, so I'll leave that to you. Personally, I think that Stranger Things lacked on creating a mood (or having a "soul") of it's own from the very beginning, relying on using media from the 80's and the nostalgia associated to it. If you take that out, there's little left.

Now on to S2E1, "Madmax". I was curious to see how it'd follow up the season 1 finale. Many of the Netflix Originals Series' first seasons tend to end somewhat self-contained, with a few cliffhangers that won't have a great impact if the series is not renewed. Stranger Things had this happen on season 1, and the direct result is that it gives you a lot of freedom on what to do next, which can be both a good or a bad thing. Generally, there's less time to write episodes of a follow-up season than to write the ones for the first season, which in the case of Stranger Things is a test of the writers capability, that previously mostly relied on repurposing other works. Meanwhile, the third season of Twin Peaks (The Return), object of my comparison, aired in between both seasons of ST and proved to be a carefully crafted masterpiece.

So, after all that, how the episode turned out to be? Not great. It starts with a random action scene. I can't help but think there's more effective ways of introducing a new character, but since we as an audience are so used to shallow adrenaline-filled scenes, it goes unnoticed. Most of what happens with the main characters in this episode is a step backward to what happened in the last one. Almost a year has passed with apparently no particular reason other than maybe to soften the growing of the kid actors between seasons. The character development is so bland that it never felt like so much time has passed, it feels like the events happened yesterday and everyone just had some sort of short term memory loss. The only plus side was that Winona Ryder didn't act as a complete one-dimensional terrified-all- the-time mother this time.

What annoyed me the most in this episode was the number of scenes used to build up useless suspense. Hopper in the cornfield, Dustin and the trashcan, Will staring at the skies. All done with the most obvious, over used sound design choices. OK, we get it. Framing and camera operation also seemed to not have any concept to follow, as each composition style changed from scene-to-scene to "what looks good here" instead, so characteristic of commercial advertisement media. No wonder the show can sometimes feel like it's just a fashion trend.

4/10. Good for nostalgia, terrible in artistic value.

After Will Comes Back

[vivianla · 11 October 2020]

We see a group wearing Halloween masks break into a building and run away by car. The Pennsylvania night view at the very beginning is stunning. One Indian girl gets a nose bleed after using her powers, just like El.

The boys look for money for the arcade. The black kid tells Dustin that he actually mowed lawn and earned money unlike him. He put in effort like a real man. The conversation was so cute.

Mike goes to do his part in search of money and goes through his sister's drawers. He comes across a bra and just holds it in his hands looking confused. He eventually shakes money from her piggy bank and runs off.

The boys go to the arcade. Will's mom drops him off. Will has these moments where he is back in that ugly world. The sky is so red and orange. Dustin is upset to learn MadMax has beaten his scores. The boys wonder who MadMax is and one of them asks this older boy. The older boy wants something in exchange - a date with his sister. Mike says in disgust he is not going to prostitute his sister.

The 80s bomber jackets three girls wear in front of the school while checking out a guy's butt look amazing. Mike's sister gives Jonathan a poster, attempting to persuade him to come to the party.

Mike is told by his mother to pack two boxes of toys for the yard sale. Mike says the toys have too much emotional value and his parents scoff saying they are just plastic. Mike goes though each toy one-by-one and he comes to the items that he made memories with El. He goes to the walkie-talkie and asks El if she is there. Mike is so cute and caring. He is my favourite.

The cop goes to his home and knocks on the door. He pushes it to find the door unlocked and says out loud what did we talk about before? He is referring to the food on the little table. El comes out with curly hair looking energetic and is more talkative.

Finally more "Stranger Things" are here... steadily building up.. with much hopes.

[Aktham_Tashtush · 8/10 · 27 October 2017]

Just in time for Halloween :D the "Stranger Things" is back, at the first couple of scenes you'd think the show appeared to be really fast and thrilling yet a bit disconnected especially with that new girl "number 008", but you won't wait longer till they rapidly hit us with a the new strong fast Multi-sub-plots still based on the wired unexplainable things that happen in that small Indiana town thing but feel so fresher and alive.

Still loving the visuals, it all feels so 80's , everything is on point, i mean like that moment with the crow in the "poisoned" field,right in the last part with the garbage bin scare !! it was so real ,, like for a show has a overall Mystery/Sci-Fi i hardly put it in the Horror genre but damn there are a couple of scenes really makes you jump your seat.

Will Byers character is still a big part of the story and this season he's having more time and big chunk of the story.

This season there are a new set of characters like number 008 and that Mad Max girl and Dr. Owens played by Paul Reiser and that weird bearded "Believer" Murray Bauman played unexpectedly by Brett Gelman but they all look to be adjusting and acclimating very well in the environment of "Stranger Things".

Finally Eleven appears in the last scene with her new look just makes you play the next episode right on.

Done with episode one and the events are steadily building up to hopefully a big finish as i'm planning to watch the whole season today, and that's why we love Netflix.

Episode 1 establishes Stranger Things as a storytelling masterpiece

[jjpscott01 · 10/10 · 27 October 2017]

Avoiding any spoilers this early on, I'll just go ahead and say what your guaranteed to hear all over the web. This show hasn't missed one beat! In fact, within 30 minutes, you'll be reminded very quickly why Stranger Things has become such a phenomenon over the last year. The new characters are immediately as engaging as you'd hope them to be, and episode one in general should be the blueprint for how to write the perfect setup for a season of TV.

There are lots of questions to be answered as expected in a series opener like this, but you'll never have more fun letting your mind go all over the place than you do in Stranger Things. This show has HUGE expectations after the first season and I would've been happy if it simply met those. What I didn't expect was for the Duffer Brothers to beat those expectations and surprise us all over again. This is just great television

Very Intriguing

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 30 October 2017]

This lays the groundwork very well. I have to admit I had to rack my brain to pull together the events of last season, but it didn't take long. We have our foursome trying to just be kids, but they seem to tempt fate. The episode starts with a car chase where the van being pursued vanishes into thing air, along with its occupants. We have the boy who disappeared and "came back to life" dealing with the nastiness of adolescence. A new character is introduced. She is Max, a redhead, who is a master game player and extremely formidable with others. The boys are immediately take with her, even though she leaves a message for these creeps to stop looking at her. Will has apocalyptic visions and it's obvious that the bad guys are still at work, messing with evil. Nice job.

Perfect kickstart!

[zacwhyte · 8/10 · 8 November 2017]

So I just want to first of all make it clear that this review may get a bit soppy at times!

So I have been a MASSIVE fan of Stranger Things ever since the release day of Season 1, when I binge-watched that in a day. I fell in love with it immediately and I am proud to call it my number one TV Show. Obviously I had been long-anticipating the release of Season 2 (Stranger Things 2 as it's now called) and I can remember the very moment I watched the "l'eggo my eggo" trailer for the first time and just about passing out!

So of course, finally after just over a year, Stranger Things 2 is released. My original plan was to do an all-nighter ready for it's release at 8am UK, but that didn't quite go to plan and in the end it was 8pm when I watched it for the first time. Now I have to compress this review into (under) 1000 words, so I'm only going to mention the important parts:

I thought the beginning was very interesting and did leave me curious as to what it was all about. That was of course answered later on in the season, however I thought the Duffer's had a good idea of getting it out of the way first thing. The next mention is how exhilarated I felt when the opening titles came on and I just knew this wasn't my eighth or whatever time watching Season 1, but in fact something completely new.

Seeing Dustin straight after the titles, scurrying around the house looking for quarters was good enough to get me excited, but when Kyle Dixon's and Michael Stein's 'Kids' theme music from Season 1 was reintroduced I must say it was very welcome. I loved the flow of reintroducing the original cast, too!

A quick note on the characters of Billy and Max: Max has quickly grown to become one of my favorite TV characters. Sadie Sink did an amazing job, as did Dacre Montgomery with, well don't even get me started on Billy. But Dacre also gave an incredible performance.

Now, I loved how the 'now memories' were set out and I adored how all the episodes Will was experiencing were portrayed. But onto a (for me) more important note, I'm going to focus on the ending.

I just knew when Hopper was talking to 'someone' in the cabin, I was finally going to see one of my, if not the, most fantastic characters in any feature. When Eleven entered the scene at the end, the whole act combined with the incredible new soundtrack had me so overwhelmed. And as the camera panned out for a final shot of Hopper and El at the table tears genuinely did come to my eyes.

I decided after watching just this episode that Stranger Things had become not only my number 1 TV Show, but my number 1 TV Show and movie COMBINED. The music is so so amazing. It is exceptionally well directed, the characters do justice for Season 1 and storyline and dialogue is so fantastic. Oh, and Steve Harrington's character development (I'll explain in a review for Episode 6) has gained Joe Keery and his character a credible amount of respect and love from me.

In the end, I had an all-nighter that night because I finished the whole Season in one sitting, just like with the first one.

Incredible <3

Keep me guessing.

[mjgartners · 10/10 · 21 June 2019]

Love that they keep me guessing. Enjoy the changes I can't predict.. great characters, story line keeps me coming back for More!!!

It's still a brilliant series

[cutetimster · 10/10 · 28 October 2017]

I just love everything about this TV series thank you Netflix for producing such high quality programming you put terrestrial companies to shame ! I love the music the kids , they have a real Goonies kids gang type feel to them .. Great story line I am now watching episode 4 of series 2 I will have to stop to watch my team Barcelona play football . I highly recommend this series to you , watch it if you miss it that would be a shame .. Tim

Catching Up with the Old Cast

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 17 January 2018]

Season 2 starts around the time of the Halloween season, around a year after the events of last season took place. The 4 boys are still the tight-knit group we knew from before and while Dustin and Lucas seem to have gotten past last season's events, Mike still misses Eleven dearly and Will has some sort of PTSD from the Upside-Down, causing terrifying visions in his life. He is currently seeing physicians at the compound. In other news, Joyce has a new boyfriend (played by Sean Astin), there's a new family in town and the girl is the new queen of the arcade, Nancy and Steve are still together, and Eleven is alive and secretly living at Sheriff's Hopper house. Also, there seems to be at least one experiment (and probably more) out on the loose and running amok in the world with their special powers.

This didn't necessarily have the BANG I wanted out of a season premiere but I'll give it time to develop. We do get introduced to a few new characters and get updates into the lives of the main cast, so I guess that's important. No scene, besides the initial bank heist, really stood out to me in any way.

The Duffer brothers also seemed to have upped the ante on the 80's nostalgia and references. Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seemed a bit over the top this time around. Last season they felt organic and didn't impede on the story lines themselves but, at least in the season opener, they seem to have crammed as many they could in the 50 minutes; lots of winking and elbow-nudging. Hopefully this won't be as bad as the story picks up momentum. All in all, a pretty average episode.

Halloween Review #32: Brilliant premiere!!

[lorcan-61881 · 10/10 · 27 October 2017]

So,also,guys my new favourite show will also be apart of my Halloween reviews because..ya! Its horror related! So,Stranger Things is now happily on Netflix after a year of production and you should have seen me,I was literally checking for no reason everyday on Netflix,just in case,just in case,there was a chance Season 2 was out early,but no and every day I checked...and trust me,I never have ever done that,not for 13 Reasons Why or Riverdale or any Netflix show,so,I pretty much love this show..but anyway,lets get in to Season 2's premiere,ay?! Warning! Spoilers ahead!! Season 2 opens in Pittsburgh,Penslyvannia,where a group of people in masks participate in a bank robbery when the main girl reveals to be a girl also with psychic powers with the tattoo saying '008'on her arm..hmm,strange,Eleven has the same tattoo but it says '011'. The episode then shows Mike,Dustin,Lucas and Will as they spy on Max,a new girl who they think are the person who bet Dustin's high score on some video game,it also shows Joyce who is now dating the manager at her store as well as Nancy who finds out that Mr. and Mrs. Holland are hiring a investigator to find their missing daughter and Nancy's best friend Barbara unaware she was eaten by The Demogorgan a year back,Will is also going up and down to Hawkins Lab to have treatments as they find out hes suffering from post dramatic stress. The episode then soon ends leaving at a brilliant blank spot;Hopper returns to his new home with two dinners sitting on the table,but who? A new girlfriend? His old wife? Sarah? No!! You were wrong,it was Eleven,yes,Eleven is back as the episode ends with the two agreeing that dessert comes after dinner as the two finish dinner. Now,I have not seen the next episode yet as I'm waiting for my sister to finish Season 1 so she can move on but I was literally acting metal when I saw the opening scene to the end,I was rubbing my hands like crazy with excitement,I'm excited to see who actually Darcie and Max are and why their in Hawkins as well as how Eleven escaped the Upside Down..but I have a theory I think is going to be true,but who knows,theory's are just things I believe!! MADMAX is an exciting premiere that might even have you pissing your jeans like I did..na! I did'int do that..(gulp)

Madmax

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 29 October 2017]

Stranger Things was the breakout hit of 2016, but the show managed to recapture as much of the magic in its season two premiere as you could hope for. They sort of slowed down on the purposely cheesy 80's stuff, which I think was a mistake, but they planted the seeds for what could be a fun new season.

Good, not outstanding though.

Nothing better still same old for how long people will watch this for nostalgia..I know children under 18 who are blind fans would give this review no without reading it..

[numu-39124 · 1/10 · 27 October 2017]

I am not native American so I've to completely rely upon IMDb ratings and reviews this series became very famous and had high ratings so I was looking forward to it.I read something about nostalgia but didn't know that viewers would give high ratings to any show without thinking. Well it all comes down to taste but something with 8.9 should be written very well not just copied from old movies of steven king and others.Do you really think that this trash is better than oz that has only 8.8 rating.My four year old son can write better than this no logics whole story has plot holes little kids fighting against aliens,secret organisations,you can go to other world by sitting in pool of water!really without any explanation they showed us that and people are calling it masterpiece.Some of the mysteries of the series never see resolution. For example, how did Will communicate through the lights? Especially if, when you're in the Upside Down, you can't perceive the world on the other side? The series was too long. At least a couple of episodes consisted mostly of people walking around, driving around, going here to there without the story advancing anywhere. A two-hour movie could have told this story. The monster wasn't that interesting. Better that we never saw it fully. Also, how does an apex predator survive in a lifeless world? Just wondering. Of course, when the series runs for several hours, you have time to ponder these questions. Here's another one: How did the bad guys' MAJESTIC 12 base operate in a completely undetected fashion? Did dozens of people live on the base, with no contact with the outside world, for years? Be that as it may, they were stunningly inept, to the point of hilarity. And the end really wasn't the end. The chief bad guy might not be dead. The monster might not be dead. Eleven isn't dead. The young boy who goes missing in the beginning is coughing up alien slugs, but doesn't tell his parents. No resolution of any plot point, in a cheap bid for another season. (Note to the writers: Why not just start another plot, as other series have done?) This is a review of the episode so it looks like Eleven is alive and well over at Sheriff Jim Hopper's place.What's more interesting are the questions of how did Eleven survive and why hasn't she reached out to her friends? Poor Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) appears to be stuck between two worlds. While Mike, Dustin, and Lucas are focused on beating the high score in Dragon's Lair, Will is stuck with visions of a large shadow monster that makes the Demogorgon look like a chipmunk.he's the only one who can see these aberrations.there are some new characters not likable.Nancy and Steve were still together — sorry, Jonathan; they even went so far as to use the "L" word. But she remained haunted by the fact that their first night together had cost Barb her life. And, as if she didn't already feel guilty enough, she learned from her late bestie's parents that they were selling their house to pay a former investigative reporter named Murray to find Barb. Uh, good luck with that.nothing much happened. I was ready to like this show. I wanted to like it. I even tried to convince myself I liked it. People seem to enjoy it for the 80's throwbacks; I feel there is nothing else to it. Stranger Things invokes the style of the classics as if to count itself among them, but it plainly is not. I find it utterly forgettable. Quite simply it's plot is simplistic, it isn't that scary or suspenseful. If you remove the 80s nostalgia, not much there.