Stranger Things Review: We Need to Talk About Will
Paul Dailly
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Is Will Byers going to survive Stranger Things Season 2?
That became my big concern after watching Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 4, Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 5 and Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 6.
From the moment Will opened up about what was going on, it was apparent that bad things were coming for everyone involved, but the most significant twist came when Will lured the men from Hawkins Laboratory into a trap.
That was just dark, and it proved the entity was well on its way to taking over Will's body for good. Now that everyone knows Will is not to be trusted, it's only a matter of time before he goes full dark mode Will.
What I liked about the Hawkins Laboratory scenes was that it seemed like Owen was not in the same zip code as Brenner when it came to being evil. Owens wanted results, but he did not want to go as far as some of the other members of his team wanted to go.
Seeing them essentially give up on Will after the troubling brain scan was painful to watch knowing that this kid has been such an integral part of the series.
His disappearance was the big jumping off point back on Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 1. That said, it has been odd having him back with his family during Stranger Things Season 2.
STEVE: How do you know [Dart’s] not just a lizard?
DUSTIN: Because its face opened up and it ate my cat.
I liked that even though Joyce knew she was coming across as a paranoid wreck, she did not give up, and she was wise not to. Remember back on Stranger Things Season 1 everyone thought she was crazy when she said she was communicating with Will?
It's been nice having Bob along for the ride, and my heart broke a little for him when Will noted that he did not remember him when he woke up after the crazy seizure.
Yes, that seizure was fifty shades of crazy. It seemed like Will was linked to the vines and that was a great way to keep the things growing beneath the streets of Hawkins.
Something tells me Owens and the rest of his men are not going to listen to a thing Will says now that they know he lured their men into death by the Demogorgons.
Seeing all the Demogorgons show up in the junkyard was a horrifying moment because it seemed like Steve was about to lose his life. Despite being a problematic character during Stranger Things Season 1, he has really come into his own this year.
Who thought it would take Nancy disappearing out of town with Jonathan to help the character become likable? Him and Dustin working together initially paved the way for some of the show's best moments.
I think we can do without the apparent love triangle that's coming between Max, Lucas, and Dustin. Lucas opening up to Max was his way to help her understand why they have all been acting crazy.
However, he should have really consulted with the others before opening his mouth. What he did was put everyone in danger. It may be a stretch, but how do we know Max is not working with the villains?
It’s crazy, but I really liked it. I mean, I had a few issues. I just felt it was a little derivative in parts. I just wish it had a little more originality, that’s all.
Max
If this show has proven anything, it's that it will pull the rug from under the audience at any given moment, and that's what's so appealing about it.
Max is an interesting enough character, but I roll my eyes the moment Billy appears. That character is the worst. All he wants to do is belittle everyone and does not want Max to be happy about anything.
All of the stuff with Eleven was awesome. I loved her freakout at Hopper for the way things were in the house. Hopper keeps giving her empty promises about what will happen, and that's why she lashed out.
I liked that her lashing out also paved the way for her to find the files that included details about her mother. This solidified to Eleven that Hopper could not be trusted. She has long been vocal about friends not lying, and that's precisely what he did.
Her journey to find her mother was heartbreaking. Her poor mother wanted to get her daughter back but was instead put in a state in which all she could do was recall key moments from the time her daughter was taken from her.
That must have been horrifying for Eleven to witness. But it will only make her more adamant to get revenge on those who have wronged her. Hawkins Laboratory should be very scared right about now.
Nancy and Jonathan taking the evidence to the investigator was a random move, but they never had another option.
It made sense that they would make everything that happened to Barb more believable because it's not the type of story the public are going to get on board with easily.
The three episodes were filled with good moments that advanced the plot, but there was a pacing issue. The drama slowed down, and it makes me think the show would have been better with fewer episodes.
What do you think, Stranger Things Fanatics?
Hit the comments below!
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
