Rating: 4.5/5 stars

There was a lot of anticipation surrounding “Stranger Things 2.” With its first season being critically acclaimed and an immediate pop culture icon, the second season had big shoes to fill. Thankfully, the series came back with an even more intense, enticing season.

“Stranger Things 2” features a large and talented ensemble cast. Their performances and characters make the entire show come together. The first season’s cast won the SAG Award for outstanding drama series in 2017, and it is likely that they can win again for season two. The series played around with mixing different characters together, such as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”) and Hopper (David Harbour, “Suicide Squad”), they had natural and emotionally charged scenes together.

Another dynamic duo was the unlikely pairing of Steve (Joe Keery, “Molly’s Game”) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo, “Stranger Things”). Together, they were funny and charming, and their characters, who so often feel left out and neglected by the group, bonded.

Brown, Harbour and Winona Ryder’s (“Girl, Interrupted”) roles on the show gave them acclaim last season, and their performances this season met the same standard of excellence. The most surprising performance this season was Noah Schnapp (“The Peanuts Movie”) as the role of Will. The character, who had been absent for the majority of season one, was promoted for the second season. Schnapp’s performance was genuine and compelling.

The most upsetting part about “Stranger Things 2” is reducing the role of Karen (Cara Buono, “Stranger Things”). Though never a driving force in the series, in season one, she proved to be a good mother who tried to understand and help her children. In season two, she becomes a stereotype of a bored housewife and is as unconcerned with her children as her husband, Ted (Joe Chrest, “Gifted”). Buono is a talented and accomplished actress; she was even nominated for an Emmy for her role in “Mad Men.” With a huge cast and complex plots, it was probably difficult to fit her into the narrative. However, the show stripped all the substance she had in season one and traded it for a wine glass.

Another great thing about the second season was the writing and character development of the show. Each character went on a personal journey, along with the main plot of the show, and they were all changed from it. The great thing about “Stranger Things 2” is that it is not afraid to have multiple storylines and plots per episode. The episodes always let the individual conflicts morph into one bigger one. The story is always perfectly constructed.

“Stranger Things 2” is filled with more pop culture references than the first. For those from the time period, it is very nostalgic. It references “Ghostbusters,” “Gremlins” and other classic movies. The music featured is also very reminiscent of the ‘80s. The show features “Goonies” star Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”) for an even more nostalgic effect.

“Stranger Things 2” is an amazing sequel to follow up its first season. The stories are more intense, the acting is superb, and the nostalgia is in full effect. All nine hours of the show are extremely enticing and fast-paced. In addition to being an amazing story, the show blends comedy, drama and horror all in one.

Photo: Image from Netflix via YouTube.com