Should you stay obsessed with Stranger Things or should you go now? Well, “If you go, there will be trouble”.
The eagerly awaited trailer for last fall’s hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, has finally aired to answer many of the lingering questions that have been plaguing the fan base since they finished their first binge-watching session of the show, and it is looking good.
It opens by showing the boys, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas in their childish charm riding their bikes to the arcade to play, what I assume to be their latest favorite game, Dragon’s Lair. Their excitement in response to the game perfectly matches the emotions of the fans watching the trailer, but also brings fans back to the start of the first season when they jumped up in down in their games of Dungeons and Dragons before their lives were literally turned upside down.
The image of joy and a typical childhood quickly went away as Will is transported back into the upside down, ensuring viewers that, like the final episode of season one suggests, Hawkins, Indiana will never return to the way it once was. The characters are stuck to face whatever the Upside Down has in store, and that is where the trailer gets exciting.
Clips of the season previewed in the trailer showcase the 80’s nostalgia that fans adore as the 80’s architecture, music, and fashion combine with the late-October air to create a perfect backdrop for the clearly spooky and terrifying new season. The trailer was perfectly backed by Michael Jackson’s song Thriller to hint at all of the challenges that will arise. The lyrics “darkness falls across the land” and “creatures fall in search of blood, to terrorize your neighborhood” captivate viewers while clips of Hawkins went across the screen. The Duffer brothers clearly want viewers to be afraid of everything, their homes, their schools, and even the beloved characters.
The only thing that appears to change about the characters themselves is the fear they have. Nancy is still going to be prying to become popular on the arm of Steve, while Jonathan still stands by her on their fight against the upside down. The boys still beam with childhood joys and hope, while Joyce remains as the concerned mother who devotes all of her time into helping her son. Hooper is the voice of discovery and protection as he tries to find a solution. Eleven remains a strong force on her own as she tries to get back to Hawkins.
As for performances to watch, I am elated to soon see more of the Byer’s family's showcasing their talent. The trailer showed very little of Jonathan (played by Charlie Heaton), however, it will be interesting to see how he showcases his affection for Nancy and his anger toward being unable to help his family from the terrors of the upside down. I expect nothing but incredible things from Winona Ryder in the role of Joyce since last season she was so powerful and captivating in season one.
Joyce as a character will be intriguing to watch as this season she will have Will right in front of her, yet uncontrollably escaping from her as he is pulled back into the upside down. Will is who I am most excited to see, as in the first season, there was very little to be seen of him since the whole season was spent searching for him. Noah Schnapp’s character will be struggling with the most fear and uncertainty of all the characters, and according to the trailer, he may even be trapped once again in the upside down, and it will be great to watch such a young actor portray all of the emotions that come with the character.
The only disappointing part of the trailer is that it is clear that Barb is dead. For her, we can only hope that we see her memorial service, that Nancy is driven to give Barb revenge, and that Shannon Purser will win her Emmy nomination.
The question asked by all fans anticipating the release of a new season, “Will it be as good as the original season?” is now answered as the Duffer brothers surely have fans fearing the demogorgon rather than the quality of the show.
Watch the trailer here:
