Stranger Things: Series 2 — Episodes 1, 2 & 3: Chapter 1 MADMAX, Chapter 2 Trick or Treat, Freak & Chapter 3 The Pollywog.

3rd December, 2017

OK, it’s a Sunday night: a Sunday night, at the end of a day off doing nothing more special than shopping … 

And complaining at Amazon.

I’ll give them their due: they get stuff to a body in good time.   Especially given it’s December, and coming up for Christmas.

But … ?   I’ve got a default space place on record with Amazon.   In other words, a neighbour that a Amazon driver can leave stuff with, should I be out when they try and deliver.

If I’m not in and the designated neighbour isn’t?

Usually, they try again, later, or on another day.

This weekend’s deliveries?

Left on my door mat, in plain view of anyone wandering around the building.

I’ve complained.   And been told by Amazon they’ll be having words with the relevant driver.

I’m … well … not totally happy: especially as this happened with a couple of deliveries, last year.

But that will have to do for now.

~≈§≈~

At any rate?

I had a Sunday night free: some time to spend, in other words.

Free time … 

And nothing to watch on regular TV.

Unless you count the recently released second series of Stranger Things … 

~≈§≈~

Episode 1 — Chapter 1: MADMAX — opens with a bank robbery: a young woman and her gang rob a bank.   And get away from the pursuing police with the help of one gang member’s psychic abilities.

Back in Hawkins, Will (Noah Schnapp) has a vision of the Upside Down, Sheriff Hopper (David Harbour) investigates a pumpkin patch, after he and Will’s mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder) consult Dr Owens (Paul Reiser) about Will.

~≈§≈~

Episode 2 — Chapter 2: Trick or Treat, Freak reintroduces Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown): who’s been hiding at an old hunting lodge owned by Hopper’s grandfather: with Hopper’s knowledge and help.

She’s been having genuine flashbacks of the previous year: AND getting cabin fever.

With all that … ?   Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) finds something in a trash can.

~≈§≈~

Episode 3 — Chapter 3: The Pollywog* see Dustin feeding the creature — dubbed Dart — to see what happens: with the result the creature starts growing.

And molting: when Dustin shows it to Will, Mike, Lucas and Max.   (Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and new cast member, Sadi Sink.)

Bob (Sean Astin†), Joyce’s new boyfriend, gives Will emotional support.

All this …?   All this whilst Joyce, having seen some video footage on bob’s VHS camera, realises Will isn’t having flashbacks …

~≈§≈~

Right now?

It’s late: I’m tired, but at least can say I’ve some Stranger Things inspired music on.

Tangerine Dream’s Exit, if you must know.

Frankly?

Based on these three episodes, Strange Things second series is looking good.

I will ask you this, though.

I think that Strange Things setting — a small US town with right on top of a entrance to a magical, but perilous, alternative world — vaguely reminds me of Sunnydale: the setting for Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

OK, the two are very different serials, but still: I felt the two towns had something in common.

Are you getting that, too … ?

 *        Apparently, it’s an American English term for a tadpole.

†        Who’d I’d last seen in the first series of The Strain.   He also appeared in The Goonies: which I’m told is something os a reference point for Stranger Things.