- After what feels like the longest time, Stranger Things 3 finally hits Netflix on July 4, 2019 at 12 a.m. PST.
- Season 2 was released way back in October 2017, meaning that viewers have had a seriously long wait for new episodes.
- Here, we revisit what happened in Stranger Things 2, ahead of the return of Eleven, Mike, and the rest of the gang.
Fans of Stranger Things have been anxiously awaiting the return of the show since 2017. The almost two-year wait for new episodes has been challenging, but Stranger Things 3 finally arrives on Independence Day, giving us all even more reason celebrate.
But if you're struggling to remember exactly what happened in Stranger Things 2, then fear not. Here, we take a look back at the main events of the show's second season.
Hawkins faced a new monster.
As Netflix teased in its official synopsis of the show, "It’s 1984 and the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the Demogorgon and the secrets of Hawkins Lab. Will Byers has been rescued from the Upside Down but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived." If you thought Season 1's Demogorgon was terrifying, then you likely weren't prepared for Season 2's monster upgrade.
It was revealed that new evil, The Mind Flayer (also known as the Shadow Monster), was growing vines in tunnels underneath Hawkins, gradually trying to infect the entire town. Upon closer investigation, Hopper realized that the vines and, by association, the monster, could be injured with fire. However, the Mind Flayer unleashed Demodogs on the town to do its evil bidding, and the residents of Hawkins faced their biggest challenge yet—particularly because one of its own was being controlled by the monster.
The monster infected Will.
After being kidnapped and trapped in the Upside Down in Season 1, Will was never quite the same. From coughing up slug-like creatures (which turned out to be a part of the Demogorgon) to feeling pain whenever the Mind Flayer or its minions were injured, Will was an unwilling host. In fact, with the Demodogs functioning as the Mind Flayer's eyes and ears in Hawkins, the monster was able to find the gang based on Will's location.
Once his friends and family realized they were being tracked via Will, they sedated him and used heat in an attempt to purge the monster from his system. While raising his temperature seemed to help cast out the Mind Flayer, Will is still affected by the Shadow Monster when we see him again in Season 3.
Eleven discovered that there are others like her.
Eleven disappeared at the end of Season 1 following her defeat of the Demogorgon, with the show later revealing she'd been taken in by Hopper. He gained her trust with Eggos, then renovated his cabin to keep her safe and protect her at all costs. Basically, she became the daughter he sorely missed, and he, the father she never had.
Later in the season, Eleven visits her mom, and soon after has a vision of another girl in the lab. It turned out that viewers had seen this girl, Kali, at the very start of the season, as one of a group of "rebels" on the run in Chicago. Much like Eleven, Kali also had incredible powers and had escaped Hawkins Lab. Eleven visited Kali's crew and got a punk-rock makeover as she explored her own powers and tried to define her sense of self away from Hawkins.
Working together, Eleven and Kali tracked down one of the men complicit in the horror at the Hawkins Lab. Ultimately, Eleven realized she needed to return to Hawkins to help her friends instead of pursuing revenge in Chicago with her sister, leaving that story wide open for further exploration.
Eleven closed the gate to the Upside Down.
Once she was back in Hawkins, Eleven helped save the day just like she always does. While Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Steve, and Max lured the Demodogs into the tunnels under Hawkins, Eleven and Hopper returned to the lab. Once there, Eleven unleashed the full extent of her powers to close the gate—hopefully for good.
However, at the end of Season 2, it was revealed that the Mind Flayer was still alive in the Upside Down. Standing over the Upside-Down version of Hawkins Middle School, the monster was simply biding its time for an opportunity to come back and wreak havoc once more.
Bob became the new Barb.
Season 2 saw the introduction of Bob Newby, Joyce's new love interest. Played by '80s icon Sean Astin, Bob became an instant fan favorite thanks to his sense of fun and the adorable romance he had with Winona Ryder's Joyce. However, Bob didn't last long in Hawkins.
Towards the end of the season, the gang headed to the lab, where Dr. Owens attempted to figure out how to kill the Mind Flayer without also killing Will. But when the electricity went out in the midst of a Demodog attack, Bob felt compelled to return the building to power. He successfully flicked the switch so everyone could escape from the lab, but on his way out of the building, a Demodog attacked him. Joyce and Hopper could only watch helplessly as Bob was torn apart by the beast. Fans immediately began campaigning for justice for Bob, who left Hawkins far too soon.
Dustin got a new pet.
When he finds the slug Will coughed up in the trash, Dustin decided to take on a new pet. At first, Dustin kept the slug in a turtle tank and told his friends he'd gotten rid of the beast when they determined it was from the Upside Down. He named his (sweet?) pet D'Artagnan (Dart), after the Three Musketeers bar he fed it with, and dubbed the creature a Demodog, after the Demogorgon.
Dart, of course, showed its true nature when Dustin returned home one day to find that the growing Demodog had escaped its tank and eaten the family cat, Mews. Even worse, Dart cornered the gang in the tunnels as they attempted to lure the pack of Demodogs away from the lab. But Dustin was ultimately able to use his sweet connection with the pet to his advantage, allowing the group to escape.
Nancy dumped Steve and hooked up with Jonathan.
Jancy fans rejoiced when Nancy broke up with Steve in Season 2 and embarked on a road trip with Jonathan. The two spent a lot of time together attempting to get justice for the dearly-departed Barb and take down the creeps responsible for her death. While staying at the house of Murray Bauman, a former journalist turned conspiracy theorist, one thing led to another between the two.
And, yes, the lovebirds are still together in Season 3.
Steve became a daddy.
If you were irritated by Season 1 Steve, who was obsessed with his own reflection, then Stranger Things 2 provided the perfect antidote. Joe Keery's character came into his own when he teamed up with Dustin and the gang, and became a literal father-figure/dream babysitter for them all. Protecting the kids at any cost, Steve proved there is so much more to him than his hair.
If you were thirsty for Daddy Steve in Season 2, just wait for Season 3.
Lucas's sister, Erica, stole the show.
The unexpected hero of Season 2 was most definitely Erica. Her epic one-liners and takedowns of her brother and his gang made her moments onscreen endlessly enjoyable. And in Stranger Things 3, the character truly comes into her own and is given a major storyline, proving that the creators are truly listening to their fans.
Billy and Max arrived in town.
Bad boy Billy and his sweet yet sarcastic sister Max arrived in town in Season 2. While Billy was a monster almost as terrifying as the Mind Flayer, Max was a welcome addition to the gang, even though Eleven got a little jealous whenever she spoke to Mike.
Just like Erica, Billy and Max both have expanded roles in Stranger Things 3. While Max is officially part of the gang and dating Lucas, Billy is a sexy-yet-sinister lifeguard seducing everyone's moms. We find out even more about the Season 2 additions in Season 3, and Hawkins will never be the same again.
