Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street

Very interesting how Nancy is transforming despite everything that surrounds her, and she doesn't notice anything because of her being naive. Reminds me being 17.

Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street is a solid second episode of the first season. It continues where the pilot episode left off and remains consistent throughout. My only quibble is that the house party where Nancy and Jonathan go to felt a bit too awkward for my tastes, but that's doesn't matter because the rest of the episode retains the same stuff that made the first episode a great start.

The story is still intriguing with a raw and tear-jerking scene with Winona Ryder and Charlie Heaton. There's also a little more back story for the other characters aside from Joyce and Jonathan. The kid protagonists Mike, Dustin and Lucas share their chemistry that feels natural thanks to Wolfhard Matarazzo and Mclaughlin's solid performances. Natalia Dyer, Shannon Purser (who played Barbara in the first episode) and David Harbour continue to deliver excellent performances and Millie Bobby Brown continues to excel as Eleven in a very well-written flashback revolving around her character. The cinematography is still gorgeous with a brilliantly lit atmosphere it retained from the first episode and the music score is still impressive, continuing to compliment the 1980s decade and setting perfectly.

Overall, a solid second episode of the first season and remains as consistent as Chapter One. Thumbs up from me. :)

Chapter Two of "Stranger Things" is closer to what the creators of the show probably intended than the first episode ever was.

It starts with the pace. It is better, faster, more things happen, and it offers more mystery and a better atmosphere than the start of the series.

It continues with the depiction of the 80s, way more lively and realistic than in the first episode, in which all looked like someone trying to copy the 80s style of movies and TV series and failing, all a little bit fake.

The acting also helps, even though sometimes it is a little bit on the primary school play. It is more assured than in the first episode, all actors more comfortable in their roles. It helps that the plot gives its characters something to do.

Talking about the plot. It is still a little bit as if a group of friends had decided to get together and throw all the typical and topical ideas from the 80s in a hat and then decided to pick some of them up randomly and make a story out of that thin thread. We continue with the developing of the 'mysterious' Eleven's story-line, and also with Will's search. For like a couple of seconds we can enjoy again Modine's super-white hair. All of it is quite basic and seen a hundred of times before. The actors delivery of the dialogue is what glues the story for now.

Better direction, good quality production also adds to a second episode which seems to show that the series knows a little bit where it is heading. Let's see if they keep that way.

Anybody that was captivated by 'Stranger Things' first episode "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" will undoubtedly expect a good deal from any episode to follow on from it. Speaking as somebody who was near-blown away by that episode and had high expectations for this one, to see how it would build upon what was set up so well in "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" and to see how the rest of the show would fare after such a strong start.

"Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" was a good second episode that did build well upon what was introduced while having enough to set it apart on its own. At the same time, it was also a bit disappointing and isn't anywhere near as great. There are a lot of the same fantastic things still that was seen in "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers", but somehow "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" didn't feel as focused or as inspired.

There are so many good things here in "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street". The production values are superb. Very stylish and atmospheric, with some truly beautiful images that one can't believe such high quality comes from a Netflix show. Not to mention the highly impressive special effects that put a good deal of big budget films in recent years to shame. The music has a wonderful 80s nostalgic vibe while also being quite haunting, enhancing the atmosphere beautifully.

Writing is thought-probing and has a lot of brains and heart. The humour is gentle but very subtly witty and funny, while there is a poignancy (without being too sentimental) and tension. Enough of the episode has some creepy suspense, intriguing mystery, inventive sci-fi, affectionate nostalgia and a few tear-jerking moments (including a beautifully played crucial scene with Winona Ryder). The characters are still interesting and Finn Woolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown are still excellent. Ryder is a big improvement here and is poignant.

However, tonally "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" isn't always focused. The tone shifts weren't as seamless or as skillfully balanced this time and some of it is on the muddled side from feeling a bit too hectic in pace. Especially in the final third, where things get really awkward and excessively weird at the end.

Some of the dialogue isn't as good this time, though it's fine most of the time. Tending to sound awkward later on. The pace could have been more secure in spots, some of the latter parts are on the disorganised side.

In conclusion, good but not great. 7/10

Toned down slightly from the opener but never short of surprises. The biggest comes right at the end following a pool party. I wasn't bothered about the character involved, having made little impression so far but the moment is still a shocking end to the show. The scene of the show for me however is down to Joyce who receives another phone call, this one with more of a reason to get hysterical which she does fantastically. Her character is blossoming now and she just makes all the crazy stuff going on feel real. After the phone call some lights flicker and the boom box turns itself on in the bedroom. This leads to a shocking discovery sending her fleeing her home. This segment was done brilliantly and the tension was unbearable. This should have closed the episode since it happened to a dominant character rather than a secondary one.

Outside of these events the kids set about keeping Elle a secret from their parents with her and Mike sharing some nice scenes together in an otherwise darker episode. Lucas freaks out later on and is ready to give her up but is stopped in his tracks with another show of what Elle can do. She later goes on to reveal she knows where Will is. But what she reveals actually seems quite terrifying. For all their good intentions I don't think the boys have a clue what they are heading in to. The dynamic between all 4 is great and the reactions from the boys especially during an "undressing" spot is hilarious.

Elsewhere Hopper continues his investigation, finding his fallen friend in the diner and learning of the girl who was there. He later finds a strip of her gown and the scary as hell place she came from. If the forest wasn't spooky enough, this place will get you going.

Jonathan also goes on a little side journey of his own to find Will when he comes face to face with easily my least favourite character thus far. He really is in a world of his own and I don't expect any cooperation as the series continues.

A fun light episode that turned very dark, it's left me wanting more but I do hope there are some light hearted scenes thrown in along the way. Strong follow up to the opener and this world is now really coming alive.