Netflix‘s “Stranger Things” was a warm-hearted homage to ’80s Spielberg-ian, youthful, adventure yarns. It was a major breakthrough hit for the streaming company and, given the absurd demand, a second season was inevitable. Yes, the plot was outrageous and silly, but that’s what you should expect from a show whose greatest influence was 1985’s extremely likable, compulsively entertaining “The Goonies.”
If anything, the show proved just how popular and effective nostalgia can be marketing-wise. What it also proved was the versatility of Winona Ryder‘s underused talents over the years. This was a comeback of sorts for the actress, whose personal life made headlines in the early 2000s with controversy after controversy stagnating what was, at the time, an impressive acting career (“Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Age of Innocence,” “Reality Bites,” “Little Women,” “The Crucible,” “Girl, Interrupted“). She didn’t really recover and have a genuine hit until “Stranger Things” happened, which, we hope, will open up a few deserving cinematic doors for Ryder.
Back to the show’s rookie season, it left us pondering a few questions. Is Will OK? Where is Eleven? What kind of deal did Chief Hopper strike with the bad guys? All those inquiries will likely be devled into when the second season premieres on Halloween weekend.
To commemorate the second season, which might be the most anticipated of any show this fall, Netflix has released these awesome, vintage-style character posters, fold crests included, which give us a glimpse at the characters, both old and new, that will be at the forefront of the new episodes.
In total, 12 posters have been released, with all the main characters we know (Eleven, Chief Hopper and the Byers family), but also, more intriguingly, with some fresh, new faces that will be introduced to us this season (Sadie Sink as Max, and Dacre Montgomery as Billy among others).
“Stranger Things” season 2 will premiere on Netflix October 27th.