What was once named “Untitled Duffer Brothers Project” has now evolved into one of the best Netflix originals. Season one of Stranger Things was wildly popular; released on July 15, 2016, the series starred Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and Matthew Modine. As for the “party,” Finn Wolfhard plays Mike, Millie Bobby Brown plays Eleven, Gaten Matarazzo plays Dustin and Caleb McLaughlin plays Lucas. Based in Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things explores the mysteries and secrets of the small town, including an incredibly suspect government lab. For those who haven’t seen Stranger Things season one or two: go watch and then come back!

SPOILERS:

Season one ends on a cliffhanger. Eleven appears to be dead or gone somehow, but we end with a scene of Hopper putting Eggos in a box. The audience isn’t sure whether he is simply paying tribute to Eleven’s memory, or if she is still out there. This ending contrasts slightly with the ending of season two, in which all of the kids are having a good time at the Snow Ball, but the last scene shows the Mind Flayer looming over the Upside Down version of Hawkins Middle School. Personally, I had a few problems with this ending.

I do not see the threat that this ending was supposed to pose. The Mind Flayer cannot hurt the kids without a way into their dimension. Eleven closed the gate and all of the Demodogs died, implying that somehow the Mind Flayer was hurt as well, if the hive mind theory stands. Since the Mind Flayer is still around in the Upside Down, there must be some loophole to the hive mind theory.

Considering that the intention of the producers was to end on a menacing note in contrast to the giddy vibe of the dance while also opening up a plot for season three, the Mind Flayer must still pose some threat. This makes us wonder, did Eleven really close the gate? And if she did, is there another way for the Mind Flayer to travel between dimensions?

Another path I would like to see the show go down is how does the Upside Down work? We never really found out much besides the fact that it is an alternate dimension, a variation of the real world. Even then, this is all according to Mike’s friends and Mr. Clarke.

While discussing the second season with friends, it was agreed upon that episode seven was the season’s weakest episode by far. Yes, Eleven needed to learn how to manipulate her power, but I felt that it strayed from the main plot and slowed down the progression, especially since episode six ended with a scene of a Demodog clawing out of the pit in the lab and heading for Hopper behind the glass. Eleven did need to make the realization that her home is Hawkins, but I felt that this path was too much of a diversion.

This does, however, bring up the premise of more experiments like Kali (eight) and Eleven. I’ve read many articles discussing the likelihood of any of numbers 1-11 making an appearance. A possibility is that Eleven finds these people with similar powers, and they join together to defeat the Mind Flayer.

I’m extremely curious to see what happens in season three, especially since the Duffer Brothers have talked of up to five seasons, meaning that the next season might not be the last of Stranger Things.