Stranger Things has officially set a 2017 release for their second season, folks. Ready your bear traps.
A new trailer released on the show’s social media displays new titles, assumably chapters, for the next installment. The Duffer Brothers have also offered us an extra episode. That’s nine hours of Dustin looking for chocolate pudding, in case you needed a full count.
Based on the new chapter titles, here’s what I’m expecting next. These are (un)educated guesses, as I do not have much experience fighting the paranormal nor do I have any friends with special talents exceeding that of being able to hit more than one free throw in a row.
First up is “Madmax.” Now, because none of the characters are actually named Max, we can maybe assume one of two things: First, that we are introduced to a new character. Second, that the directors are making a reference to the sci-fi dystopian movies. Because the title doesn’t have a space like the movie does, it might not be a relation. However, because the show is part of the sci-fi genre, perhaps we’re getting a relation to the issues about to return what with Will vomiting alien slugs and Eleven hiding somewhere in a realm nearby. If we are relating to Mad Max, then I expect some kind of revelation about Will and Eleven and maybe some kind of chase or hunt. The government versus the kids round two!
Second in the series we have “The Boy Who Came Back To Life.” Now this might directly relate to Will. I’m hoping this episode is entirely focused on the revelation that he is not devoid of Upside Down. Slug vomits a la Ron Weasley in Chamber of Secrets are a go. I think this will also focus on the attention of the town. They attended his funeral, but now he’s back. Why was there a fake body, and what about Barb?
Third is “The Pumpkin Patch.” We know that the second season will be taking place in the fall, so perhaps we have a Halloween episode. The last season ended with a Christmas dinner where everything seemed back in order. Perhaps this is the episode where everything changes. Also, more holiday lights.
Fourth is “The Palace.” The only palace we have seen is Castle Byers, which was destroyed by the demogorgon. Maybe Will must build a new place to hide from his returning demons. Another idea might be a “mind palace.” As seen in shows like Sherlock, a mind palace is a space many people create to internalize to and think in. Maybe Eleven will return to explore hers and how she released the demogorgon in the first place.
Fifth is “The Storm.” Eleven can do pretty much anything with her mind, she first arrived in the previous season in a storm and metaphorically the characters basically entered a shit storm fighting the demogorgon. Take your pick! Personally, I think a real storm will parallel a larger fight either against paranormal entities or against the government. Maybe the return of the demogorgon will bring on tumultuous weather along with its flickering lights.
Sixth is “The Pollywog.” This is an interesting title as it offers a few concepts. A pollywog is essentially a frog baby, or a tadpole. This could mean that the demogorgon has babies, maybe the slugs Will has been burping up, or other children in the Upside Down. Interesting as well is the idea that “pollywog” is the term for a sailor who has not yet crossed the line in the line-crossing ceremony where they first cross the equator. This could perhaps be symbolic for crossing into the Upside Down for the first time for a number of our characters. Finally, the bullywug is a character in Dungeons and Dragons that is a mean frog-human. Maybe the demogorgon has friends.
Seventh is “The Secret Cabin.” Eleven has to be hiding somewhere either in the Upside Down or in the Right-side Up(?), and perhaps this will tell us where she’s been hiding out with the food from Hopper. We could also be exploring Hopper’s relationship with Eleven and that suspicious conversation he had with government officials at the end of season one.
Eighth is “The Brain.” This will either connect directly to Eleven and her powers, maybe in the deprivation tank or to the demogorgon. The demogorgon connects to Eleven through her brain, but also has some kind of power to create portals to its world through the slime and substances that it leaves on walls and trees. Is there a way to control this other than through Eleven? Does the demogorgon have its own source?
Last, but not least is “The Lost Brother.” Now, originally, Will was the lost brother. Is there a new brother were looking to find or is Will lost again? What about Jonathan? Literally any of these characters can have a brother we’ve never heard of, which is both scary and enticing.
These predictions could be and probably are 100% wrong, but I have faith that sometime in 2017 (hopefully the earlier part) we will uncover the truth about where Eleven is and why she has brain monsters, how you eat Christmas dinner if you’re throwing up slugs and why Steve’s hair looks the way it does. Barb will probably show up too.
