The first episode of the second season of Stranger Things starts off with a group of teenagers playing Dragon’s Lair at the arcade. Will, who was rescued from the Upside Down in the previous season, is having visions of the shadow monster which is threatening to come back. Will collapses after a vision and is taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Nancy and Steve are secretly dating while Jonathan is taking photos.

Joyce is worried about Will and takes him home where she finds that there is a huge hole in the wall in Will’s room. Strange things begin to happen in Hawkins with multiple power outages and strange sightings. The boys start to investigate and discover that someone has drawn a map of the tunnels under Hawkins.

Meanwhile, Eleven is living in the woods with Hopper as her protector. She is still trying to figure out how to control her powers and desires to see Mike again. Bob, Joyce’s new boyfriend, works at the local Radio Shack and aids Joyce with finding a way to communicate with Will.

As Hawkins Lab is now shut down, Dustin takes in a creature which he found in his trash can. He believes it’s a new species but soon realizes that it’s a baby Demogorgon. Finally, the episode ends with Will revealing to Mike that he’s still connected to the Upside Down.

This episode sets up the beginning of a dark and mysterious second season, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Stranger Things has been praised for its nostalgic 80s feel, as well as its strong cast and gripping storyline. The show has won numerous awards and has become a pop culture phenomenon.