We are, at the time of writing, more than four months out from the premiere of Stranger Things season 2. In that time, the show’s sophomore outing has been described as many things – scary, fantastic, intense, horrifying, and very, very disturbing – but disappointing? What is this hearsay?
Pegged for a Halloween premiere on Netflix, there’s a palpable excitement swirling around the second season of Stranger Things, but the show’s director/producer Shawn Levy was quick to caution fans that the upcoming batch of episodes may leave some people disappointed – disappointed by a select number of revelations and story beats, rather than with the actual quality of the show itself.
Levy fielded questions during The Hollywood Reporter’s Facebook Live session, where the filmmaker pointed to Barb’s (Shannon Purser) fate as an example of a creative decision that may leave a pocket of viewers disappointed. Pleasing everyone is nigh on impossible of course, even for a show of Stranger Things‘ caliber. But when it comes to Barb, though Purser isn’t credited with an appearance in season 2, it seems her legacy will still be felt by the resident of Hawkins, Indiana – particularly Nancy Wheeler.
Here’s Levy with the latest word on season 2 of the show:
We are going to do things that fans will be disappointed in but I think they will be more satisfied by… I’ll give one example that I’ve been asked about a hundred times which is people still think Barb’s alive. Because you think you want that but you wouldn’t really want that.
The second season of Stranger Things will haunt Netflix this Halloween. Additional seasons of the Netflix phenomenon are reportedly in the mix, too, but if you’re harboring fears that Things might overstay its welcome, don’t; co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer have plans in place for a five-season arc, which would put the Netflix original on course for a finale in 2020/2021.