The Stranger Things Season 2 Episodes Ranked

Advertisements

The second season of Stranger Things (2017) received widespread praise for expanding the show’s universe and deepening its emotional core, though some elements divided fans compared to the first season. Audiences loved the continued chemistry between the main cast, including Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), and Noah Schnapp (Will Byers). Noah Schnapp, in particular, received acclaim for his more prominent role as Will, portraying the trauma of his connection to the Upside Down with remarkable intensity. The addition of new characters like Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and her aggressive stepbrother Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) brought fresh dynamics, while David Harbour (Jim Hopper) and Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers) were praised for their grounded, emotional performances. The nostalgia, atmospheric tension, and improved visual effects also stood out as major highlights, maintaining the series’ reputation as a smart and stylish homage to 1980s pop culture.

However, not all aspects of Season 2 were as well received. Some viewers felt the pacing was slower and less focused than the first season’s tightly woven mystery. The controversial Lost Sister episode, which saw Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) leave Hawkins to meet another girl with powers, was often cited as the weakest part of the season, criticized for disrupting the main narrative flow. Others felt the new characters, particularly Billy, were underdeveloped or unnecessarily antagonistic. Despite these criticisms, the second season was generally considered a strong continuation—less fresh and mysterious than the first, but more emotionally resonant and ambitious in scope.

Here’s our rankings for the episodes of Stranger Things 2.