'Stranger Things' Season Two Recap

April 17, 2022 1:00 AM ‐ Stranger Things • Television • Netflix

This article is more than two years old and was last updated in February 2024.

As the fourth season of 'Stranger Things' edges even closer, we head back to 2016 with a reminder of the action that unfolded in the second season of the Netflix series.

It's been two and a half years since Netflix brought us any new adventures in Hawkins, Indiana, so you might need a bit of a refresher before the return of the much-loved supernatural series on May 27.

Luckily, Netflix have a series of recaps for each season to remind us of the story so far. You can check out the first of these here, and if you're ready watch the season two recap below.

More From 'Stranger Things'

There's loads more from Hawkins on our 'Stranger Things' pages including playlists of music from the show, and you can test your knowledge of 'Stranger Things' with our trivia quizzes. Plus check out our complete 'Stranger Things' episode guide for all four seasons.

In the four and a half minute long clip we are reminded of the aftermath of the first season, Will has returned from the Upside Down and Eleven is missing.

Early on in season two we learn that Will frequently drifts back into the terrifying alternate dimension, where he sees visions of the looming threat that the boys called The Mind Flayer. It soon becomes clear that Will has retained a link to the darkness that lurks in the Upside Down, and it is growing and spreading into Hawkins.

Meanwhile, Mike is searching for Eleven who vanished at the end of the previous season, but is unaware that Hopper is now taking care of her in a cabin in the woods. Hopper is also getting deeper into the mysteries of Hawkins, spurred on by conspiracy theorist, Murray Bauman, who suspects their is a Russian spy presence in the town.

Mike, Lucas and Dustin come together with Nancy, Jonathan, Steve and newcomer, Max, to try to put an end to the encroaching threat of the Upside Down, while trying to avoid the town's new bully, Max's older brother, Billy.

Now seemingly possessed by the Mind Flayer, Will signals to his mother, Joyce, that they need to close the gate to the Upside Down. Joyce and the new man in her life, Bob, break in to Hawkins National Laboratory with Hopper and Eleven. Sadly, Bob doesn't last long, but his sacrifice allows Hopper and Eleven to head deeper into the lab where Eleven uses her psionic abilities to close the gate and save Hawkins, which also breaks Will's link to the Mind Flayer.

The season ends with the gang enjoying an end of term ball, where Eleven and Mike share their first kiss. Things might seem peaceful, but a final shot of the Mind Flayer still lurking in the Upside Down tells us that there's more action to come in Hawkins.

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It was July 4, 2019 when we were last enthralled with new episodes of the hit supernatural series. It returns next month, with the first half of the fourth season premiering on May 27, followed by the second part that will drop five weeks later on July 1.

The third season came to an end with Hopper and Joyce bravely fighting their way into the Russians' secret bunker under Starcourt Mall an an attempt to put an end to the Russians' attempt to re-open the gate to the deadly realm that is the Upside Down.

Other than what appeared to be the demise of Hopper, the story was wrapped up nicely at the end of the third season. Although we saw the gang go their own separate ways, it was inevitable that something would bring them back together for at least one more adventure.

The action will pick up six months after the epic Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, the gang of friends consisting of Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Eleven, are separated for the first time.

The kids find themselves navigating the complexities of high school, something which will be especially tough for Eleven, who is now living like a normal kid in California with Will and his older brother, Jonathan. Presumably their mother Joyce adopted Eleven in Hopper's absence.

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