Think the Duffer Brothers have said maximum of 4 seasons and OUT.
Even Season 3 will be weird, the kids are already growing up loads.

Finished Season 2 last night too! Really impressive overall, my main highlight was the characters. I feel like they were all developed even stronger this season, particularly those who were maybe more secondary characters in Season 1? Like it was good that we got to see Lucas' and Dustin's family! Lucas' sister is already an icon, Barb WHO? I guess the only thing was that Mike felt more like a spare part this season and was sidelined a bit but I guess that's because he really was almost the centre of the first season, his relationship with Eleven, she was at his house, Nancy's his sister, even though they're a group him and Will were the closest etc. Therefore without Eleven and being with Will this season (who spent most of it possessed and with Joyce overshadowing him), he was more just 'there'. .

I REALLY warmed to Steve too, to the point that I'm now stanning him tbh, he definitely had the best character development of the season. Nancy was even better too and I have a crush on her now . I think the strength of all the characters this season really helped with that final scene with the Ball. My heart was well and truly breaking and I was getting way too emotional than is socially acceptable when Dustin didn't have a girl to dance with until Nancy came. That's genuinely going to become one of my favourite scenes ever.

The overall plot was good but not as strong as the first season I don't think. It got a bit to Exorcist/all those possession horror films towards the end and I was hoping for a greater understanding of what the Upside Down was and the shadow monster's intentions and I feel the possession stuff was a bit too much of a get out clause for this. Just a minor concern though as it was still much stronger than other shows and, as I said, the characters are my favourite part of the show.

Rooney has basically put what I was going to say about Episode 7! It definitely did feel like a backdoor pilot. It was out of place in the fact that it took up a whole episode with these random characters that we'd only seen in the first two minutes of S02E01 and never see again outside of that and the fact that it came after that massive cliffhanger!! I do think the story of it was essential though as Eleven needed her Luke/Yoda moment in order to close the gate in Episode 9 as otherwise, I think people would question why she couldn't just close the gate to start with! I think it would have worked better as cutaways across a couple of episodes where you still saw all the action in Hawkins.

Next season I'd like to see Will actually be PART of the gang, poor him being taken away in both seasons </3. I feel like part of it is to give Joyce something to do though! I'd also like to see a greater understanding of the Upside Down too. I hope Eight (without the gang) comes back too, to help expand the scientists aspect too and to further the development of Eleven and give a greater purpose to Episode 7.

Just finished episode 8. Barb, Bob... I'd hate to be called Burbe when season 3 airs...