Stranger Things: S2. Ch2. Trick or Treat, Freak

Dustin's new pet turns out to be Will's worst nightmare as the Shadow Monster closes in on him. Join Sarah, Lea, and Tabby from Becoming Buffy as they discuss whether or not Steve and Nancy broke up, Dustin's weird bond with his new pet, and the trope of the Suburban Gothic 

Who you gunna call?? It's Halloween as the boys dress up as Ghostbusters and go Trick or Treating with Max, Hopper investigates some weird tree slime, Eleven is stuck in the cabin, and Nancy and Steve have a brutal conversation. Join Sarah and Lea as they discuss the cabin set design, our new characters, and Nancy and Steve's relationship break down. 

A new family comes to town, Mike's pining after Eleven, Will is getting therapy from the lab, Nancy's guilt over Barb's death continues to grow, and Hopper is guarding a big secret. Listen as Sarah, Lea, Steph, and Kara discuss the parallels between Steve and Ted Hopper, Karen's parening style, and the arrival of the Mayfield's. 

What are our thoughts on season five and the series' finale? El's ending on the show? Listen as Sarah and Lea discuss listeners' questions and thoughts, give their own hot takes, and give a summary on two prequel books centering around Hopper's time in New York and Terri Ives' time with Brenner. 

Joyce and Hopper head to the lab to find Will, Nancy and Jonathan prepare to lure the Demogorgon to the Byers' house, and Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Eleven face down Brenner at the school. Listen as Sarah and Lea discuss the behind the scenes design of the monster, the original choice to kill off Steve and Eleven and why that was changed, their concerns with how Eleven's arc is handled, and more. 

The gang finally combines forces and everyone converges in the school to help Eleven find Will and Barb. Join Sarah, Lea, and guest host Brandon from Revamped as they discuss the incredible van sequence, Steve's change of heart, and how Sartre's Look applies to the show.

While Joyce and Hopper look into Terry Ives, Lucas looks for the gate, Dustin and Mike search for Eleven, and Jonathan and Nancy go monster hunting. Listen as Sarah, Lea, and Tony discuss holes and lube, the difference between mobbing and bullying, toxic masculinity and othering, and who the show says are the real monsters.

In the aftermath of the previous episode, Joyce's ex, Lonnie shows up to "help," Hopper is fully on board Joyce's crazy train, tensions come to a head within the kids' group, and Nancy steps foot into the Upside Down. Listen to hear Lea and Sarah discuss Nancy and Jonathan's defiance of gender norms, El's desire for a "normal" life with a nuclear family, and the 80's view of parents' culpability for raising "queer" children.

Joyce continues to search for Will, Hopper becomes suspicious about the goings-on at the lab, El and the boys take a trip to the school, and Nancy and Jonathan team up. Join Sarah, Lea, and Prophecy Girls' host, Steph, as they discuss sad boi Jonathan, the return of the monstrous feminine, sexy Hopper, and the theme of women not being believed. 

Nancy discovers that Barb is missing, Joyce makes contact with something claiming to be Will, and Eleven claims Will is still alive...only for his body to turn up in the quarry. Listen as Sarah and Lea discuss the darkness of Eleven's past and the fantastic nonverbal cues between her and Brenner, the ghost of Barb haunting the narrative and how this is shown through Nancy, and the iconic scene of Joyce with the lights.