S2 never deserved the hate it got. I liked that it was more introspective and character focused. We got to see the emotional fallout from the events of S1 and how it impacted everyone involved and we got some great character building that season. I will always be a S2 defender
the saddest part is how the duffers ended up not understanding their own show at all. like we never wanted the seasons to be ”bigger” than the ones before. we just wanted this.
you can go back and observe that season 1 of stranger things actually had kinda decent, dark brooding true detective vibes. then each subsequent season, it basically morphed into marvel avengers universe slop. this kind of slow, boiling frog pot bait and switch is everywhere now.
good. never write again. genuinely ruined people's 10 years journey with a show that started so well and then lost everything that was important about its story, characters and message.