Stranger Things (TV Series) Chapter Two: Vecna's Curse (2022) User Reviews

Creepy intrigue and fun nostalgia

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 3 July 2022]

We see the fallout from Chrissy's death, Michael arrives in California, and Joyce makes a discovery.

This is a strong episode with intriguing moments of storytelling.

The events in Hawkins get moving in quite compelling way. The scenes involving Dustin, Max, Steve, and Robin are quintessentially 'Stranger Things' and full of great entertainment. I love how they use the video store computer and the numerous Easter eggs and pop culture references involved.

The horror aspect is very well done again and we get a bit more information to keep it intriguing. There are plenty of creepy moments reminiscent of 80s horror like Nightmare on Elm Street, The Omen, and Hellraiser, for those who love the nostalgia.

What happens in California continues the Brian de Palma influenced arc of Eleven. This is a great tribute and compelling portrayal of bullying. The victimisation that went on in my school in the 80s was even worse than this portrayal. Sadly anyone who was not popular, white, attractive, heterosexual, able-bodied or tough enough to instil fear in others experienced some form of it. Personally though, I think it's time for El's story to move on from this in the next episode as it feels to me they have enough mileage from it. Millie Bobby Brown is exceptionally good.

Wynona Ryder and Brett Gelman are on great form in their scenes that indicate some big adventures are to come for their characters. This is another aspect of the overall plot that keeps the show interesting.

All performances and production values are top drawer.

Didn't like the bullying, the rest is still going strong

[lisichichi · 7/10 · 30 May 2022]

I know that this will all come together in the end, but the things that Happen to El this episode were too much to be the least enjoyable. I often felt uncomfortable during ST, but never in this way, always in a spooked kinda way... The rest was great, love the dynamic of the group in Hawkins and also that Nancy gets to investigate again. I'm also curious if they are gonna continue this body horror thingy in the next episodes, definitely very spooky and well done.

80's never die

[funnycommentor · 9/10 · 17 July 2022]

That episode was like an 80's horror movie. First of all, season 4 looks like an "A Nightmare on Elm Street" TV show adaption. Also, I'm kinda shocked that there's one kill per episode. The kill on episode 2, was exactly just like the kill on episode 1. Totally horrifying and so gory. There were many scary and creepy scenes. Actually, stranger things turned into a horror TV show, for sure. Moreover, season 4 is kinda depressing. I mean, I feel kinda sad about Eleven and Max, they're both not okay.. The bullying scene of Eleven, was so emotional and very intense. Overall, episode 2 was as intense as episode 1, it was very bloody and breathtaking. The opening scene was totally unexpected. The ending scene was amazing, so spooky. I have to admit that, Hopper's storyline is kinda boring and unnecessary. Last but not least, the acting is amazing and the new actors and actresses, are LIT!

This show is getting dark.

[pizzagoodgogo · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

I really like how this show doesn't pull its punches when showing dark disturbing things. You can here the bones of vecnas victims break. It's nice to see that the characters are having more trouble and that not everything is fine such as L.

Apparently a lot of these reviews had it easy growing up

[crazelord · 8/10 · 4 June 2022]

I love how legitmately frightening this season is. I really enjoyed the last season but it didn't really freak me out as the big bad felt too intangible to me. But so far the mystery behind the murders and the nightmare scenes are done really well, I legitimately get creeped out by them.

But what's interesting to me is how many people hate on the high school drama aspect. Except for the first season the show was always about kids/teenage lives juxtaposed with the supernatural and cold war espionage. I genuinely am enjoying that aspect as well.

And many reviewers here must have had it easy growing up. Yes the bullying is a bit exaggerated for effect but they really never experienced kids being this unnecessarily cruel? Emotional and mentally bullying was so prevalent at my school growing up some kids almost took themselves out from it.

I've had bullies that did elaborate pranks with multiple people to screw with me and physically assualted me as well as I would cry and beg for them to stop. Kids back then especially before bullying was taken seriously in the 80s, could be so horribly cruel without consequences. Even now I have witnessed second hand cyber bullying being just cruel to a sadistic level.

And while the adult in me would rather deal with people like Angela irl by trying to teach her to be better as she obviously is probably dealing with things at home that make her this way, I couldn't help but feel such schadenfreude when EL beats her ass with a skate.

It was basically what I always wanted to do to my bullies as a kid but never could.

My only issue is with everything the kids have seen and been through they still don't assume what's going on could be supernatural. Like at this point if anything weird happens it should just be assumed.

Overall great episode and I'm excited to see where the season goes.

Beauty on Revealing Things

[bpranavabala · 8/10 · 28 May 2022]

A solid start to Season 4. This season is totally different than I expected... The storyline is so much scarier and darker. The Cast wasn't lying about how the season's tone will be...

Got to know how Hopper survived but I'm not clear that the electricity or the power which splashed on other people were dead but how did Hopper Survive? I'm not sure about that... Anyways looking for up for more surprises.

Dark

[madhuribhattacharjee · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

The bullying was something. The consequences later are too dark. This is just becoming more and more interesting from here. The way things are being portrayed are just remarkable. There's gonna be some serious good twists throughout the season.

"Welcome to your home American!"

[bosporan · 8/10 · 27 May 2022]

The opening scene gives us more information on Jim Hooper, how he survived and his whereabouts. Joyce and Murray try to find out more through the mysterious Enzo.

All-in-all a great second episode, filling in more background and simultaneously moving the action along on multiple fronts and generating suspense in ST's inimitable style. El's social problems multiply, eventually she reacts radically to the bullying, which will have consequences.

MBB is fabulous, as ever, but the star of this episode is Winona Ryder, wide-eyed and determined in her quest to find out what happened to Hooper.

Argyle is a great addition!

[notoriousvic-44206 · 9/10 · 30 May 2022]

The beauty the Duffer Brothers use 80's nostalgia to reweave storylines is so fun. Also, Argyle is my favorite film/tv stoner character since Slater from "Dazed & Confused"....both are only outdone by Floyd from "True Romance". We all know Argyle, Floyd, or Slater. 😂

Was Gonna Give It An 8...

[MamadNobari97 · 7/10 · 28 May 2022]

...But then I remembered that one-third of the episode was the continuation of the boring and trite bully trope and kinda ruined the episode. I'm not saying don't do the bullying, because they're definitely going somewhere with this, but at least do it in a way so we don't think we've seen this a million times before, ok?

Like I don't know why every "horror" movie and show about the 80s has to have a bullying of our main character subplot. I get it, it's high school, you can't have it all fine and dandy and make a movie about it without there being any conflict for our main character, all I'm asking for, is to be more creative with your conflict and do something other than throwing a clichéd bully character in there, or if you're doing a bully, at least make it a little different than the other thousand bully character we've seen before.

But I don't know why I'm expecting creativity from Stranger Things, since the show's whole premise is nostalgia baiting and retelling other horror stories and characters, and I also never forget that they just rehashed seasons 1 and 2's plot for season 3.

Other than that, I think it was a good episode with lots of developments for every plot line, even the bullying one, even though I didn't like how long and over the top and clichéd it was.

One thing that made Stranger Things great in season one was the fear of the unknown element of the monster it had, but they seem to have ditched that after season 2 and we get to see the monster from episode 1, so the element of suspense and tension and also the fear of the unknown is practically gone from the show, but I still like it.

It's not like I watch ghost horror movies anymore or I get scared by them.

I loved the body horror at the end of the episode and I hope to see it more. At least that's more entertaining than cheap jump scares.

If they're gonna go really dark with this season, I think killing one of the main characters (and definitely not bringing them back in the next season) would really benefit the show and just put the stakes high. So far - and in the previous seasons too - the only people that the monster(s) kill are some side character that we only got to know about in the last episode or two, or some character that joined the group for just that season. So that makes me see a formula here and I can already guess from these two first episodes who they're gonna make us like throughout the season and kill at the end. I hope that's not the case and they'll surprise us and not do the same they did for 3 seasons because you know what they say about the definition of insanity...

This man does not deserve the peace of death... so I have sent him to hell.

[michaelfunk-46264 · 8/10 · 27 May 2022]

A great follow up to the first episode! Also has one of the hardest lines of dialogue I've ever heard (see review title). Not much else to say but this season is already better than season 3 for me. Loving this so far!!

An absorbing curse

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 19 January 2024]

'Stranger Things' "Chapter 2: Vecna's Curse" (2022)

Opening thoughts: While really enjoying Seasons 1 and 2, which had many exceptional episodes, Season 3 was a lot less consistent. It did have two episodes that were outstanding and a couple more that were close, but the others were uneven but good and at their worst barely average. Expectations were high for Season 4, though did worry about due to the longer break between Seasons 3 and 4 for obvious reasons whether it would forget what made 'Stranger Things' work so well at its best or remembers.

On the most part, Season 4 did remember what 'Stranger Things' is about. It was an uneven season that did try to do too much and the pacing wasn't always there, but there was a lot of great things about it. This was obvious in the previous episode, the season premiere, and it is even more so in this slightly superior second episode. While it doesn't quite solve what wasn't so good in the premiere, though what wasn't so good there is not as problematic, it does execute the premiere's numerous good things even better.

Bad things: Again, it is at its weakest with the bullies subplot, which again does feature too much, also not very interesting or had enough tension and felt also like filler.

Less characters and tighter pacing would have been more welcome too, especially in this subplot.

Good things: However, there are numerous good things, most executed absolutely outstandingly. Absolutely loved the production values, which have a creepier horror film-like aesthetic which suited the darker tone that the season had very well indeed. The photography is cinema worthy and the effects very slick. The soundtrack is haunting, infectious and very nostalgic, the episode really does capture the spirit of the period with the soundtrack selection. On the most part, the writing has brains and heart with the teen drama having less cheese and melodrama generally.

Although the story is not perfect, the nostalgia vibe is really well done, with some very clever and affectionate references that didn't feel shoehorned, and even better are the darker and scarier than before horror elements. Everything with Eddie intrigues and unsettles, advancing also very well. The characters are well written, with Eddie being one of the best additions that the show has had for some time. The acting from all the regulars is great, but the performance of the episode is that of Joseph Quinn, once again curiosity, concern, panic and complete horror has not been conveyed so believably on the show for a while.

Closing thoughts: Not quite great, but it is a step in the right direction.

7/10.

The bully/"mean girl" trope ruins it for me

[fuzzbll · 1/10 · 27 May 2022]

I really, really want to be excited about the new season. I really, really want to love the new episodes. But the whole bully-trope is ruining everything for me.

I'm so sick of the "mean girl" trope, meaning Angela. I feel like it's kinda lazy writing, just to put some sort of conflict within Eleven. I feel like they could've achieved her feeling of isolation and not fitting anywhere in a better way. Less tropey.

The same goes for the sport jocks, gunning for the "freak" because they jump to ludicrous conclusions. It feels forced and out of place. Again, it feels like they're forcing a conflict to push the story ahead. But in a lazy way.

The show has always been, for me at least, a celebration of nerds, the weird, the strange. But as of now, it feels like any other stupid, heartless Highschool movie.

And that's why, all the other story lines (which are a tad too many) are dampened for me. I'm just to annoyed by the effin' bully trope.

I honestly hope it'll get better with the next episodes. But as of now, I'm disappointed 😞

Mysteries are still there

[AvionPrince16 · 8/10 · 3 June 2022]

We witnesse strange things now after the body discovered by the police . We learn also more about Hopper situation and he is in prison . Eleven have some problem with Angela and become more violent and it bring back some old memories . Dustin and all find the guy who were with Angela and we unravel the name of the monster and we see him more in details . I mean the visual effects were pretty good and the ambience of this tv show was still there and found it pretty immersive . Nancy start the investigation too and her friend got some problem with Vecna : the new danger of this new season .Very nice episode with a lot pf mysteries and a great visual style . We need to see more.

Season 4 a serious threat to blow season 1 away!!

[joey_isham · 9/10 · 30 May 2022]

This episode is another indication the Duffer Brothers are not messing around. Season 4 is on the verge of blowing away season 1. I don't recall ever watching a series that gave you science fiction, horror, suspense, high school drama and some comedy all rolled into one. After just 2 episodes of season 4, there hasn't been a slow moment. The scripts and scenes are tightly written and directed. My only down feeling of this particular episode was El's actions towards the end of the episode. I didn't expect that. But I suppose it's leading to something. Can't wait for eppy 3!!! I hear they get even better. Wow!

A little slow but the story is building nicely!

[jonpaulpiques · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

I was not a fan of the first episode but this one really started to build the premise for season 4 and I'm totally here for it. No one is safe in Hawkins!

Great episode

[guyberrick · 9/10 · 12 June 2022]

This one deals with the aftermath of the horrifying events from last episode and does a great job at building tension, as the crew in Hawkins starts to realize that the horrors they once knew might be back again in their most terrifying form yet.

I think the bullying that Eleven is faced with is definitely the worst case scenario for someone of that age. It's devastating at first to see her powerless compared to previous seasons but it makes it satisfying when she retaliates against Angela.

Also the new villain looks amazing.

Same as ep 1 but just as great

[ha77y73ad97 · 9/10 · 15 June 2022]

How can this series be so good after just 2 episodes. So many of the moments in the series have just been perfection. Its such a joy that after 4 seasons the level of the series is just going up!

So many of the moments in the story are just awesome and the detective style from our budding newspaper editors keeps the peril and suspense climbing to i hope this could be the best series of the show so far.

I cant wait for the next episode so im just waiting for the time to get the next one down.

Still going strong, but slow and coincidence is strong with this one

[namob-43673 · 8/10 · 27 May 2022]

The second episode is not as strong as the first of the season, but it is still very good. The creepy feel and the dark tone of the show is really great and if this continues this might be the best season so far.

The big cast and all the coincidence that often drive the plot is still the bad about the show and have been so from the start but this is very promising. The last two seasons could have been a lot better and was an average of 6/10 but this season is starting much stronger.

Very happy so far.

Bully got what she deserved

[ilpo-surokivi · 7/10 · 17 July 2022]

When someone is that mean to you El's reaction was completely justified. She doesn't have the same power that Angela has on her peers. To bully, to convince people the way evil women do. Reputation destruction. What do you do in said situation? What El did. Angela deserved it. I just hope she doesn't die because that is possible. But yes, Angela deserved it no matter how awful it was.

The story with this Vecna dude (I guess) is great story and the plot is very good. I have just binge watched like three seasons and this show is some of the best I've seen. Has its problems as mentioned before in my reviews no show is perfect. Duh. The tension, the writing. Sometimes blending the lines between good and bad. Evil is indeed subjective in a way. Ask people like Eleven and Angela.

another strong showing

[humzahladiwala · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode is up there with in terms of fear factor and writing consistency. There are some iffy moments with Will and Mike, with Noah Schnapps doing nicely but being let down by Finn Wolfhard's one note delivery. El is being handled very nicely, I love how they addressed that she never had any emotional maturity, that just never was a thing for her. But everything is being handled with nuance and delicious suspense. Every character gets their scene, and they are mostly written nicely. This is going to be an excellent series if they end this properly.

Cat man with nine lives

[dannylee-78082 · 7/10 · 30 May 2022]

1. Hopper gets tortured 2. Valar Morghulis 3. El smashes forehead

Loving the cultural references like D&D, serial killers etc of the 80s. Loving the tonal and the pacing change as well.

Mike and Will have drifted so much and this is often true of teenage friendships where a year apart will essentially ruin the relationship as it's more circumstantial. El getting bullied is a little too much. Typical Hollywood bullies that rarely exist in real life. But I'm ok with it. Millie's been performing really well so it makes up for the obnoxiousness of Angela. Dustin is also a fantastic negotiator as we've seen in the past.

About Vecna - so we already know this guy is going to be the main villain and it's still unclear what his motivation is. Two victims so far and possibly the most gruesome deaths in the series. Seems like he pulls people into a trans and show them their worst fear and murder them. Interesting MO.

Couple complaints - The group finding Rick so instantly is a little far-fetched but I understand it's for story's sake. Also, I like the much darker turn from more of a cosmic horrors of previous seasons and it's more grounded to earth. Personally, it's not doing much and not really producing the intended effect but i respect it.

So far, a smooth sailing. They ramp up the pace in this episode and we see a lot happening at the same time so time to keep up!

Really getting tired of the bully trope

[catdogmanfish · 4/10 · 31 May 2022]

This season feels really out of place with the first three. There is too much going on. There is a ridiculous amount of exposition dumps, and little to show for it. On top of that, we have yet another cartoonish bully stereotype that does horrendous things for little to no reason. No idea why these episodes are so highly rated. I just binged season three before starting this season and the differences between the two are night and day.

[8.2] Darker, meaner, louder

[cjonesas · 8/10 · 30 May 2022]

Episode 2: We are served our fair share of darkness, meanness and bone-crushing loudness in this episode. Remarkable as the new standard of Stranger Things.

Also, all scenes with bullied El in them had me dead still as a rock. Her weepiness combined with newly found dark fury force created so much palpable and powerful energy that as her face changed from victim to bitchy huntress, I almost "felt" blood oozing from her nose as Angela was hit by an "invisible" force, crushing her ego, while her red cells were dripping wild.

Sorrowful friendship

[nyrygnwgm · 9/10 · 30 May 2022]

How come this episode make me feel so sorrowful. Im not talking about Ele suffered bullying or Hop being tortured. It's about Will and Michael friendship. Perhaps Will is the only one that trust friendship would last forever between four kids.