Necrotongue

The second episode ramped up the action and intrigue, just as I hoped. While die-hard action fans might not be totally blown away, I loved every bit of the constant deception, manipulations, and scheming that feel so true to the medieval setting. The creators really know how to play this game, and it’s a thrill to watch.

"I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred..."—almost as iconic as "I'll be back!" Uhtred is back after a year, and he's not messing around. I thought the episode would be heavy on dialogue, but the creators dove straight into the action. The pacing was spot on, the medieval vibe was fantastic, and I had a blast watching it.

Like the previous season, I'm giving this one four stars, although it is considerably weaker. It lacks the excellent atmosphere that I liked so much at the beginning of the series. Instead, it is filled with humor which didn't amuse me much and made me dislike Sheriff Jim Hopper. The creators turned him into a comic character, which I don’t think was a step in the right direction.

I was really put off by the attempt to tug at my heartstrings. That kind of stuff always gets to me. I was ready to give it just three stars, but Suzie and Dustin's cover of Limahl's hit song turned things around for me.

The episode was actually pretty solid, but Sheriff Hopper's character development really let me down. It's a shame to see him reduced to a second-rate comedian/masochist.

What was that all about? The episode is supposed to be Drama/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Thriller, but it felt more like a bad comedy. There was no atmosphere, no tension, and the evil Soviets were practically a joke. A pretty disappointing watch overall. 3*-

I really enjoyed the plot and was ready to give it five stars. However, the so-called comedic duo of James Hopper and Joyce Byers really got on my nerves. The forced "humor" was so overdone that it managed to spoil an otherwise well-made episode for me.

Finally, it felt like I was watching Stranger Things again. The creators ditched the slow pace and really picked up the momentum. For the first time in this season, it felt like something significant was happening. I’m already excited for the next episodes!

So, those phone calls actually happened! I mean, El used to pay dearly for her telepathic connections, but now it's like she's chatting on the phone for free. It's a weird shift. I get that it's all fiction, but the previous seasons felt more grounded, you know? I'm especially referring to the character of an ice cream-selling cryptanalyst.

I'm still waiting for that same excitement I had with the earlier seasons to kick in. Right now, it feels more like a teen romantic comedy with a sprinkle of tension here and there. I'm half expecting the show to be about who should call first and how many days to wait before doing so.