Every good TV show deserves an after show, and Beyond Stranger Things delivers. Since the wait for Season 2 was so long, it’s nice that fans could enjoy diving deeper into the Stranger Things universe. Hopefully you’ve finished your Season 2 binge, because there are spoilers ahead!
Beyond Stranger Things provided some great insight into the season and its characters, as well as teasing potential future plotlines for Season 3. Guests on the show included everyone from the Duffer Brothers to cast members both new and old. Bill Nye even made an appearance! It was hosted by actor and self-proclaimed Stranger Things superfan Jim Rash. Here are a few things we learned from the show!
There’s A Lot More To Sean Astin’s Bob Than Meets The Eye
Everyone’s favourite Hobbit was the biggest star to hit Stranger Things this year. He was introduced as Joyce’s loveable boyfriend, Bob Newby, who meets his untimely demise towards the end of the season. Basically, he’s the Barb of Season 2, and we all know he deserved better. However, the Duffer Brothers revealed during Beyond that the possessed Will was originally supposed to kill him. Considering all that Will went through this season, it’s probably a good thing that he didn’t murder his mother’s boyfriend on top of that.
There’s also the fact that Astin was almost not cast as Bob at all because of his involvement with The Goonies (which was also released in the 80s) and that it may have been too distracting. However, Astin brought a lot of improvisation to the role and made it his own, which is probably a big reason why he was such a hit with fans.
The Snow Ball Was An Event To Remember
With all the craziness that transpired throughout the season, the Snow Ball at the end almost seemed out of place. I was half expecting another Demogorgon to jump out on the middle of the dance floor. Instead, the season ended with six happy kids, but it sounds like the filming of the Snow Ball was an event within itself. Between Mike and Eleven and Lucas and Max, we don’t know what was cuter.
The Duffer Brothers revealed that the Snow Ball was the end point at the very beginning of planning. It was also originally supposed to be the reunion for Mike and Eleven, but they decided that it would be too much all at once. Also, the Lucas and Max kiss wasn’t scripted at all, and it was something they had decided to do on the day. Apparently all the extras clapped for them, which is weird. Also, there were some top notch music choices involved.
The Unexpected Pairings Turned Out To Be The Best
The pairings of Eleven/Hopper and Dustin/Steve were some of the more surprising ones of this season, but they turned out to be the best. We see Hopper playing dad to Eleven’s inevitable tween rebellion, and Steve becoming somewhat of a mentor to Dustin. Although Steve gives him the worst possible advice, what do you expect a teenage boy to know about girls anyway? The Duffer Brothers realised that both characters had just been left to their own devices and that’s how the dynamic was formed. Maybe not the best way to establish a new friendship, but in their case, it worked.
Hopefully Eleven/Will is the next pairing we see on screen (which was also talked about on the show), because how have they not shared a proper scene yet?
What’s Coming Next In Season 3?
As we know, Stranger Things has been renewed for a third season, and while obviously production is in its early stages, the Duffer Brothers did have some things to say moving forward. At the end of Season 2, we see that the Mind Flayer is still at large despite Eleven closing the gate. The Duffer Brothers revealed that Will still has a connection to the Upside Down and the Mind Flayer, despite the fact that it’s not controlling him anymore.
Also teased was a potential Joyce/Hopper relationship, which would make newly-adopted Eleven and Will step-siblings. Eleven will also continue to explore her powers, and Nancy will struggle between Steve and Jonathan. However, The Duffer Brothers made it clear that, unlike last year, Season 3 will be more of a surprise, since many things were wrapped up in the final episode.
What was your favourite behind the scenes tidbit from Stranger Things 2? And what are you most looking forward to in Season 3? Leave us a comment below!
