FanX 22: "Stranger Things" reunion panel highlights

Three stars of Netflix's ultra-popular show "Stranger Things" reunited at FanX 2022 for one of the biggest panels of the weekend. Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Eduardo Franco (Argyle) and Grace Van Dien (Chrissy) joined forces to tackle topics both actual and hypothetical, from what life has been like since joining the cast to who would die first in the event of an actual apocalypse.

Here are some of the highlights from one of the funniest panels of the weekend:

A fan asked Grace Van Dien if she is aware of the viral “Chrissy, Wake Up” songs.

Van Dien: Yes, I’ve heard all the “Chrissy” remixes. I think it's so cool. I think I’ll be singing “Chrissy, Wake Up” way past everybody else.

A fan asked Van Dien about her character's brief interactions with Vecna, resulting in this tweet that got a little love from Chrissy fans online:

"I think I'm a bit stronger than Chrissy. I think I could take Vecna." Shots fired by @GraceVanDien!#StrangerThings #FanX pic.twitter.com/f5crvjf5an

— FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™ (@fanxsaltlake) September 24, 2022

A fan asked Eduardo Franco how he would want his character, Argyle, to die on the show. Franco then hilariously proceeded to demonstrate that he and Argyle are basically the exact same person.

Franco: Let’s see... How would I… It’s gotta be good, man. There’s so many deaths in movies that like, you know, I’ll watch and I’m like, “[Expletive], that’s a crazy-good one,” you know? Like Quint in “Jaws,” how he’s slowly… he’s kicking and he’s just like, “No! No! No! No! No!” – so bad – and that [expletive] is just doing this… [Franco pantomimes the scene, audience laughs] Something like that, or it could be like… I don’t know, man. It’d be something like that. Maybe some… what’s a good – yo! You know what’s a good death in a movie? [Audience laughs] Sorry. I don’t know if you guys were like this, but it’d be [expletive] amazing to do it again: the guy in “RoboCop” – the one that slams into the vat of chemicals, and he comes out yo! [Franco screeches, audience laughs] And then, and then – yo! And then Red Forman [actor Kurtwood Smith, who starred in “RoboCop” and played Red Forman on “That 70s Show”] drives right through him and he [expletive] explodes! That would be [expletive] crazy.

A fan asked who their favorite "Stranger Things" character is (but they couldn't choose their own character), as well as their least favorite character.

Matarazzo: There’s an answer, for sure. Who’s my favorite character? Can’t choose Dustin. You guys could choose Dustin – I’m just saying. I’m gonna pick… Steve. [Audience cheers wildly, Matarazzo laughs] That was like the State of the Union. It’s like, “YES!”

Franco, mockingly: Steve.

Matarazzo: I think my least favorite… That’s messed up. Least favorite? I don’t want to pick a bad guy because I think that those characters are awesome. Know what I mean? It’s not necessarily, like, your least favorite character is someone that does bad things on the show because that’s what make shows exciting. People are saying, “Vecna!” […] Vecna’s probably one of my favorite characters in the show’s history. So, I’m gonna pick… Oh, man!

Franco: You have to pick one.

Matarazzo: I’ve got to pick one? Who’s that “Argyle” dude? [Audience laughs]

Franco, dejectedly: My favorite character has always been Dustin. [Audience laughs] It’s ok. Never meet your heroes, guys.

Surprisingly, Van Dien would go on to say that Season 4 bully Jason gets an undeserved amount of hate - an answer which seemed to irritate the overwhelmingly anti-Jason audience.

Matarazzo was asked about filming Eddie’s Season 4 rock concert.

Matarazzo: Oh, it was a complete bop and a half. I just felt really bad because we were on top of this trailer in a real neighborhood, like in the middle of the night. Yeah, we filmed that and I was… and there was a scene after that where, uh, spoilers… Ah, this is actually… Who hasn’t seen Season 4? Why are you… Aww [incoherent mumbling] … Well, something bad happens. [Audience laughs] And I have to go to the bad thing that’s happening and I’m screaming a lot while doing it, and it’s like 4:30 in the morning. [The directors were] like, “Really scream!” Like, “Ok!” So I’m running and then we stop and do it over and over again, and I’m like, “This sucks!” Yeah, so I just felt… It was awesome and I just felt bad. That was pretty much it. That was crazy, though.

*****

There you have it! What were some of your favorite parts from Season 4 of "Stranger Things"? What are your predictions for Season 5? How do you think Argyle should die? Is it ok to put pineapple on pizza? Let us know in the comments section, on Twitter (here and here) or on Facebook.

For more "Stranger Things" goodness, take a look back at our Season 4 Power Rankings!

And, as always, keep it right here with Signs of the Times for more glorious FanX panel transcriptions.

"Stranger Things: Season 4" Power Rankings

We are back once again with another season of our highly anticipated, incredibly scientific power rankings! This time around, we publish the results for "Stranger Things: Season 4," as a follow-up to our previous power rankings for Season 3 and Season 2. Apparently, and this is news to us, we didn't do power rankings for Season 1, which is... regrettable.

Hot on the heels of the fourth season of Netflix's wildly popular streaming show, we asked around 700 of our closest Facebook friends to answer a handful of questions. Needless to say, we did not receive 700 responses. However, we finally wrangled up enough answers to put together some believable data.

Before we proceed - and this should be super obvious - if you haven't yet watched "Stranger Things: Season 4," you should not continue reading this blog. If you're a fan of the show and you're all the way caught up, however, you're surely chomping at the bit to see what people's opinions were, so give us just one more second here...

Insert obligatory spoiler warning:

As usual, we asked those who took our survey to rank the top "Stranger Things" characters, in order of their importance to the plot. This time around, we also asked them to rank those same characters, from "favorite" to "least favorite."

A couple notes about the ranking questions:

• We gave a list of 20 characters from this season, which was a lot to ask, but we're eternally grateful for those who devoted a few minutes of their time to do so.
• Because the "power rankings" survey is recurring, we included the +/- movement that characters featured in previous polls experienced. Because this was the first time we've done a "favorite character" poll, we don't have any previous polls to compare for movement.
• There were five characters in this season's polls that did not appear in the Season 3 poll.
• In the event of a tie (there was one in each poll), the characters will share a ranking and be listed alphabetically.

In addition to the two ranking polls, we asked eleven multiple choice or short-answer questions, two of which were optional.

With no further ado, here are the results:

Season 4 Power Rankings Survey

• Biggest movers: Max Mayfield (+10), Erica Sinclair (-8)
• New this season: Doctor Brenner (Papa)
• Dropped from rankings: Billy Hargrove, Alexei, Mayor Larry Kline
• Most powerful: No one ranked Eleven lower than #2.

Season 4 Favorite Character Survey

• People person: Everyone who took this survey had Steve Harrington in their Top Three.

Question 1: Describe Vecna in one sentence.

• "Twisted and tormented, yet powerful and looking for vengeance."
• "Creepy as heck but less scary as the season goes on."
• "The Devil."
• "Pure evil awesomeness."
• "Eeeevvvviiilll!"
• "The ultimate picture of vengeance wrapped up with perfect storytelling."
• "The artist formerly known as One formerly known as Henry Creel."
• "Pants or no pants? That is the question."

Question 2: Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" is...

Question 3: Pineapple on pizza is...

Question 4: Who was Season 4's MVP?

Question 5: Other than an MVP candidate, whose performance in Season 4 was most pleasantly surprising?

Question 6: Whose performance in Season 4 was most disappointing?

Question 7: What deserves a trophy for "Moment of the Season"?

Question 8: Which of the main characters is most likely to die in Season 5? (Pick two)

• Eleven - 62.5%
• Steve Harrington - 50%
• Will Byers - 50%
• Mike Wheeler - 12.5%

Question 9: Rate Season 4, on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (amazing)

• 5 - 62.5%
• 4 - 37.5%

Question 10: Make a bold prediction for Season 5.

• "Mike and Eleven will break up again."
• "Vecna uses Will against the others."
• "Max will come back to live and will have gained some of Eleven’s powers. She will fight Vecna again and possibly take over for Eleven should she die."
• "Will is to Vecna as Harry Potter is to Voldemort. Vecna will use Eddie to torment Dustin. Max will wake up with powers."
• "Max gets powers."
• "It ends with Will. Will’s death will be necessary to end it (whether the Mind Flayer uses him after Vecna or some other connection)."
• "Hopper remembers that he absolutely wrecked his ankle with a pickaxe and begins to walk with a slight limp."

Question 11: Do you have any other thoughts not covered by the previous questions?

• "They did a great job of spreading the work among the characters, and each different story was interesting. It didn't feel as much like there was a main character this season."
• "The end of Season 4 Episode 1 was the scariest thing they've ever done in the entire series. Legitimately terrifying. Episode 7 was masterful - nearly perfect and one of the best episodes of TV that I've seen in years. Also, I don't know what happened with Robin, but her dialogue got, like, so dumb in the final two or three episodes. Overall, very strong season."
• "I wanted more from Jason’s death. He was too annoying to die so quickly."
• "It was hard to choose between Eddie and Max for MVP, and Eddie’s metal concert and Hopper’s sword fighting for best moment."
• "I think it was good but that they should have ended it with Season 4. I was ready for a kick-A ending. Also, how are they possibly gonna make it scarier? Sheesh."
• "They killed Eddie too soon. I saw it coming but I wish he could have stayed for the final season (or at least graduated high school 😭😭😭). Also I’m still upset that he’s the villain of Hawkins after the 'earthquake.'"

*****

Well, there you have it! What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What thoughts do you have about Season 4? How do you think they'll wrap this all up? Let us know in the comments section below, on Twitter (here and here) or hit us up on Facebook.

Until next time,

🙃🙃🙃

"Stranger Things: Season 3" Power Rankings

A funny thing happens when Netflix simultaneously releases all episodes of a new season of a popular program. Apparently, a LOT of people watch the whole thing that same day. Such was the case this past Fourth of July.

According to variety.com, Season 3 of the mega-popular Neflix Original "Stranger Things" reached 26.4 million unique users between July 4 - July 7, 2019, including an estimated 824,000 viewers who watched the entire eight-episode season within 24 hours.

Sheesh.

I, on the other hand, was on vacation in the mountains at the time the new season of "Stranger Things" hit Netflix, and I didn't get a chance to even start watching it for about a week. What I've come to learn is that, in this era of Millennial binge-watching, if you snooze, you lose. In this case, I snoozed on watching the season (and, subsequently, with sending out a poll for another round of power rankings), and I lost out on the popularity of this post. Basically, I missed the golden window of "Stranger Things" hype this time around, and, at this point, I am not sure anyone is even still talking about it.

Regardless, I feel an obligation to post updated character rankings, and am prepared to do so now. Also, I'm not really going to issue a clear and obvious SPOILER WARNING because if you took the time to read this, you were probably one of the people who binge-watched it all in one sitting, so congratulations, good for you and thanks for reading.

First, let me say that I really enjoyed Season 3 and think that it was probably the best season so far. Certainly, leaps and bounds better than Season 2, which, in retrospect, was not very good.

Secondly, let me point out that practically all of the so-called "bold predictions" we made in our Season 2 Virtual Roundtable were completely wrong. However, I did somewhat accurately predict that somebody would end up moving away from Hawkins. I'll add that to the tally of things that I have ever guess correctly, bringing my grand total, I think, to three.

And lastly, if you want a refresher of our Season 2 Power Rankings, click here.

Here we go:

Biggest Movers: Billy Hargrove, +10; Mike Wheeler, -9
New This Season: Robin, Murray "Bald Eagle" Bauman, Erica Sinclair, Alexei, Suzie the Mormon, Mrs. Wheeler, Mayor Larry Kline
Dropped From the Rankings: Bob "The Brain" Newby, Eight/Kali

Quick Analysis:

• Jim Freaking Hopper. Two straight seasons at #1! (No way he's actually dead, BTW. Not a chance.)
• Big season for Billy Hargrove, who was infested by the Mind Flayer and put up quite the fight against Eleven and the gang before his untimely and somewhat heroic demise. Also rose in popularity with middle-aged women.
• Bad season for many of the O.G.s, including Mike, Will and Lucas, who all dropped no fewer than five spots in the rankings.
• On the other hand, Eleven bounced back from a rough stretch in Season 2, and Dustin Henderson maintained his spot at #3.
• Despite a lackluster showing from our favorite food court worker, Steve Harrington stayed in the top 10, landing at #6 but failing to land a date with his co-worker, who, it turns out, was a lesbian all along.
• Speaking of which... There were a ton of new faces in Season 3, as well as the re-emergence of some minor characters from the last couple years. Scoops Ahoy sleuth Robin had a strong debut at #5, and the Russian-speaking duo of Murray "Bald Eagle" Bauman and Alexei wound up, INCREDIBLY IRONICALLY, at #7 and #11, respectively. Lucas' diminutive and incredibly annoying sister, Erica, crawled her way up the ranks to her ultimate destination at #9.
• 'Twas an unfortunate first impression for Suzie the Mormon, Mrs. Wheeler and Mayor Larry Kline, who all debuted at the bottom of the power rankings. Better luck next time, folks.

There you have it! How did you like Season 3? Any major objections to the way the power rankings shook out? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or Twitter... unless you've moved on and don't want to talk about it anymore, in which case we totally understand.

Catch you on the flip side, friends. 🙃🙃🙃

Virtual Roundtable: "Stranger Things: Season 2"

The second season of Netflix's cult favorite series "Stranger Things" is upon us, and many a nostalgia nerd have already plowed their way through the quick nine-episode run. We here at The Underground have gathered some of the brightest minds this side of the Jordan River to discuss in detail the zigs, zags, ups and upside-downs of this Fall's most binge-worthy show.

Be ye warned and forewarned that forthcoming will be MAJOR SPOILERS for "Stranger Things: Season 2." Do not proceed past this point unless you have either watched the entire season or really don't care.

All right. If you've made it this far, we will assume that you have watched both seasons of "Stranger Things" and will therefore not take time to explain who characters or nor go into great detail laying backstory for the events that take place in the show. You've watched. You know. We're all adults here.

What follows will be a compilation of answers that were given, with no collaboration between participants. Although some of the comments may ultimately wind up edited for length, clarity and/or punctuation and grammar, the content and intent thereof will remain unchanged. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's introduce today's panelists:

Aaron Christensen - Main contributor and creator of the "Signs of the Times" blog franchise; former journalist of Deseret News, Salt Lake Comic Con and college radio fame.

Amy Morgan - Two-time Virtual Roundtable contributor, lover of "This is Us," the one and only Christensen sister.

Mandi Russell - Hardcore gamer, cosplayer, double Instagrammer.

Abbie Sugihara - She talked to Aaron at church twice and made the happy mistake of commenting on his recent "Stranger Things" status updates.

Amanda Nelson - Underground contributor, Whovian, frequent world traveler.

Karrie Randall - First-time mom, party game champion, dressed as Barb for Halloween.

Brad Randall - Married to Karrie / Father of Lou, overall cool dude, dressed as Dustin for Halloween.

Suzzanne Bailey - Hilarious coworker, lover of Tom Hiddleston, wearer of amazing t-shirts.

Jena Alison - She says she's a passionate, organized mom. I say she is the granter of Comic Con wishes.

The time has come. Let's get it on!

Question 1 - What did you like most about Season 2? What was the most pleasant surprise?

Consensus: Everybody loves Steve. The character "pair-ups" were also a big hit with the panelists.

Mandi: My favorite thing about Season 2 was the building of characters. With every episode, a new layer was peeled back on each character and we learned more about them in a very natural way. The pairing of characters (Hopper & Eleven, Steve & Dustin) really brought out new aspects to each of their personalities, where we saw them define and realize who they really were. A perfect example was the episode where Steve and Dustin were walking along the train tracks. Steve began to mentor Dustin and was a real and true friend to him - he even let Dustin in on his haircare secrets!

Abbie: The character development for Steve & Hopper. (Talk about a major "glow-up.") Steve and Hop both act as father figures for the younger kids while maintaining their toughness.

Karrie: I loved the "team” that ended up together fighting off the demo-dogs and trying to free Will from the influence of the smoke monster. I loved the addition of Max and I loved the role that Steve played in helping the kids and Joyce. ... This season, I [also] really learned to love Joyce and Hopper and Will!

Suzzanne: I actually liked this season better than the first. I loved how we didn't spend a lot of time developing new characters, and the adventure started off from the word "go." The villain was better, scarier and more sentient than the Demogorgan from Season 1. Most pleasant surprise? The Steve/Dustin bromance. It was everything I didn't know I needed in my life.

Question 2 - What did you like least about Season 2? What was the biggest disappointment?

Consensus: The panelists really didn't like Episode 7, Max and Billy.

Mandi: My least favorite thing was meeting Eight. The gritty/grungy vibe of the mid-80s was great, and I loved what the Duffer brothers were going for, but it dragged and the characters weren’t lovable, let alone likable or relatable. I didn’t care for any of them, and Eight’s relationship with Eleven didn’t seem very deep. I believe that Eight will eventually want to reach out to Eleven and have a more serious connection with her, but I felt that she was using Eleven far more than helping her unlock her potential.

Suzzanne: I don't really think that they needed a human antagonist. The whole Billy storyline was kind of a waste of screen time that could have been given to more Eleven-and-Hopper scenes. ... I do wish we'd seen more Eleven interacting with the boys, beyond the brief scene at the Byers' house and at the Snow Ball.

Amy: It's a tie between the weird love triangle between MadMax, Dustin and Lucas, and "The Lost Sister." I really don't care for Max or Lucas in the first place, so I just thought it was annoying. "The Lost Sister" could have been summed up into 5 minutes of actual important stuff. I was not that impressed with Eight and I hated seeing Eleven as this angsty teenage girl who ended up looking like a gothic teenage version of the Godfather. [Also,] Nancy and Jonathan sleeping together and them getting together with the weird P.I. to take down Hawkins Lab. I hated everything about that episode.

Aaron: Episode 7 was just plain terrible. I understand why they did it, but they could have basically condensed that whole episode into a five-minute Eleven training montage. If I ever re-watch this season, I'm skipping that episode. Also, Greaser Eleven is the worst. Also, that ridiculous will-they/won't-they scene with Jonathan and Nancy (AKA "Jancy"), which that they jacked straight out of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

Brad: Episode 7. I get that they are trying to build on Eleven's character, but I didn't feel that story deserved an entire episode and I didn't feel it pushed the story further.

Karrie: Obviously, Episode 7 was a bit of a bust. I was excited to find out who 008 was and, while I am excited to see where that goes, that episode felt like a waste. I also thought that certain plot points were a little muddled and could have used a little more detail, like when Nancy and Jonathan went to lab and then met with that man who helped them send out the tape to all the newspapers. It just felt like they weren’t quite committed enough to that portion of the story. I also really wanted there to be more justice and closure for Barb and her family!

Abbie: "The Lost Sister" episode was garbage. The additions of Billy and Max also sucked. They provided no extra meaning to the plot. It’s like they were just... there.

Question 3 - Who was your favorite Season 2 character and why?

Amanda: Dustin. That kid has the best one-liners. His humor just makes it.

Brad: I really liked Will. I thought his acting was incredible.

Jena: Eleven. It was nice to see her be a kid.

Mandi: Steve. Selfless, caring and tough. 

Karrie: I loved both Joyce and Hopper. Joyce, because she seemed way less cuckoo in this season and I loved how she fought for her son. I loved that Hopper took Eleven in and how kind he was to Joyce.

Suzzanne: Steve! Talk about character development. He needed more to do, and he's way too good for Nancy.

Aaron: Gotta go with Steve. The man is a baller with glorious '80s hair.

Amy: Steve hands down. He is the best [dang] babysitter around!

Abbie: STEVE HARRINGTON. He had the greatest character development from Season 1 to Season 2. Plus, I’m also 100% here for his hair.

Question 4 - Who was your least favorite Season 2 character and why?

Consensus: Everybody hates Billy the Bully and his fancy through-the-legs layups.

Abbie: Billy. He was garbage. He served no purpose to the season except for giving us Steve’s confused “....Nancy?” when he woke up after getting beaten by Billy.

Amy: Max and Billy. They were crappy additions to the show that the [story] could have easily done without.

Suzzanne: Billy... UGH. He kind of took over Steve's throne as the school 'cool kid/king of the jerks' but I don't think that they really needed it.

Mandi: Max and Eight are tied for least fave. I feel like Max was thrown in as a P.C. necessity and Eight wasn’t at all altruistic - she was very selfish and manipulative.

Aaron: Mad Max and Billy were practically pointless. Honestly, when did Max ever do anything of value, other than illegally driving a car? Also, I didn't know Billy actually had a name until like Episode 5. I just called him "The Kid That Is Always Smoking on School Property."

Jena: The doctor. I thought he was slimy and didn't want him to be "good."

Question 5 - Who is the most underrated character of the series so far?

Brad: Lucas! Or Steve. Love them both.

Amanda: Hopper. His character development is great. I really can't [wait to] see what they do next with him.

Karrie: Joyce. She doesn’t get enough credit for all that she does and has done for Will and the others.

Jena: Joyce. She gets written off as crazy, when she's really the only one who's paying attention.

Amy: Bob. Sure, he was kind of a goofy guy, but he did so much to help the Byers, from being somewhat normal to escaping Hawkins Lab by knowing Basic.

Suzzanne: Dustin. This kid is smart - he knows he needs his paddles for his curiosity voyage! He so many moments of bravery in this season (and a few stupid moments... of course your weird new friend is a baby demogorgan!) He wasn't completely useless without his friends either; he went looking for Mike and, when he couldn't find someone, he recruited Steve.

Aaron: That goofy police officer with the glasses. Did anybody dress up like him for Halloween? That would be a great costume.

Question 6 - Is there a character that you wish would have been killed off? If so, who and why?

Consensus: Brad and Karrie are the kindest of the panelists because they didn't want to kill anyone. Five points to each of them.

Abbie: Billy and/or MadMax.

Jena: The doctor. I don't see a reason for keeping him alive actually.

Aaron: I thought for a second that they were going to have to kill Will. That would have been crazy. Other decent options: Nancy, Max and Billy.

Amanda: I'm not a huge fan of Will. I feel like he is just there to further the story along, but I have no connection to him.

Mandi: Max. She is everything i hate in female protagonists: cocky, pushy and mysteriously better than anyone else at something. I’m sure she’ll be helpful next season, but they need to tone down her “holier than thou” attitude.

Amy: Either Max or Billy because they are the worst. Or the stupid P.I. conspiracy theory guy. He was just a part of the series to get Nancy and Jonathan to sleep together.

Suzzanne: Actually... Jonathan. He's a sweet kid, and I do believe that he would die for his brother. Something about him creeps me out, though. I think I'd like him a little better if he did some great self-sacrificing gesture so his baby brother could have a normal life. Is that mean? Maybe.

Question 7 - Was there anything you wish would have happened in Season 2 that didn't come to pass?

Amanda: I wanted the shadow monster to come out of the Upside Down!

Suzzanne: I wanted more Will. He was the such a central character in Season 1 and he wasn't featured a whole lot. I wanted to get to know him a little better.

Karrie: Some other part of Barb's story. I’m not sure what they could have done... but I️ would have liked to see something..

Mandi: I wish we could have seen more of the Upside Down. Are there any good or redeemable creatures there (like Dart?), or are they all inherently evil?

Abbie: Part of me is still waiting for Joyce and Hop to hook up.

Aaron: I was really hoping there would be a scene at some point where Joyce came home to discover an unconscious boy on her floor and a dead alien in her fridge.

Question 8 - Who or what is most to blame for the calamities that befell Hawkins, Indiana, in Season 2, and why?

Karrie: Technically, Eleven opened the gate. But she was doing that to try to save herself. So really, it’s the labs fault, and Papa's.

Amanda: Eleven. I mean she started the whole thing. The season connected completely to season one. Although, if not for Eleven there probably wouldn't be a show, so yeah.

Abbie: As much as I love her, probably Eleven. She opened the gate at the end of season 1, and by it staying open, the mess from the upside down seeped into Hawkins.

Aaron: Eleven, originally, but in Season 2, I put a lot of the blame on Dustin for keeping (and feeding) Dart. You know what? I blame the Three Musketeers!

Mandi: Bob! I loved him, but knew it wouldn’t end well the moment he told Will to “fight” the shadow monster.

Amy: Bob, because he told Will to stick up to the Mind Flayer/shadow monster. Dustin, because he raised a demo-dog. The pumpkin farmers for creating so much drama. Nancy because she's the worst. Above all, I blame the Mind Flayer for everything that happened in Hawkins.

Jena: The lab. Because, government.

Suzzanne: The Cold War.

Brad: I'm sure there's a better answer here, but I'm guessing Donald Trump is somehow behind it all.

Question 9 - #JusticeForBarb or #JusticeForBob?

Question 10 - Who should Nancy date?

Question 11 - How did you feel about Episode 7: "The Lost Sister"?

Question 12 - Whose powers would you rather have?

Question 13 - What is the best song featured in Season 2?

33.3% "Every Breath You Take" - The Police

22.2 % "Runaway" - Bon Jovi

11.1% "Should I Stay or Should I Go" - The Clash

11.1% "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" - Jim Croce

11.1% "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions

11.1% "Whip It" - Devo

Question 14 - Is Stranger Things the greatest TV show of all time?

Amanda: Close. It just has so much to love about it. Great characters and plot, but I don't know if anything can beat "The X-Files."

Jena: Not quite, but it's still fantastic. "Doctor Who" and "LOST" are at my top.

Suzzanne: Greatest show of all time? No. An amazing show that has mass appeal and is wildly entertaining? Abso-freaking-lutely. This show has great appeal because it is a mix of sci-fi, suspense, comedy, mystery, and nostalgia. It's just great. The re-watch value is high, and it gives you a lot to talk about.

Mandi: It's my favorite new show, for sure. It’s instantly nostalgic, has iconic references and pop culture moments, but is unique and not at all kitschy or overplayed. I really love how they develop the characters and make it just creepy enough to really suck you in.

Amy: I don't know about "all time," but I do think it's a great TV show. It's kind of a thriller, but it's funny enough to keep me coming back for more. I also love the '80s theme! The songs, the style, the glasses, the Eggos... It's all so perfect!

Brad: No. It is not. But it is a wonderful popcorn binge-worthy entertainment choice that is a hit with many teens and adults alike. When does that happen?

Abbie: Debatable. I love it, but I also know people who don’t, usually because Sci-Fi isn’t something they get into. All things considered: 11/10 would recommend to anyone.

Karrie: Yes.

Aaron: I give it 8/10 stars, but no. The greatest TV show of all time has already been made... and its name is "LOST"!

Question 15 - Make a bold prediction about Season 3 or beyond.

Mandi: I think the Mind Flayer has its sights set on Eleven. My guess is it realized her strength and it will possess her.

Jena: We see more of the lost siblings.

Brad: I think Season 3 expands [the story] outside of just Hawkins. Hawkins is the central area, but bigger powers get involved and more havoc unleashes.

Amanda: The earth is destroyed and they all get stuck in the Upside Down.

Abbie: As much as I hated the "Lost Sister" episode, I’m hoping that it serves a greater purpose than some minor character development for El. I think there’s potential for something great with her story.

Karrie: Billy is going to end up a good guy. Joyce and Hopper end up together.

Suzzanne: The Mind Flayer uses another telekinetic kid to open a gate and it comes for the town of Hawkins. Eight is brought into the story by Eleven to try to help trick the Mind Flayer and save the day.

Aaron: Somebody finally gets the guts to say, "You know what? I'm moving to Omaha."

Amy: [HOT TAKE ALERT!!!] Hopper and Dustin are going to be the new hosts for the Mind Flayer. (They both got stuff in their mouths in the tunnels and it may be something that causes an infection.)

BOOM! There you have it! What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Did we miss anything you wanted to discuss? Sound off in the comments section below. But not on Facebook. No, no. Not on Facebook for a couple more weeks, lest your friends unleash fury upon you for ruining Episode 7 for them.

See ya on the flip side. 🙃


For more "Stranger Things," check out our Season 2 Power Rankings by clicking here.

"Stranger Things: Season 2" Power Rankings

"Stranger Things" is all the rage right now, which got me thinking about which characters are most beloved by my fellow binge-watchers of America. I devised a way to determine this, based on a popular method used in sports called "Power Rankings."

According to Wikipedia, "Power ratings are numerical representations of competitive strength, often directly comparable so that the game outcome between any two teams can be predicted. Power rankings can be directly provided (e.g., by asking people to rank teams) so that the highest rated team earns the #1 rank."

With that in mind, I asked my online acquaintances to rank characters from Season 1 and Season 2 of "Stranger Things" to see where they stacked up. Here are the results:

Season 1 Power Rankings:

Season 2 Power Rankings:

Biggest Movers: Steve Harrington, +4; Eleven, -3; Nancy Wheeler, -3

Dropped from rankings: Mr. Clarke, Barb Holland

New this season: Bob “The Brain” Newby, MadMax Mayfield, Eight / Kali, Billy Hargrove

For more "Stranger Things," check out our Virtual Roundtable by clicking here.