i have a lot of mixed feelings. i sort of assumed a lot of boring parts from Volume 1 would have massive payoff in Volume 2 and it did! but i failed to realize that it wouldn’t make their involvement in Volume 1 any less boring. which is sort of how i feel about the season in general. when it was great, it was the best Stranger Things has ever been - but then there was just as much if not more that is near impossible to sit through - BUT in the end, in the finale, i do think it worked out in a way that’s not only worthwhile but leaves me so excited for ST5. i just wish some of the subplots (California, Russia) were better paced so it wouldn’t constantly lose momentum on the way to the finale