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There’s no denying Netflix’s original Stranger Things is a hit. Within 35 days of its July 15th release, the must-watch supernatural drama reeled in an average of 14 million viewers making it the third most watched Netflix original season. Audiences were instantly hooked to the show’s premise and 80’s nostalgia, as well as its enigmatic protagonist Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Most viewers watched the 8-episode season in a day and were begging creators Matt and Ross Duffer for more after being left speechless by a major cliff-hanger. Our prayers have been answered!

Netflix has confirmed today that the much anticipated season two of Stranger Things will grace our screens in 2017 and will introduce new mysteries and characters.

Here are some questions fans hope will be answered in the next season. Warning: spoilers ahead!

Where did Eleven go?

You can’t blame Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) for falling head over heels for El – we all did. That just made it extra painful to see our bad-ass hero vanish in the season finale. Although she disappeared in order to kill (?) the demogorgon and save her friends, we couldn’t help but wish it was someone else that would have be sacrificed. My theory is that she’s stuck on “the other side” now and it will be up to the gang to go save her. But will they be the only ones looking for her or are the scientists at Hawkins Laboratory already hot on her trail? Now that the gang isn’t protected by psychokinetic superpowers, they’ll have to think of new ways to overcome the obstacles that come there way. Unless Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) was given some sort of supernatural power while he was stuck on “the other side” that we don’t know about yet…

Will Nancy and Steve stay together?

I applaud the Duffer Brothers for creating an impressive character arc for Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer). It’s not often that a woman’s storylines are as fairly represented and are as substantial to the plot as Nancy’s. It’s important not to reduce Nancy to just Steve Harrington’s (Joe Keery) love interest; she’s an intelligent and brave teenage girl struggling to discover herself while simultaneously mourning the disappearance of her best friend. We are first introduced to Nancy as she tries to navigate through high school as a popular boy’s girlfriend but learn more about her once she gets closer to Johnathon Byers (Charlie Heaton). The two work together to unravel the mysteries of the freaky occurences happening in their town. Suddenly, audiences have to make the important decision: Are you Team Steve or Team Johnathon? Although Nancy confides with Johnathon about “the other side” and they grow extremely protective of each other, she ends up with Steve during the season finale even though he and his jerk friends humiliate her a few episodes prior. Although I don’t think she made the right choice, I respect her decision and feel that she’ll ultimately do what’s best for her. Do your thing, girlfriend.

Will Dustin and Caleb perform a musical number?

I don’t know about you but Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) were my favorite characters. Dustin provided much needed comedic relief with his goofy antics and Lucas was the voice of reason. The two may have been opposites but they worked flawlessly as a pair. Did you know both actors got their start on Broadway? In 2014, Matarazzo was Gavroche in Les Miz and McLaughlin portrayed Young Simba in The Lion King in 2012. Since the two have a set of pipes on them, how about we have a musical number. Please? That would surely lighten the mood. Well…unless they perform anything from Les Miz of course…

And most importantly…Will there be #JusticeForBarb?

Fans took to social media to express their concern for Nancy’s lovable best friend Barb (Shannon Purser). After being taken by the demogorgon, it seemed like no one really cared to find her (rude!) and was later found dead on “the other side” by El. Fans are holding on for dear life to the hope that Barb may somehow resurrect or that her death atleast be acknowledged by someone other than Nancy. The girl deserves some respect and deserve some answers! Why did Will survive but not Barb?

Do you have any other questions that you’re dying to know the answers to? Leave a comment down below or tweet us at @PCulturalist.

As you impatiently wait for 2017, you can re-watch season one of Stranger Things on Netflix.

Photo Credit: Netflix