For all the constant snarks about the show being only nostalgia-bait (amplied by it becoming so popular), it continues to have little moments of subversion that make it so satisfying/gratifying (like how they resolve the possibly trite love triangle in the first season). I just watched the first episode, and apart from the usual fun narrative and great rapport between the kids, I like how
they manage to put real sorrow underlining the meme-ified Barbara disappearance (I thought the car discussion was about Steve not wanting to dinner with Nancy's parents, which makes the scene of them coming up to Barbara's house revealing all those pictures a minor gut punch for me) and not wait around for episodes about Eleven.
