Newly christened first-time Emmy nominee David Harbour is the latest Stranger Things star to weigh in on the show's darker season 2 feel. After a breakout run last summer, the Netflix horror/sci-fi series will return Oct. 27 with new monsters, more scares, and, of course, justice for Barb. It will pick up around Halloween 1984, one year after the events of the season 1 finale, which found Will (Noah Schnapp) vomiting slugs after his extended stay in the Upside Down.

Thus far, we know that the monsters will be less visible, but more dangerous; the horror will be front and center; and that the plot will explore the "bigger mythology” of Will’s disappearance and his ensuing trauma. His mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder) will try to help him navigate it while balancing a new relationship with her old classmate Bob (Sean Astin); Eleven will be alive, but hiding; and The Hawkins National Laboratory will be under new, but likely no less evil, management.

Harbour, who plays Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper, told Deadline in an interview that while it may seem like Stranger Things is opting for terror over its charming '80s nostalgia, fans can rest assured: It will be different but still familiar. He told the outlet:

Stranger Things - Chief Hopper (David Harbour)

“[Season 2] will surprise you, and I think you will also be very happy. It still contains that magic I think we have in the first season, which is that sort of Amblin Entertainment-esque, Steven Spielberg kind of ‘magic of the movies’ feel to it, but it’s also very different.”

As for his character, Harbour said Hopper will be following suit with this season's darker tone. He continued:

"In terms of Hopper, it plays to a lot of darker themes. Even though in season 1 he certainly had his darkness, it plays to a lot of his struggles, and it sort of peels the onion back of how he struggles to deal with the pressures of feeling like you have saved a kid, and now who does that make you?”

That jives with much of what the crew and cast have previously said, though it seems like not only is the story getting more ominous, but the entire town of Hawkins, Indiana. Stranger Things season 2 is only a few short months away, and those involved have already been generous with details. It won't be long until we find out just how dark Stranger Things can get.

Stranger Things season 2 premieres October 27, 2017 on Netflix.

Next: 2017 Primetime Emmy Nominations: Westworld, Stranger Things & More

Source: Deadline