Emmys: 'Stranger Things' EP on Why the Mind Flayer Would Defeat the Demogorgon

Netflix’s “Stranger Things” may have received fewer Emmy nominations for its second season compared to last year’s freshman run, but don’t tell that to the Mind Flayer, the big bad from the show’s sophomore campaign.

TheWrap asked Shawn Levy, executive producer and director, if the Demogorgon — the monster from the first season — could take on the Mind Flayer. “I’m going to go with the Mind Flayer since he’s kind of the uberlord of the Demogorgon,” Levy said. “I gotta think his power is more formidable.”

However, Levy stopped there: “Beyond that I don’t think I can get into the answer without divulging too much.”

Also Read: A Long, Chaotic Emmys Season Ends With Voters Finding a Decent Compromise

Levy’s pick makes sense, considering Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven was able to defeat to Demogorgon in Season 1, while The Mind Flayer was still alive and well, watching over Hawkins Middle School at the end of the second season. Levy’s answer makes it appear possible the monster, after possessing Will’s mind (and body), will be back for more in Season 3.

The show bagged 12 Emmy nominations Thursday morning for its second season — down from the 18 it earned for its debut run — but still got nods for Best Drama and for David Harbour and Millie Bobby Brown. Those 12 nominations helped catapult Netflix past HBO with 112 total nominations, breaking the pay cabler’s 17-year streak as the most-nominated network.

Levy admitted the out-of-nowhere success for Season 1 only made their jobs harder the second time around, describing it as “far more daunting, because the burden of expectations was definitely there.”

Also Read: Netflix Snaps HBO's 17-Year Emmys Streak

Levy and the “Stranger Things” crew are currently in the middle of his self-described “fresh hell” of shooting Season 3 in humid, 90-degree Georgian weather (he was driving to the set when he found out about the nominations). And that’s about all he would share. Anything more on Season 3, he said, would get him in trouble.

Emmy Snubs and Surprises, From Alison Brie to 'Twin Peaks' (Photos)

The 2018 Emmy nominations were announced Thursday morning, and as always, there were snubs and surprises aplenty.
Snub: "Will & Grace" came roaring back this season with a well-received revival, but the NBC sitcom barely cracked the Emmy nominations with just one supporting actress nod for Megan Mullally.
NBC
Surprise: Ed Harris scored an unexpected nomination for his work as the Man in the Black Hat on "Westworld", sneaking past "Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington and three-time nominee Liev Schreiber.
HBO
Snub: Showtime's "Twin Peaks: The Return" proved too divisive for Emmy voters, missing both the outstanding limited series category as well as the acting categories for stars Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern.
Showtime
Surprise: John Legend and Sara Bareilles both earned nominations in the crowded limited series/movie acting categories for "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert". Together they beat out the likes of Nicole Kidman, Angela Lansbury and Al Pacino.
NBC
Snub: "Transparent" has been an Emmy mainstay in recent years, but in the aftermath of sexual misconduct allegations against star Jeffrey Tambor, this year it was entirely shut out.
Amazon
Surprise: Tatiana Maslany already has one Emmy for "Orphan Black", but after sitting out a year, the actress returned with a nomination for the BBC America drama's final season.
BBC America
Snub: "This Is Us" scored two nods in the lead actor category for Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia, but in supporting, Justin Hartley and Chrissy Metz were both shut out.
NBC
Surprise: Kenan Thompson received his first nomination for "Saturday Night Live" this year, meaning that for the first time since its premiere in 2009, "Modern Family" was completely locked out of the supporting actor in a comedy category.
NBC
Snub: Netflix's reboot of "One Day at a Time" got no love from the Emmys this year, save one single editing nod. Not even EGOT-winner Rita Moreno could break through in the supporting actress category.
Netflix
Surprise: "The Crown" over-performed expectations in this year's nominations, winning nods for drama series, star Claire Foy and even supporting players Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby.
Netflix
Snub: With Julia Louis-Dreyfus out of the running, lead actress in a comedy is up for grabs this year, but "GLOW" star Alison Brie was overlooked in favor of fellow newcomer Issa Rae.
Netflix
Surprise: TNT's "The Alienist" managed to elbow its way into the packed limited series field, besting David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" revival, Hulu's "The Looming Tower" and Starz's new take on "Howards End."
TNT
Snub: "Game of Thrones" stars Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington both bumped themselves up to lead categories this year after having previously submitted as supporting, a decision that evidently did not go over well with Emmy voters.
HBO
Surprise: "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah" earned its first nomination for variety talk series this year, slipping past "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," which missed the mark for a second year in a row.
Comedy Central
Snub: Al Pacino was considered a frontrunner for starring in HBO's "Paterno", but Emmy voters opted to instead recognize "Jesus Christ Superstar's" John Legend, and "Black Mirror: USS Callister" star Jesse Plemons.
HBO