A full year late for a review isn't half as bad as two full years late, when you think about it.
As a kid of the 2000's era, I cannot tell you how infuriating it is to constantly hear kids of the 80's whine and moan about how "nothing is as good as it was back then." I constantly HATE having my era and all its joys crapped on by the people in entertainment media who act so high-and-mighty that their nostalgia for a technologically-dry, socially-uneven, and disconnected time overshadows the amazing benefits and enjoyments that we find today. But I can safely say this: Stranger Things makes me understand their yearning for the 80's just a little bit better.
Stranger Things is one of those shows that you would think would be a hidden gem tucked away on some network like SyFy. The benefit of this series is that it has the budget and the support of Netflix, which allows the series to thrive. The best description I can give of this show is that it's a hodgepodge of the best of 80's cinema and culture: imagine if E.T., The Goonies, and Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind combined the most prominent elements of each of their films: the ominously hyper-aware government organizations, the group of kids on a whirlwind adventure, and the themes surrounding friendship, family, and love that permeate the story with weight and stakes. Stranger Things is an 8-episode journey that perfectly balances the horror, humor, and reality that kids and adults can face when presented with situations beyond their imagination; whether it's losing your child, your brother, your friend, or dealing with finding maturity in the midst of the action.
The acting is supremely superb from this group of young actors. What can sometimes be difficult when having child actors is getting them to emote the right way, or display the necessary facial cues that can help make dialogue or action believable. I won't say that each scene with the kids is nailed with perfection, but Stranger Things definitely displays the best child acting in a storytelling medium since the original The Conjuring film. And while certainly a lot of credit goes to those kids for their acting, the casting of these kids mixed with their effortless chemistry has to be taken into the account as to how their dynamics work. They act like real kids. They're somewhat flighty, they're self-interested when they think they can be, they're bold, they're dynamic, and their personalities clash. The acting from the adult actors like Winona Ryder and David Harbour is definitely stellar, but the series hangs on the abilities of the kids, and they deliver in spades.
Stranger Things is hard, in a sense, to unpack beyond an acting and thematically points of view thanks to the fact that it's seeping in mystery and mythology, as well as taking on at least three or four different character arcs all at once. It's a smartly told story, filled to the brim with character and narrative that's easy to follow without being overbearing or incomprehensible. This review, admittedly, will be short, thanks to the fact that I have no intention of spoiling the fun. If you are a Netflix subscriber, this is the first must-see on the service. And luckily enough, you'll have the opportunity to watch the second season immediately after the first. So stop reading this! Go watch Stranger Things!
Stranger Things is one of those shows that you would think would be a hidden gem tucked away on some network like SyFy. The benefit of this series is that it has the budget and the support of Netflix, which allows the series to thrive. The best description I can give of this show is that it's a hodgepodge of the best of 80's cinema and culture: imagine if E.T., The Goonies, and Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind combined the most prominent elements of each of their films: the ominously hyper-aware government organizations, the group of kids on a whirlwind adventure, and the themes surrounding friendship, family, and love that permeate the story with weight and stakes. Stranger Things is an 8-episode journey that perfectly balances the horror, humor, and reality that kids and adults can face when presented with situations beyond their imagination; whether it's losing your child, your brother, your friend, or dealing with finding maturity in the midst of the action.
The acting is supremely superb from this group of young actors. What can sometimes be difficult when having child actors is getting them to emote the right way, or display the necessary facial cues that can help make dialogue or action believable. I won't say that each scene with the kids is nailed with perfection, but Stranger Things definitely displays the best child acting in a storytelling medium since the original The Conjuring film. And while certainly a lot of credit goes to those kids for their acting, the casting of these kids mixed with their effortless chemistry has to be taken into the account as to how their dynamics work. They act like real kids. They're somewhat flighty, they're self-interested when they think they can be, they're bold, they're dynamic, and their personalities clash. The acting from the adult actors like Winona Ryder and David Harbour is definitely stellar, but the series hangs on the abilities of the kids, and they deliver in spades.Stranger Things is hard, in a sense, to unpack beyond an acting and thematically points of view thanks to the fact that it's seeping in mystery and mythology, as well as taking on at least three or four different character arcs all at once. It's a smartly told story, filled to the brim with character and narrative that's easy to follow without being overbearing or incomprehensible. This review, admittedly, will be short, thanks to the fact that I have no intention of spoiling the fun. If you are a Netflix subscriber, this is the first must-see on the service. And luckily enough, you'll have the opportunity to watch the second season immediately after the first. So stop reading this! Go watch Stranger Things!
Rating: 10/10*
*A 10/10 does not indicate a perfect score, but the score attributed to a masterpiece of modern work.
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