Before watching Stranger Things, I had very high expectations as many people raved about it. I ended with one of my favorite shows of all time. Everything about the show's first season is incredible. Subjectively I was the drawn in, I loved the 80s setting and plot itself was built up until I was sitting on the edge of my seat at the end of the episodes just wanting more. The main objective qualities that make the show so great is how they use non-diagetic audio along with changes in lighting and camera angles to create suspense in the setting. Before the audience even knows someone is in danger, the eerie high pitched movie starts. Then they zoom in the character so the audience can't see whats in the rest of the scene further creating suspense in knowing something bad will happen but not what or where it will be. One of my other favorite objective qualities are the subsidiary characters that make the show feel so real and relatable. One such character, Scott Clark, was the lovable science teacher who played a few minor roles in the plot. He very easily could have been left out but what he brings is something the audience can relate to. We all remember our favorite teacher, and it feels good to see Mr. Clark and this about our favorite teacher in school and how much of a difference they made. By including this character and writing him in the directors are able to draw the audience completely into the world the boys are living in.
Overall could not recommend this series enough, it is absolutely incredible. I loved the 80s music and nerdy references the kids made, especially the small details such as them calling the forest Mirkwood, an area in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The plot unraveled perfectly, not revealing to much to soon but enough to create wonder and suspense in wanting to know what happens next. Every time an episode ended I had to watch another, and binge watched the whole series in one sitting. This series was incredible and an absolute must watch, I rate it Good Good.
This scene perfectly captures how the directors use non-diagetic audio to create suspence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlVN5Ukp7c8
Hi Elias,
ReplyDeleteI also did my be reel blog on Stranger Things. I was too draw in by the 80s setting as well as that feeling of being in the edge of my seat. I thought it was really interesting how you pointed out the subsidiary character of Mr. Clark and his reliability to the audience. I definitely related to him in the sense of that I have one teacher, Mrs. Talty, who I am very close with and is most likely my favorite teacher ever due to the impact shes had on my life. I agree that the plot was perfect and unraveled just at the right time. I rate this Good Good too!!