Stranger Things - Good Good
I chose to review Stranger Things as my Be Reel blog post quite simply because it is the only show that you can legitimately not stop watching. The first time I heard about Stranger Things I thought it wasn't for me. I assumed it was just another horror show that is straightforward with only one goal, to kill the monster. However, after the first episode I realized that it was much more complex. Of course there is the stereotypical monster that every scary show would have but that is not the only problem that the characters face. There is also the issue of the friend Will Byers going missing and the audience eventually discovers that he has been taken to an alternate universe referred to as “The Upside Down”. Will is stuck in this upside down and his worried mother tries to rescue him through talking to him through Christmas lights. It sounds absolutely insane, but I believe that the directors did this on purpose to characterize Joyce Byers (Will's Mother). Another problem that the characters face is the mysterious girl that shows up out of nowhere. The girl does not speak much and does not have a name so the characters refer to her as 11 because of the tattoo on her wrist. It was later discovered that 11 had telepathic powers that allow her to move things with her mind. This caused a problem because the scientist from Hawkins lab had knowledge of 11´s existence since her birth, but decided to keep it a secret from the public until she escaped. As the season goes on, the audience discovers that the Monster, known as a demigorgen, 11, and Will are all connected through this upside down world. 11 opened the gate that allowed the demigorgen to travel between the upside down and the traditional world. The demigorgen then brought Will to the upside down. In the end, 11 erases the demigorgen from the real world and Will is brought home.
Personally, I believe that the subjective enjoyment of this show was off the charts. For the first time in a long time I felt that I was watching this show not just to finish it but because I actually enjoyed it. As for the object of quality, the directors did a fantastic job with the show by making it more than just a stereotypical horror show. They made it so there were multiple conflicts as well as leaving some unanswered questions. This allowed for a natural opportunity for the show to continue on for a second season and ultimately leading to a third. When it comes to Stranger Things there is never a dull or boring moment. It is always exciting and fun to watch.
Benji,
ReplyDeleteBefore I really get into my comments I want to say that I couldn't agree more on your thoughts on Stranger Things. I think that it is an excellent show with a much more complex meaning behind it. Like you at first I didn't think it was for me very much like your opinion I thought it was going to be a cheesy horror show. And I was amazingly surprised at what the show actually contained. Before Stranger Things I was kind of in a Netflix-low where I was trying so hard to get into shows that other people had recommended for me. But I wasn't enjoying any of the shows recommended for me so I decided to give Stranger Things a try and it was one of the first shows which I actually felt for the character and got lost in the story. As for the quality of the show I think that it is one of the most visually stunning shows I've ever watched. Some of the shots in Stranger Things are just amazingly beautiful. The Duffer Brother really did an outstanding job at not just recreating the 80's but blending old ideas with new. Every time I heard the signature opening title synthesizer I knew I was in for something good. (And I hope you liked the second season because I loved it).