[Netflix] Stranger Things

Everything else!

Moderators: Bakhtosh, EvilHomer3k

User avatar
coopasonic
Posts: 20969
Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:43 pm
Location: Dallas-ish

[Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by coopasonic »

rittchard wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 2:56 pm Is there no separate thread for Stranger Things? Anyway I just finished the last episode (Ep 7) of this batch of Season 4 last night and it was really fantastic. Some really nice storytelling elements drawing multiple plot lines together. A little odd that the main boys did not appear much but I guess they will make up for it in the finale. I will admit I did fall asleep during some of the episodes, but I was fully awake and engaged for the last one and it was like a full movie length. If you like “classic” horror movies like Nightmare on Elm St, this is like a really fleshed out (no pun intended) version of something like that, complete with lots of lore and origin stories.
-Coop
Black Lives Matter
User avatar
Pyperkub
Posts: 23583
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: NC- that's Northern California

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Pyperkub »

Watched the first two episodes of season 4 this weekend.

The first half of the first episode was a chore to get through, but it picked up after that.
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
User avatar
Zarathud
Posts: 16436
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:29 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Zarathud »

My wife and I are in Season 3. With the lockdown, she had no appetite for more horror. We started back up again.
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Albert Einstein
"I don't stand by anything." - Trump
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” - John Stuart Mill, Inaugural Address Delivered to the University of St Andrews, 2/1/1867
“It is the impractical things in this tumultuous hell-scape of a world that matter most. A book, a name, chicken soup. They help us remember that, even in our darkest hour, life is still to be savored.” - Poe, Altered Carbon
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28907
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Holman »

I'm finishing up Season 3 right now. I'll get right to Season 4 when I do.

This thread means I get to point out again that "Starcourt Mall" is actually northeast Atlanta's Gwinnett Place Mall, where I grew up hanging around at the age and in the year of the ST protagonists. (The mall has failed in this century, and the ST team bought half of it to use as a setting.)

In 1983/84/85 it had less neon, but of course Netflix needed to easily signify "80s."

Unless I forgot something, I haven't seen a video arcade scene. In the mid-80s, that was half the reason to go to the mall in the first place. (If I remember correctly, our arcade was just a few shops to the right of the show's ice cream place.)
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
Pyperkub
Posts: 23583
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: NC- that's Northern California

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Pyperkub »

Holman wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 6:03 pm I'm finishing up Season 3 right now. I'll get right to Season 4 when I do.

This thread means I get to point out again that "Starcourt Mall" is actually northeast Atlanta's Gwinnett Place Mall, where I grew up hanging around at the age and in the year of the ST protagonists. (The mall has failed in this century, and the ST team bought half of it to use as a setting.)

In 1983/84/85 it had less neon, but of course Netflix needed to easily signify "80s."

Unless I forgot something, I haven't seen a video arcade scene. In the mid-80s, that was half the reason to go to the mall in the first place. (If I remember correctly, our arcade was just a few shops to the right of the show's ice cream place.)
Well, also, the SoCal malls were loaded with neon, and got featured in a LOT of 80's movies... which does color (get it?) the expectations ;)
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43690
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Kraken »

Pyperkub wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 4:42 pm Watched the first two episodes of season 4 this weekend.

The first half of the first episode was a chore to get through, but it picked up after that.
I'm glad to hear that. We watched the first half of the first episode and turned it off. Will finish it tomorrow night.
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51303
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by hepcat »

I'm diggin' the practical effects so far. I sometimes forget how great they can be in comparison to CGI. I think I need to watch The Void again. It's the perfect compliment to this series.
Covfefe!
User avatar
disarm
Posts: 4951
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 6:50 pm
Location: Hartford, CT
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by disarm »

Kraken wrote:
Pyperkub wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 4:42 pm Watched the first two episodes of season 4 this weekend.

The first half of the first episode was a chore to get through, but it picked up after that.
I'm glad to hear that. We watched the first half of the first episode and turned it off. Will finish it tomorrow night.
I watched the first two episodes last night, and it definitely picks up quickly. I feel like they may have dragged at the start just to show how "back to normal" everyone's lives had gotten before things start to go crazy again. Everyone thought they were safe, but...
User avatar
Pyperkub
Posts: 23583
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: NC- that's Northern California

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Pyperkub »

Kraken wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 9:57 pm
Pyperkub wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 4:42 pm Watched the first two episodes of season 4 this weekend.

The first half of the first episode was a chore to get through, but it picked up after that.
I'm glad to hear that. We watched the first half of the first episode and turned it off. Will finish it tomorrow night.
Yeah, that first 40-45 minutes or so (these episodes mostly seem longer than previously, more in the over an hour club than usual it seems) was just hard to watch and wasn't grabbing me at all. Now it has all 8 tentacles in me.

(Watched 2 more episodes last night and each of the last two nights I was sorely tempted to say screw sleep, I need MORE!
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
User avatar
Dogstar
Posts: 1736
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:20 pm

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Dogstar »

What I find interesting is that with the longer episodes of Season 4 (especially by the time you get to episode 7), I didn't binge them in a mass together like seasons previous. It was just too much material for me, even with a lot of interest, for me to say, "Yes, I'll do one more." Two at a time was what I did, and it seems others are falling into a similar pattern.

While I do think they could use an editor, I really did enjoy the first part of Season 4. The only storyline I could take/leave is that of
Spoiler:
Joyce/Hopper
. Sadie Sink does a great job with her role, and I love the elements they bring in from other horror/80's films.
User avatar
Hyena
Posts: 2279
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 4:14 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Hyena »

disarm wrote: Wed Jun 01, 2022 10:02 am
Kraken wrote:
Pyperkub wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 4:42 pm Watched the first two episodes of season 4 this weekend.

The first half of the first episode was a chore to get through, but it picked up after that.
I'm glad to hear that. We watched the first half of the first episode and turned it off. Will finish it tomorrow night.
I watched the first two episodes last night, and it definitely picks up quickly. I feel like they may have dragged at the start just to show how "back to normal" everyone's lives had gotten before things start to go crazy again. Everyone thought they were safe, but...
This is exactly how I felt. There was a bit of confusion at first for me, as I hadn't seen Season 3 since it came out lo these many years ago (or at least it seems like years...). Examples:
Spoiler:
I forgot that Eleven had left with Will and his family, and that she had lost her powers, either from burn out or just contact with the Mind Flayer, whichever it was. I also don't FULLY remember all the people that were lost the basketball player referenced, I'm assuming it was all the people that willingly fed themselves to the flayer through Billy.
The good things I liked were
Spoiler:
The long-haired DM. They set him up as a freak/loose cannon psycho, then redeemed him during the picnic table drug deal. Then they cast a shadow on him taking the cheerleader to his house, only to redeem him again. My guess is (and remember, I haven't seen past Ep. 1) he is going to be a willing avatar for Vecna, after seeing his rant in the cafeteria. I kinda hope not, because he would be a great source of both knowledge and comedic relief.
"You laugh at me because I'm different; I laugh at you because you're all the same." ~Jonathan Davis

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." ~Robert M. Hutchins
User avatar
Hamlet3145
Posts: 1532
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:27 pm
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Hamlet3145 »

I'm enjoying the season, but really feel like this was originally written as 8 episodes then Netflix insisted on 13.

Edit: looks like it's nine episodes total. Still think everything feels stretched out.
User avatar
Sudy
Posts: 8275
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:11 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Sudy »

I've watched the first three episodes. I think there are definitely diminishing returns concerns. There's also the problem of having a now giant cast of characters and needing to give them all something meaningful to do. But overall, it's still such a joy to watch. The episode lengths aren't an issue (so far). It doesn't feel bloated to me, though its large number of plot threads may seem unruly at times. The call to action at the end of episode three is marvellous.

I saw a commercial on late night TV. It said, "Forget everything you know about slipcovers." So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were. -- Mitch Hedberg
User avatar
Pyperkub
Posts: 23583
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: NC- that's Northern California

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Pyperkub »

FWIW, episode 4 was probably my favorite episode...
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43690
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Kraken »

Pyperkub wrote: Sun Jun 05, 2022 11:56 pm FWIW, episode 4 was probably my favorite episode...
Just watched that tonight and it was the best so far.
User avatar
Sudy
Posts: 8275
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:11 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Sudy »

Done episode seven....
Spoiler:
I can't tell if the season thus far has been excellently planned or is an exercise in self-cannibalization. I am simultaneously indulgent of each long episode while frustrated with the isolated storylines and loose retreads of previous plot threads. Yet it's so well done for the most part that I don't mind, and rarely check my watch.

I think this is a point that all series with a similar structure come to if they're not willing to write out more characters. We're following around multiple different Scooby gangs. There's even an antagonist one this season, led by Jason the captain of the basketball team. But even though some characters are under-utilized, it's still such a joy to watch.

The young Eleven CGI is great in some shots and horrendous in others. If they were going to insert the older character into the flashbacks I wish they would have dispensed with the de-aging altogether. The Upside Down also looks very flat at times.

For as high as these runtimes are, after seven episodes it feels like there's been quite a bit of wasted time and building up of underdeveloped themes (as contradictory as that sounds). I don't think most of the personal stories are gelling as well with the monster/conspiracy plot this season. (Exception: Max.) Again, that's mostly the series showing its age and the writers trying to keep everyone happy.

Hopper's subplot really grew on me in the end, but it feels like it's taken forever to get anywhere. I guess that will make his presumed return all the more interesting though. I found it problematic that his story was mostly played straight and Joyce's/conspiracy guy's was often played for laughs. I really didn't enjoy watching the latter two characters at all this season.

Dustin's girlfriend can fall in a whirlpool for all I care. I get the need for comic relief but the tone shift is just too jarring.

I saw a commercial on late night TV. It said, "Forget everything you know about slipcovers." So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were. -- Mitch Hedberg
User avatar
msteelers
Posts: 7157
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 9:30 pm
Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by msteelers »

We’re through episode 6 and really enjoying it. The 7th episode is the length of a movie though, so we might not be able to get to it until Friday.
User avatar
telcta
Posts: 1113
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 3:47 pm
Location: Connecticut

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by telcta »

Sudy wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 2:21 am Done episode seven....
Spoiler:
The young Eleven CGI is great in some shots and horrendous in others. If they were going to insert the older character into the flashbacks I wish they would have dispensed with the de-aging altogether.
Spoiler:
Surprisingly, no CGI was used for young Eleven... that's actually an actress - Martie Blair.
User avatar
Sudy
Posts: 8275
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:11 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Sudy »

telcta wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 10:11 am
Spoiler:
Surprisingly, no CGI was used for young Eleven... that's actually an actress - Martie Blair.
Spoiler:
Really? That's bizarre. I was getting uncanny valley from something. Perhaps from the fact that the younger actor obviously doesn't have a completely identical face. But there were some shots that just felt so off to me. I thought it was CGI on top of another actor like what Disney did with Leia in Rogue One and Luke in The Mandalorian.

I saw a commercial on late night TV. It said, "Forget everything you know about slipcovers." So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were. -- Mitch Hedberg
User avatar
Smoove_B
Posts: 54567
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
Location: Kaer Morhen

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Smoove_B »

I only started last night - the episode lengths are bonkers. I guess we know why so many other shows have been cancelled - to offset the cost of funding the double-sized run of Stranger Things.

Regardless, I liked the first episode - felt like a good transition from last season. I'm just not entirely buying the D&D element - namely the club and the cast of characters. While I wasn't in high school in 1986, I'm having a hard time believing those high school kids (as portrayed) were D&D fans. :wink:
Maybe next year, maybe no go
JCC
Posts: 2191
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 11:07 pm

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by JCC »

Because my memory sucks, I did a complete rewatch of Stranger Things. A complete joy to rewatch. I think S4 is fantastic. Though, I agree that there are too many important characters now.

Non plot spoiler, but just a note about absent characters...
Spoiler:
Jonathan, Will, and Mike weren't even in the seventh episode!
Black Lives Matter

"You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: they don't alter their views to fit the facts; they alter the facts to fit their views." - The 4th Doctor
User avatar
Pyperkub
Posts: 23583
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:07 pm
Location: NC- that's Northern California

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Pyperkub »

Well, there *is* a LOT of exposition in the 7th episode...
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!

Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
JCC
Posts: 2191
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 11:07 pm

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by JCC »

Pyperkub wrote: Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:41 pm Well, there *is* a LOT of exposition in the 7th episode...
For sure. And, I think the season has been fantastic. Just noting, these eps are all pretty long and in large part it's because they have to find room for everyone to have something to do. I read that Dustin is now the only character to appear in every episode.
Black Lives Matter

"You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: they don't alter their views to fit the facts; they alter the facts to fit their views." - The 4th Doctor
User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20335
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Skinypupy »

Finished tonight.

Random observations:
- I quite enjoyed it, but feel like they could have told the exact same story in about half the time.
- Argyle was supposed to be funny but was mostly just annoying.
- Murray, on the other hand, is hilarious…especially the karate bits.
- Was Will hitting on Mike? Or just professing his undying friendship? I couldn’t really tell which vibe they were going for there. Also, Will is a pretty terrible actor.
- As someone who grew up around huge Salt Lake Mormon families in the 80’s, that whole bit had me rolling. There were multiple families just like that (with a dozen completely out of control, free-range kids) in my neighborhood.
- Nearly all of Hopper’s story felt unnecessary.
- I figured out El’s “memory” pretty early, that seemed very telegraphed. Maybe that was intentional.
- Loved the Freddy Krueger vibe, and the deaths were creepy AF.
- The fact they left everything hanging kinda bugs me, but at least the wait won’t be long. But damn, do they have a lot to wrap up.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
User avatar
Smoove_B
Posts: 54567
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
Location: Kaer Morhen

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Smoove_B »

Official trailer for Volume 2. I'm guessing it would be considered spoiler-tastic if you haven't finished Volume 1 yet

Maybe next year, maybe no go
User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20335
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Skinypupy »

Loved that trailer (although I'm not so sure about The Crow-esque rooftop guitar moment) and am really looking forward to this.

I'm guessing that not everyone makes it out alive. Place your bets on who we lose, my money's on:
Spoiler:
Eddie feels like a given (sadly), but I'm guessing we lose either Robin or Steve. With Nancy being the potential dark horse.

Can't imagine they'd off any of the younger kids.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43690
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Kraken »

I just got caught up last night so the timing is good. Although I have to travel that weekend, so I'll immediately fall behind again.
Spoiler:
I did NOT see Vecna's origin story coming and I found his abrupt transformation hard to swallow, but they did establish his motives and his grudge against Sunnydale, so that's all good.
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Max Peck »

This is exactly what I wanted going into Season 4 (because who has time to rewatch that much content).

"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
Sudy
Posts: 8275
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:11 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Sudy »

I find recap videos to be indispensable these days, especially when breaks between seasons are sometime beyond a year. Sometimes you have to dig to find quality ones which can be a little annoying. The visuals help so much if someone's edited video well though, compared to reading written recaps, etc.

I saw a commercial on late night TV. It said, "Forget everything you know about slipcovers." So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were. -- Mitch Hedberg
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51303
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by hepcat »

I’m about 5 episodes in and I’m finding that I have to force myself to watch it. The longer episodes make it feel like there’s more padding to me….or perhaps that’s been the case all along and the shorter episode lengths didn’t make it seem as egregious for me.
Covfefe!
User avatar
naednek
Posts: 10866
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:23 pm

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by naednek »

Max Peck wrote:This is exactly what I wanted going into Season 4 (because who has time to rewatch that much content).

I did...

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

hepcat - "I agree with Naednek"
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13682
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Max Peck »

I didn't, which is why I originally watched a short recap video featuring several of the cast members, but it was a little too concise for what I wanted. The one I found out about today is much more in line with what I wanted.
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
Torfish
Posts: 871
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:29 pm
Location: Somewhere

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Torfish »

Finished last night. The last two episodes clocked 1hr 27mins and 2hr 30mins.

I'm not a big fan of the storyline, but I highly respect the production value and special effects. Makes for an entertaining watch, at the very least. Seeing all the 80's stuff was still cool as hell to see this season. The music was top notch. Watch it on a big screen with good sound to do it justice.

I won't spoil. The ending episode scene with the music and action was amazing. Really good stuff. Worth the watch.

Seasons 1 and 4 are the best of the series.
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 28907
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Holman »

We've just finished S4 E7 (The Massacre at Hawkins Lab), and I'm pretty satisfied with everything so far.

It's definitely the case that the showrunners could have produced a tighter, less sprawling story, but I actually like the details and complications that come from the various subplots. It feels less like a movie than a novel, and that gives most of the characters room to grow.

I'm sure the series will end with unanswered questions and undeveloped potential, but that's OK. I think the end of Season 3 was one of the best "prestige TV" sequences I've seen in a while, and I hope they'll be able to pull off something worthy of the end of the series as a whole when we get there.
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51303
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by hepcat »

I finished episode 7 this past weekend and that’s where the story finally kicked in for me. I’m looking forward more to it now.
Covfefe!
User avatar
El Guapo
Posts: 41247
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
Location: Boston

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by El Guapo »

Finished the last two episodes last night. Really liked this season. I think season 1 is still the best, but this is a contender for second best (and a nice bounce back from season 3, which I thought was ok but not amazing).
Spoiler:
I was a bit surprised that they ended the season with the rifts seemingly open. I think the show is best when they're trying to figure out a creepy mystery and not so great when it devolves into over the top action sequences.
Some of that is probably unavoidable when you get to the culminating fight of the season, but it made me a little concerned that season 5 (the last season I believe) is going to be more action sequences than mystery. We'll see, though.

Also, I wasn't clear on what the connection is between Vecna / Henry / One and the Mind Flayer. They showed in the flashback Henry meeting up with what looked like the Mind Flayer, which makes me think that the Mind Flayer is a separate evil, but then they seemed to also say that Vecna / Henry was the prime evil. So did Henry absorb the mind flayer, or did the mind flayer absorb him, or are they just allies working together, or what?
Also I hope that they're done with the Soviet Union. The Soviet stuff has been the weakest part of the last two seasons.
Black Lives Matter.
User avatar
Hrothgar
Posts: 1087
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 11:38 pm
Location: Houston, TX
Contact:

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Hrothgar »

A lot of the show is explaining what the 80's were like. We remember it, but younger generations don't know much about the cold war. So I don't mind the theme, but they could have cut some of the fat.
Spoiler:
Most of Hopper's suffering could have been reduced to the late scene where Joyce see all the scars on his body. If they'd just kept the key elements, I think it would have been better. I kind of worry that some of it was justifying the expenses on the adult cast.

On the Mind Flayer, my understanding was that Vecna found it as a formless living energy. He then shaped it into his vision of a super predator (as seen by his drawing as a boy and his fascination with spiders). Vecna then used it to create the hive mind and reshape the upside down in his image. He thought himself a god so he was (re)creating the world. I would say all the evil came from Vecna.
User avatar
EvilHomer3k
Forum Moderator
Posts: 7918
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:45 pm
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by EvilHomer3k »

Finished watching the finale for Season 4.
I liked Season 2 and 3 but season 4 was excellent. Some shows do a terrible job when they have to switch between different groups (looking at you walking dead) but this worked well. The switches weren't jarring and they did a nice job tying them together. While the episodes were long I never felt they drug or that anything was really unnecessary. Like Holman I enjoyed the additional detail and small stories.

Some super spoliery thoughts on the finale:
Spoiler:
Absolutely loved Eddie. Easily my favorite character in the show. I am truly sad that he's passed on. His final scene and the scene with Dustin and Eddie's uncle were devastating.
I enjoy the more happy endings but I'm glad they went more empire in this one. For some reason I thought this was the final season so it was a bit more of a surprise for me.
I hope they do something to make Mike's character less...ugh.
I thought they did a nice job of bringing Yuri back to their side.
I liked Dmitri's character and hope to see him back in S5 (and find out what happened to him).
It was nice to see others besides 11 contribute more than just filler. I hope that continues.
Can someone please take Will to Cost Cutters or Great Clips? At his age most every kid is going to stop getting a bowl cut. It felt weird and looked out of place (though perhaps that's because I've seen Noah Schnapp in other things now).
Overall a great season of one of the best shows on television right now.
That sound of the spoon scraping over the can ribbing as you corral the last ravioli or two is the signal that a great treat is coming. It's the washboard solo in God's own
bluegrass band of comfort food. - LawBeefaroni
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51303
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by hepcat »

I’m enjoying the last episode, but I have to wonder why they made it 2 hours and 30 minutes long instead of just splitting it into two episodes. :?

Also, the sexual chemistry between Hopper and Joyce is second only to what I can imagine Phyllis Diller and Dom Deluise would have had.

P.S. I’m reading about a season 5 being planned now? I thought this was supposed to be end?
Covfefe!
User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20335
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: [Netflix] Stranger Things

Post by Skinypupy »

Finished tonight, and would echo what most others have said. An really excellent season overall, with some very minor nitpicks:
Spoiler:
- When Eddie busted into "Master of Puppets", I gave a literal "HELL YES!"...while sitting alone in my recliner. Which is funny, as that was the scene in the trailers that felt absolutely cringe out of context. He was a brilliant character and while I fully expected that they'd kill him off, I'm glad he went out as the hero he did.
- Everything in Russia could have been shortened to half an episode. Murray and Dimitri were both great, but that entire plotline was generally meh.
- When Robin saw Vicki in the Army Surplus store, I legit thought it was an 80's Molly Ringwald deepfake for a sec.
- The whole Jason thing was rather anti-climatic.
- I honestly didn't think it would work to split up the group. I was wrong, as the way they came together in the end was pretty awesome.
- Poor Max. :( That ending shot of her blank mind was gut-wrenching. Sadie Sink deserves special mention for her awesomeness this season, as does Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Maya Hawke, and Millie Bobbie Brown. The whole cast was great, but they were especially fantastic.
- I really loved the ending, seeing the upside down start to encroach on the real world. Can't wait to see how they wrap it all up.
- Thrilled that Kate Bush made over $2MM in a month due to the show using "Running Up That Hill". That's awesome.
Hepcat's just being a grump, Hopper and Joyce make a great couple.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
Post Reply