Stranger Things?

BuffyNvrForgets said:
I was a big fan when I first watched it. Even when season 2 came out. But by season 3, it was clear they were just pulling plotlines out of their bums, just so they could keep making merchandise and draining all their enthralled fans of their deeply nostalgic money.

From what I heard, Stranger Things was supposed to be a anthology series, meaning the same cast every season, but a different story, different characters, different time periods etc. Much like the Haunting Of ______________ series on Netflix. But everyone loved the characters so much, they decided to just keep going with it. They didn't have much real story to tell after season one, so they just try and meaninglessly ramp everything up each time.

One thing I liked about the first season (which never appeared again, really) is the facinating trope/theme of your classic "super powered lab experiment little girl". I find this theme really facinating because it actually always represents (most of the time) dually a "loss of innocence" metaphor, and a "who is the monster, those who are different, or those who persecute them"?

You can actually find this trope all over.
Eleven -Stranger things,
Lucy/Nyuu - Elfen Lied
Wanda - Avengers (To a degree)
(This is just a start)

Heck, even River Tam.

I could go on about that, but eh, maybe better not.
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The Duffers have always said they planned for 4-5 seasons. I certainly don't agree that they were pulling plotlines out of their bums. Its surprising that people complain about a show running for at least 4 seasons when there are planty of shows which drag on for 6-7-8 or even more seasons. Each season are like 8 or 9 episodes, so its not like their over long.

If you think about it is anothogy series, in the sense that each season is another adventure in Hawkins/the Upside Down. ST has always been a more character driven show and that it what sustains it because of the characters and how they change. I also like it explores different aspects of 80s American culture like the cold war or the mall of America. I think S2s and 3 hold up very well. It says something that there's only been one bad episode out of 25.
 
Mr Trick said:
The Duffers have always said they planned for 4-5 seasons. I certainly don't agree that they were pulling plotlines out of their bums. Its surprising that people complain about a show running for at least 4 seasons when there are planty of shows which drag on for 6-7-8 or even more seasons. Each season are like 8 or 9 episodes, so its not like their over long.
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I think the general reason people complain about it running for 4 seasons is overarching plot or no, it definitely feels like there was a directional shift at some point.

The current X-Men series is pretty much the exact same situation for me. The problem isn’t that it’s going places plot-wise. If anything, sure, I’m glad to see more expansion on the world we’re building here. The issue I have is that it has begun to feel like the creative direction that was present at the beginning of the work has now been totally lost in favor of doing something big that brings in eyeballs.

I’m hoping that this coming season gets things back on track, as it kind of felt like S3 was them setting up new plotlines for future stuff. To the people who love ST regardless, I’m sure it will be awesome. As someone who really liked what was sold to us in that first season though, seeing military convoys and Resident Evil bosses show up to fight this “war” feels like I was sold a false bill of goods when we started.

I should also throw out there that I’m not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings if they like the current trajectory! I’m glad that somebody found value in something that I didn’t. I’m just airing my own feelings as someone that absolutely loves that first season. 🙂
 
It was okay in its first few seasons but I eventually stopped watching. I found it a bit average to be honest. Certainly not bad, but nothing that really helped it stand out as particularly special. I honestly don't get all the hype?
 
HowiMetdaSlayer said:
Season 4 premieres on Friday@! Anybody be interested in doing a chat watch?
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I will join if I can. I can probably only watch first two episodes Friday because I'm reviewing it for the channel so don't want to get too far ahead.

The extra long episode lengths is interesting and that 2 and an half hour finale could be something if done right. It does seem like their moving in a different direction this season which I'm excited to see.
 
Can't promise but will try and make it. Can always do an episode another time.

Who else is down for some Steve-Robin video store fun this season?😀. BTW 86 is when Top Gun and Howard the Duck were released. Now tell me they don't sound like Steve type of movies?!😛.

One prediction I have is that with Max's new powers I think she could play a crucial part in the season overall and I could see her, Will and Ele becoming a trio by the end all important to the final battle (unless they hold off on that until the final season?)...

One or two of the main cast characters could die? I could see Jonathan going myself.
 
HowiMetdaSlayer said:
What time were you thinking? Cause I can't promise to wait too long 😉
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If I'm there by 3pm UK time then you just go for it! I've been having computer problems so I'll have to see if they clear up. But if I'm free at that time can certainly watch the first one with you. If not enjoy, and we'll speak on the other side (because yeah I'm staying off twitter and out of this thread as much as I can for a couple of days😉).
 
Just been watching the trailers and some of the teasers, plus that first 8 minutes! This season promises to be ride. BTW it says something that even the trailers for this show is top draw. That's saying something considering how bad a lot of modern trailers are.
 
The ending of that first episode gave me so many classic 80s horror movie vibes! Specifically Nightmare on Elm Street! I loved it! Can’t wait for the next one! ❤️🥰
 
Just finished binging volume 1. Holy frakkin' sheet! Season 4 is amaze balls! 😲
Without even seeing volume 2, I think season 4 might just be equal to the season 1 phenom!
*can't frakkin' wait for volume 2!* 👍 👍
 
Bop
Bop
You've finished already? :O
Not sure what I think yet . Watched it once and mostly enjoyed it ...now I'm watching again and enjoying it more .

Those Duffers have a bit of a knack at writing new characters into the show . Given that the main cast is already beloved , they somehow manage to make us care about some random noobs .

I did find some of the narrative repetition between seasons both comforting but unnecessary .

Slightly annoyed they held two episodes back though . Don't see the point of dragging it out . They did this with He Man Revelation and it cost them dear with the critics .
 
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By chance , I managed to start watching Season 4 the moment it became available . 😛 Didn't have the stamina to watch it through in one day though .

I only discovered today there's a final season coming 😛 . I thought this was it .
 
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I just finished season 4, I won't give any spoilers obviously but it did lose me a little bit with the ending and peaked with Max/episode 4. But overall I enjoyed it, I thought that I would feel the huge run times of the episodes but I didn't, it went by fast.
 
I feel like it was a mistake to do a 2 part drop? Leaving on the cliffhanger in the middle of the story sucks. But I know they’re trying to milk out 2 months for new subscribers (or recurrent subscribers). I’m excited for the finale in July.
 
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