⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Creators (Platform): The Duffer Brother (Netflix)
Publisher (Release): Netflix (2016)
Length: 8 episodes
Genres: Young Adult; Fantasy; Sci-Fi; Horror; Action
❗️Disclaimers❗️:
flashing lights
moderate horror themes
this review contains low-level spoilers
recommendation: must watch
👍 Pros 👍
A seamless balance of 80s science fiction, fantasy, and horror
The characters and the story are impeccably plotted
Distinctive soundtrack aesthetics
👎 Cons 👎
Lucas’s tendency to argue makes his character difficult to like
👀 Synopsis & Trailer 👀
When Will Byers goes missing, the town of Hawkins, Indiana, is rocked by otherworldly occurrences:
A strange girl.
A strange world.
A strange creature of nightmarish proportions.
🛎️ Introduction 🛎️
The phenomenon that is Stranger Things largely passed me by when it appeared on many an avid fan’s screen in 2016. It was on my radar thanks to insane hype but never really piqued my focus.
Damn…did I deprive myself.
Season 1 is a masterclass in balancing genres. The near-seamless switch from 80s science fiction to fantasy to spine-tingling horror is so smooth it’s almost criminal. Characters that steal your heart abound, and, in the supernaturally charged town of Hawkins, Indiana, there’s never a moment when the tension lets up.
🧩 Plots 🧩
From the get-go, Stranger Things oozes intrigue, but once episode 3, Holly, Jolly, rolls around, the show is a hard-hitting thrill ride that doesn’t let up until its heartbreaking conclusion. It shines in its otherworldliness and terrifies with its surprisingly effective scares. The bright and colourful 80s setting creates a false sense of security, so when the transition to horror comes, the viewer isn’t expecting it.
Protect at all costs
The pacing is pristine. Great care is dedicated to balancing the overall plot and the characters’ stories, with things brisk enough to keep the twists and turns coming, but thoughtful enough to build all the elements needed to make it effective.
The conclusion delivers a satisfying punch that ties up loose ends while leaving just enough dangling to ensure future adventures and a returning audience.
‘…the show is a hard-hitting thrill ride…’
🎭 Characters 🎭
Our viewpoint into the fictional American town of Hawkins is more viewpoints. Stranger Things excels in giving each isolated group a piece of the story’s puzzle and naturally lets them gravitate toward the bigger picture along with the viewer, creating an investment that even the most skilled find difficult to create.
Standout characters like Millie Bobby Brown’s mysterious Eleven, Winona Rider’s heartbreaking Joyce Byers, and David Harbour’s redemption arc as Jim Hopper ensure the cast is varied and vibrant, helping keep the transition between stories interesting.
Think you might need a bigger gun…
The only blemish on the record is Lucas. The actor performs fine, but his only job within the show is to be as combative as possible. I get Devil’s Advocate, and I guess in that regard he serves the show well, but when a character only ever shouts, whines, and finds fault whenever they’re on screen, they stop being a living part of the show and become a noticeable cog in the machine.
‘…creating an investment that even the most skilled find difficult to create.’
💭 Final Thoughts 💭
I might be late to the party and all on my lonesome with my experience, but I am here, I am partying, and I’m not gonna stop. Season 1 of Stranger Things is damn near perfection in its themes, tone, and execution, mixing the colourfully goofy aesthetic of the 80s with supernaturally charged horror. It’s balanced, smooth, and does what all shows wish they could from the outset: Stranger Things captures lightning in a bottle.
One thought on “Review: 📺 Stranger Things’ first outing catches lightning in a bottle 📺”