Stranger Things (Netflix show)

[Mad Old Lu]

Watched the second season last week and I thought it was great. I would say just as good as the first season. Great characters, great storytelling. Really cared about all the characters. I was hoping Billy would get a redemption arc like Steve did on season one, that he would have found Max and then decide to help. But I suppose that would have made it way too much of a copy of Steve’s arc in season 1. Maybe they’ll save that for season 3. I liked how Paul Reiser turned out to be good too. I think it makes the characters more believable when they do show some humanity and compassion in the face of everything they’re experiencing. I hope that people aren’t as cold blooded and evil as one-dimensional bad guys are often portrayed in movies—but sadly I know they are!

As far as episode 7…I didn’t loathe it. It definitely killed all the momentum building, especially since it was the third to last episode. But I understand why that storyline had to happen. Eleven needed to go through her Dagobah training, her own personal hero’s journey, before going back to the gang. But it would have worked MUCH better if they had interspersed that across 2 or 3 episodes and intercut between Hawkins and Chicago instead of doing it all in one shot. But I kinda liked the 2nd rate X-Men group vibe they had. I was also hoping Eleven was going to convince them to go back to Hawkins with her and help, which I think would have made a cool little army against the demodogs.

Overall I found it very enjoyable. The dance was very sweet. I was very surprised to hear Olivia Newton-John’s “Twist of Fate” playing! It wan’t quite the right time frame, more like late 1983/early 84, and it’s not really remembered as one of her big hits—it’s kinda like a “deep-cut” hit. I have to wonder why they went with that song…

 

[Tyderium]

This was cruising to a 5/10 for me until the last couple of episodes pushed it out to a 7/10.
Lacked the charm and focus the first series had. The Thriller trailer ended up being way better than the actual season.

Yep, interesting song choices for the dance at the end. 1984 was all about Prince, Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper etc.
Every Breath You Take, was a big hit in 83 not 84 but happy to hear it all the same. Twist of Fate did chart in top 100 but yeah, an odd choice.

 

[Adolfo]

Just watched this for first time...all 17 episodes over three days...I enjoyed it...not perfect but good enough writing for me...can't wait for season 3...8 out a 10

 

[crows]

 

[EVILFACE]

 

[Victοr]

 

[Adolfo]

I would by that in a heartbeat...in fact all my Christmas gifts would be that...lol love it

 

[karamazov80]

I recently watched this season, and thought it was great fun! Even the wacky side trip episode into the city. I'm not usually a fan of cheesy, sentimental endings. But it seemed earned here for Mike and Eleven. Mindhunter was better, but hey, Netflix is earning it's subscription cost.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[Khev]

Re: Stranger Things (netflix show)

Both my kids are really big into Stranger Things. On Halloween night my 11 year old daughter as...11.

Spoiler

 

[Darth Waller]

Very cool, Khev!

 

[Khev]

Thanks Waller. She thought she looked "bitchin."

 

[Darth Waller]

 

[JAWS]

Between this and Thor 3 I am just starting to feel out of touch...

Don;t get me wrong... I like ST but not like everyone else... I feel like I should love it but something is amiss for me.

My kids love it and I watch it with them. Not sure how much I would feel the need if it were not for them.

I thought season 1 was better.

I will say it;s the best "average" tv series

Just kidding.. Its better then average... But like I said it missing something for me

 

[TaliBane]

Between this and Thor 3 I am just starting to feel out of touch...

Don;t get me wrong... I like ST but not like everyone else... I feel like I should love it but something is amiss for me.

My kids love it and I watch it with them. Not sure how much I would feel the need if it were not for them.

I thought season 1 was better.

I will say it;s the best "average" tv series

Just kidding.. Its better then average... But like I said it missing something for me

Yeah, just finished season 2 and gotta say - thought it was pretty damn underwhelming. I would have given season 1 a 9/10, season 2 was maybe a 6/10 to me. Will try to keep my thoughts vaguely spoiler-free (it premiered over two weeks ago, so I guess we're past the spoilers phase now anyway.)

Eleven and her story still resonates, and the actress is superb, but her teaming up with Sid Vicious, Cindi Lauper and Coffy in the Mystery Mobile was one of the worst hours of TV I've seen in a while - poorly written, poorly cast (the actress playing Kali was disappointingly weak) and even awful set design. And the timelines were so off - it seems like on the Hopper side, maybe a day or so has gone by since they were together, but on the Eleven side, it seems like maybe two weeks went by as she goes here and there.

Every new character was a total dud - the Rob-Lowe-in-sweaty-blond-wig guy was the worst of a bad new bunch. And the monsters side of the story that consumes much of the season was dull and often non-sensical (what is Eleven doing at the climax exactly? It doesn't seem to relate to any power/ability we've seen her do previously. And Demi-dogs can smash "polycarbonate" but not glass in the lobby, conveniently containing them? And Paul Reiser can't make "that" call?)

I'm up for Season 3 because I still love Season 1 (and the child cast is one of the best assembled for any movie or TV show ever), but how Season 2 came out does make me wonder if Stranger Things is a bit like so many of 80's movies it is homage to - the first one is groundbreaking/great/classic, the second or third... not so much.

The first season had a brilliant blend of "normalcy" and the not-so-normal, and the heartfelt and the thrilling. I guess it was inevitable once the mystery of what was happening and how all the seemingly unrelated threads (girl with powers, creature on the loose, alternate world) came together started to give way to answers, that those answers wouldn't be anywhere near as fresh or groundbreaking as the lead-in, but I really had to force myself to watch some of the episodes, and that's not a good thing.

I'll cling to Season 1 good vibes for now and remember the bits of Season 2 I did like. There were certainly quite a few fun moments, and Dustin pretty much stole the show (almost everything he was in was brilliant,) and seeing more of Eleven is always a good thing. I really hope Winona goes to a health spa and gets a major makeover in Season 3 though - totally strung out and chain smoking for two seasons is more than enough.

 

[Biojex]

Yeah, just finished season 2 and gotta say - thought it was pretty damn underwhelming. I would have given season 1 a 9/10, season 2 was maybe a 6/10 to me. Will try to keep my thoughts vaguely spoiler-free (it premiered over two weeks ago, so I guess we're past the spoilers phase now anyway.)

Eleven and her story still resonates, and the actress is superb, but her teaming up with Sid Vicious, Cindi Lauper and Coffy in the Mystery Mobile was one of the worst hours of TV I've seen in a while - poorly written, poorly cast (the actress playing Kali was disappointingly weak) and even awful set design. And the timelines were so off - it seems like on the Hopper side, maybe a day or so has gone by since they were together, but on the Eleven side, it seems like maybe two weeks went by as she goes here and there.

And the monsters side of the story that consumes much of the season was dull and often non-sensical (what is Eleven doing at the climax exactly? It doesn't seem to relate to any power/ability we've seen her do previously. And Demi-dogs can smash "polycarbonate" but not glass in the lobby, conveniently containing them? And Paul Reiser can't make "that" call?)

I'm up for Season 3 because I still love Season 1 (and the child cast is one of the best assembled for any movie or TV show ever), but how Season 2 came out does make me wonder if Stranger Things is a bit like so many of 80's movies it is homage to - the first one is groundbreaking/great/classic, the second or third a pale not so much.

The first season had a brilliant blend of "normalcy" and the not-so-normal, and the heartfelt and the thrilling. I guess it was inevitable once the mystery of what was happening and how all the seemingly unrelated threads (girl with powers, creature on the loose, alternate world) would come together started to give way to answers, that those answers wouldn't be anywhere near as fresh as the lead-in, but I really had to force myself to watch some of the episodes, and that's not a good thing.

I'd have to agree with most of this. I have a feeling once they really start fleshing things out it's going to get weaker and weaker. I already began to get cautious when Reiser started to give a sciency explanation for the Upside Down stuff...All that virus talk has me nervous. Keep it other worldly and inexplicable. The more you rationalize it, the lest interesting it becomes.

For me once the supernatural stuff starts to dilute, it will be up to the cast and character to keep it together, and for me they are the strongest parts that will keep me coming back. The first season drew me in with the sci-fi/horror stuff, but it was the characters that kept me invested. I enjoy every character. (outside of the episode 7 people). As long as they can keep the cast as strong as they do...I'll be there.

 

[Aliaz]

Finally finished season 2. Really enjoyed it, Damn this show sucks me in.

Agree on episode 7, weakest point.

 

[koonfasa]

Episode 7 was my favourite!

 

[KitFisto]

There's always one.....

 

[MegaPrime33]

Loved the second season but feel 9 episodes was way too short. The finale felt rushed in a way. I was disappointed about that but thrilled that we're getting another season.

 

[theuzi9mm]

I'll be the outlier and say it doesn't need a S3, or if they do one, it will probably focus more on eleven and the others like her vs. creatures. If they do go back to the upside down realm they run the risk of burning themselves out with that story arc. Yeah we all like some characters and all but the way S2 ended, if there were no more ever, I could be happy with it. Good writing and seasonal arc will be crucial for S3 if they even hope to round it out with another after that.