Stranger Things-Time to go on an adventure
Review of Series Episodes 1-8
Netflix
This review is spoiler free/limited spoiler
Stranger Things is the new show from the Duffer Brothers released on Netflix. I have been anticipating this series since I heard about it a year ago. Originally the series was titled Montauk and was supposed to take place on the east end of Long Island and use plum island which is a real life government lab on the end of Long Island. Even with the changes in venue Indiana and government lab Hawkins Laboratory, it was still a must watch for me.
The story set in Indiana in the 80’s tells the story of a boy named Will Byers, who seems to have vanished without a trace. His Mother, Joyce Byer (Wynonna Ryder) is frantic and goes to Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) to search for Will. Chief Hopper after pressure from Joyce Byer starts an investigation into Will’s disappearance. At the same time, a little girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) appears in town. No one knows who she is or where she is from or how she got there? She seems a little off a bit strange. She appears to be running away from something evil and dark.
Will’s three friends conduct a search to try and find Will end up meeting a stranger who can help them. The town is also subject to increased government activity in town because of the Hawkins labs experiments. The story focuses on the search for Will and how everything occurring in town connects to the experimental government laboratory Hawkins Labs.
The Review
I’ve read the series described as a Stephen King novel directed by Steven Spielberg. This description perfectly describes Stranger Things. The series set in the 1980’s does the time-period well and evokes good memories it utilizes nostalgia the right way. The series evoked memories of the Goonies and Fringe, which shows the excellence of the series. The series is well written, each plot is used well on the show, and there is enough mystery left for another season. The writing pace of the series is excellent no lags in the pace or plot of the story. The acting is fantastic Wynonna Ryder, Matthew Modine, and David Harbour gives great performances that hopefully will be awarded. But the stars of the show are the kids, who show range well beyond their range. Each of these children should have a bright future in Hollywood. Whoever dressed the set did a fantastic job from the actors clothes to the cars, props everything seemed to be from the 80’s (Loved the eighties style beer cans and the coke can props and the use of D&D and name checking X-Men 134).
The music selected, and the score fit the time period perfectly. The series felt like it could have been from the 80’s. The series evoked memories of my friends and me as kids in the 80’s riding around on our bikes looking for adventures. Rather than sit and play video games we were outside being creative making up stories or playing manhunt on the playground.
Conclusion
Stranger Things blends the genres of Action Adventure, Horror, and Science Fiction to create a story which has you on the edge of your seat. Stranger Things is one of the best series on Netflix. The Duffer Brothers and Netflix has hit this series out of the park. Hopefully, the buzz around the series will result in season 2 as I have many questions after watching series one that I need answers too. Also Coke, please bring back the 80’s coke can it looked impressive.
Stranger Things is a must watch series and one that will hopefully continue. Netflix has done it again this series shows why Netflix is the future of television.
