Stranger Things

[GirlyGhoul]

Is there really not a thread for this show?!?! I searched and searched for one, and then finally resorted to stringing up Christmas lights and painting a make-shift Ouija Board on my wall, begging the thread to give me a sign. But no, I guess there wasn't one.

The second season hits Netflix in a couple days. Hopefully with just as much good time creeps and crawls and 80's nostalgia as the first season. I re-watched the first season recently in preparation and forgot just how loathsome Steve was. I mean, I remember being deeply disappointed in Nancy for continuing to hang with him. But I forgot just what scum he was overall. They tried to redeem him, yes. But his actions before his "redemption" just scream sociopathic abuser to me. Demogorgon, take Steve and bring us back, Barb!!!

Also, when I watched the first season, I was very impressed with Winona Rider's performance. She seemed to have gotten over most of the acting quirks that had always bugged me in her early years. But when I watched again, I noticed the quirks were still there, just beneath the surface. There was a scene where she was showing her son's artwork to the sheriff to distinguish it from Eleven's artwork which he'd just found. The look she gave him when she said 'It's not Will!' was pure 'Lick it up, Baby! Lick! It! Up!' But overall, she really did a great job, quirks and all. Everyone did. Even my hated Steve was a grand, if conflicted douchebag, and I give credit to the actor for that.

So hopefully this season will be as much of a delight as the first.

In the meantime, here is a spot on and glorious Parody Video to get everyone in the mood!

[kostgard]

I loved the first season too, and everyone in it. They really hit the jackpot with the kid actors who actually do a good job and aren't too little kid precious or sassy fat kid you see in too many Hollywood productions.And of course Millie Bobby Brown is just an amazing actor and not just in a "good for a kid actor" way. And the adult cast was great too. David Harbour killed it as Hopper. And the most amusing thing to me was right before this was released I watched "And the Band Played On" on HBO and thought, "I wonder what Matthew Modine has been up to. Haven't seen him in a while." Then literally two days later I tune into this and was all, "Oh, this is what Matthew Modine has been up to."

I'm trying to temper my expectations for this, because will lightning really strike twice for this show? The first season was nostalgia perfection (the synth music in the first episode when they boys are riding their bikes home before Will disappears really hits my 80s nostalgia sweet spot). I worry they won't be able to recreate it because of all the attention on the show and the pressure they must surely feel to top the previous season.

[forever1267]

Agreed. I should be more excited for this as "Steven Spielberg and Stephen King Making a Monster Movie" is practically the center of Pop Culture!

But can they really top the super fun first season? I hope so.

And I will quibble, but I have no idea how Millie Brown is getting these accolades. She was mute and had one expression for most of the show. I don't see it. The rest of the kids, though, are terrific. And so was the handsome David Harbour (I'll help you get through the night, Officer!) and fun to see Winona and Modine back in the culture.

I'm hoping, but staying reserved. And I DON'T want to binge through the whole thing in 30 minutes. Can we try and keep spoilers to a minumum for those of us who want to savor it, please?

[kateln]

Oct 23, 2017 13:13:22 GMT -4 forever1267 said:

I'm hoping, but staying reserved. And I DON'T want to binge through the whole thing in 30 minutes. Can we try and keep spoilers to a minumum for those of us who want to savor it, please?

I'm ok with that.

I watched the first two episodes again yesterday afternoon, and I seriously still love the show. The kids are great, and while I don't love that Nancy ends up with Steve, I GET it. I still can't watch Barb's death scene alone though, she struggled so hard. Justice for Barb damn it!

[kostgard]

This review is pretty encouraging

He basically says that overall season two lives up to the hype and is still entertaining (though he says it starts out a little bit slower than the first season). I like Sepinwall as a critic, so good to see at least one feels like they didn't totally blow it in season two.

[scarlet]

I'm optimistic, though I don't give a lick about "justice for Barb" and I hope Winona keeps it toned down to about 12 from her usual 27.

Love the kids, though, especially Gaten Matarazzo.

[Deleted]

I rewatched season one last week also and enjoyed it all over again. I love the trailer for season two that uses "Thriller".

I liked Steve a little bit more upon rewatch than I did the first time around, but I still wouldn't care if he ended up in the upside down. I also don't get all the Barb hype. She was barely in the first season at all and we got virtually no backstory on her.

I still love the theme song too - made it my ringtone last year and it still is now.

[kostgard]

Yeah, the “Justice for Barb” thing went a little too far (and it sounds like they address her disappearance/death, which they should, but it gets a little fan service-y). I felt bad for her, but it got a little crazy.

I’ve read a couple more reviews, and they all seem to think that it starts slow but overall is pretty good.

[kateln]

I think for me "Justice for Barb" came about in a few ways; she was a funny, smart character on screen--and she had the one big on-screen fight leading to her death. It wasn't short either, while we don't see what she's fighting, but you see her fighting for her life . Then there's nothing until her body is spotted later in the Upside Down. Nancy calls Barb's mom (I rewatched the episode this morning while working out) and then other then the occasional mention, there's nothing about Barb again. Will sort of overshadows her, even though there's two kids who disappear in a reasonably close time frame.

Plus in photos from the time, my sister could have been Barb. Thick glasses and all.

[Deleted]

I marathoned six episodes yesterday and the last three this morning. I loved it, so much fun, and it continues on the path of season one without feeling repetitive.

SPOILERS:

SPOILER: Click to show

Spoiler
I was trying to think of what to comment on first, and all I can think of is Bob. Poor heroic Bob. I hated him in the beginning, thinking he was super annoying, and how Joyce needs to figure that out and run to Hopper, but he wound up saving the day, and he died for it. Sean Astin was so great at being the lovable loser turned hero.

Steve has quickly become one of my favorite characters. I know a lot of people thought he was kind of a sociopath, and Season Two shows that to be not true at all. He's a great guy who really does love Nancy, but his general stupidity makes them incompatible. And he's contrasted with an *actual* psychopath teen, which emphasizes that he's really nice. Loved seeing him become a big brother figure to the kids.

Lucas and Max. <3 Though the actress who plays Max isn't the best. She has a lot of ticks that child actors often have. But the actor who plays her brother I think is worse...we get it, your father is abusive, and it makes you abusive. You don't need to start laughing like the Joker when you get into fights. They briefly tried to humanize him by showing his father beating him up, but he's just so one-note teenage bully villain.

And Eleven. Poor Eleven. Hopper is doing everything he can but she's just so psychologically damaged from her upbringing. Though the dynamic with the two of them is so touching -- she lost her parents and he lost his daughter, and they're making themselves each other's family. And I liked the part about her "sister" though it did feel a little bit like filler at times. And confirmation that "Papa" isn't dead, he's still out there. Hello, Season Three!

Last thoughts for this post: I still can't handle animal deaths. It made it worse seeing how upset Dustin's mom was as she looked for her beloved Mews. I hugged my cats extra hard.