Ross Duffer

Matt Duffer

Winona Ryder

David Harbour

Millie Bobby Brown

Finn Wolfhard

Gaten Matarazzo

Caleb McLaughlin

Noah Schnapp

Sadie Sink

Natalia Dyer

Charlie Heaton

Joe Keery

Maya Hawke

Brett Gelman

Priah Ferguson

Cara Buono

Jamie Campbell Bower

Nell Fisher

Linda Hamilton

Tudor Jones

Charley Medigovich

Hilary Leavitt

Jahnel Curfman

Hiro Koda

Sherrie Penn

Nick Müller

David Champion

A.J. Bruno

Montana Maniscalco

Stacey Schrom

Steve Neal

Judah Getz

Peter Persaud

Will Files

Craig Henighan

David Grimaldi

Katie Halliday

Angelo Palazzo

Ryan Cole

Polly McKinnon

Smokey Cloud

Gina Gyles

Dean Zimmerman

Paul Dichter

Kate Trefry

Lampton Enochs

Jackie DeGraaff

Caitlin Schneiderhan

Gavin J. Behrman

Curtis Gwinn

Emily Morris

Sean Brennan

Denise Gregarek

Amy Parris

Michael P. Clark

Hector Carlos Ramirez

Mark Paterson

Steve Baine

Rand Geiger

Carmen Cuba

Lena Glikson

David Klotz

Chris Trujillo

Jess Royal

Diego Garzon

Shawn Levy

Kyle Dixon

Michael Stein

Chase Paris

Tara Feldstein Bennett

Heather Taylor

Dan Cohen

Nora Felder

Action & Adventure

Mystery

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up

Stranger Things

Netflix

21 Laps Entertainment

Monkey Massacre Productions

Upside Down Pictures

United States of America

**Started as a 10, ended as a 5. S4 Eddie gets a Purple Heart.**

I finally finished watching Stranger Things, and here's my season-by-season review: 

**S1: 10/10** - Instant classic. It let you escape to the 80's, and had a story that pulled you in, with characters and mystery that were great! Committed to eventually buying the Blu-Ray in my head. 

**S2: 7/10** - Still decent. Blu-Ray box set still on the wish-list. 

**S3: 6/10** - Cracks appearing, but not enough to stop the momentum of S1 & S2. Blu-Ray purchase still green (some good series have bad seasons). 

**S4: 4/10** - Eddie Munson single-handedly carried a 0/10 season to a 4/10 rating to keep it alive. But the second "THE MESSAGE" became the main character, the Blu-Ray dream died. 

**S5: 0/10** - The plot was sidelined for boring drawn-out expositions, monologues, and agendas. The series finale was the same, and even though it had the season's best scenes, it still couldn't save its downfall. The series ended empty, and ultimately didn't respect the viewer's commitment. I had no option but to watch most of the season at twice the speed. Someone would have to pay me to watch this disappointing series again, and the Blu-Ray series isn't welcome on my screens. 

I'm glad it's over, because it peaked early, overstayed its welcome, and was the last series I was watching episode-to-episode (or drop-to-drop in this case). Thanks to this series and a few others that sacrificed story since 2015, going forward I'm now applying these rules before watching any series: 1) Don't start watching an unfinished series that might get hijacked by cancellation or heavy-handed messaging to ruin the story commitment. 2) Wait until a series is concluded and reviews confirm it held the storytelling, and the viewers' time, in the highest regard. 

Tallying the season scores (10+7+6+4+0)/5 we get 5.4, and rounding down for the time sink (which would have been rounded up if the story came first), gives a final score of: **5/10**.

Enes

I have a classic saying: Every good thing comes to an end, and so does this one. Every scene was meticulously crafted from beginning to end; one of the best fantasy series I've ever seen. Every episode gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. A series can only be this beautiful. Even the opening music is captivating. I wanted Eleven to still be alive, and she is. Everyone moved on with their lives. Of course, I wished their fight with the monster had lasted longer, but this was a very good ending. They didn't leave it unresolved. Five seasons in total. Every good thing comes to an end... We grew along with the characters throughout the season, and everyone eventually went their own way. It was a perfect journey. The acting is perfect, the effects are perfect, and the script is independent and perfect. Even writing this gives me goosebumps. Truly, congratulations on your hard work. In short, friendship, courage, and the fight against the unknown... PERFECT 👌

**Give the production crew a raise, but please, PLEASE give the characters an action that isn’t just “pacing” whenever they’re stressed or thinking about something…**

**LIKE:**
Sound editing is chef’s kisssss — every knock, every kettle boiling, every hand slamming on a table. Regular sounds being larger than life really added to the sense of suspense this show needed to keep it spooky and exciting. On the topic of sound, I love the soundtrack — both the use of 80s hits _and_ the synth-heavy underscore, which makes the scary scenes 10x scarier and the sad scenes 10x more heart-wrenching.

There were so many beautiful, creative transitions between shots and scenes — you can really tell the camera and post-production crews put a lot of thought and effort into every single episode. The same goes for the special effects, set design, and animation teams — it wouldn’t feel right to post a review without praising their work (obsessed with how the show portrays the Upside Down).

I’ve been trying to find something that gets the balance between 'genuinely scary' and 'wholesome' just right ever since watching David Tennant’s run on Doctor Who. Yes… a very random example, which probably wouldn’t feel as scary if I rewatched it now, but it perfectly explains my point. I remember both me and my dad hiding behind cushions during the Weeping Angels episodes, even though the target audience for that show was mainly kids. The scary parts were genuinely scary and exciting, and the wholesome parts, like the relationships you watch develop between characters and the emotional scenes that happen between them, were genuinely wholesome. And that’s exactly how I feel about Stranger Things.

**DISLIKE:**
Dialogue choices… If one more character says “can you please stop pacing”, “can everybody stop talking at the same time”, or “we need to make a plan”, I’ll go insane (though I suppose I won’t hear that again now the show is finished). These lines were repeated so often. It’s such a shame that the dialogue lets the show down when it’s so gorgeously filmed and edited.

Monsters — this might be a controversial opinion, but monsters are 100x less scary when they’re humanised. Obsessed with the demogorgons, obsessed with the demodogs. The giant spider thing was meh, but I didn’t find Vecna scary at all. I was however interested in learning about his backstory, but I didn’t feel the same level of suspense watching him as I did when the demogorgons and demodogs were lurking in the dark, ready to pounce, and you didn’t quite know where they came from or how they would evolve. A human monster just feels too familiar, whereas creatures that are unfamiliar and from an alien source instil a fear of the unknown and the unpredictable — making them way more terrifying.

Because of this, I love seasons 1 and 2, but I just don’t like the later seasons as much. They’re less scary, the poor dialogue choices become more tiring, and all of the beautiful sound design and cinematography choices I praised earlier in my review become 'expected' rather than 'unique'. If the show had finished at either season 1 or 2, I probably would’ve given it a 100% / 5-star review.

**CONCLUSION:**
This will always be one of my favourite TV shows of all time. I’m not a big fan of the dialogue choices or where the story went in the later seasons, but I’ll never stop praising the gorgeous cinematography and sound design, and the way the show perfectly blended genuinely terrifying scenes with the more emotional, coming-of-age side of the story. I feel kind of emotional that it’s ended :’(

Actuallly a rather poor series.  It has a lot of very original thought and some great special efffects, but the stupidity of so much of it is just too hard to swallow - one simple example: at one point when the players are down in an undergorund lab with what they say are totally impenetrabal pollycarbinate windows that the creatures cannot possibly break through, well, they do break them, but a few scenes later, these same creatures cannot get through simple glass doors on the front of the building!  I would not recommend this show to anyone over 12.

dana

Stranger Things is a thrilling and emotional series that earns a strong 9/10 rating. From the very first episode, the show pulls you in with its mix of mystery, horror, and heartfelt storytelling. Set in the 1980s, it does an amazing job capturing the nostalgic feel of the decade through its music, fashion, and overall atmosphere. The storyline is engaging and keeps viewers constantly guessing, especially with the eerie presence of the Upside Down and the dangers that come with it.

One of the show’s biggest strengths is its characters. Each character feels unique and well-developed, making it easy to become attached to them. Eleven, in particular, stands out with her emotional journey and powerful abilities. The friendships between the kids feel genuine and add warmth to the darker moments of the series. The acting is consistently strong across all seasons, even from the younger cast.

The visual effects and suspenseful scenes are well done, creating a perfect balance between sci-fi and horror without being overwhelming. Overall, Stranger Things is an exciting, emotional, and unforgettable show that appeals to a wide range of viewers and is absolutely worth watching.

Stranger Things is a thrilling blend of science fiction, horror, and nostalgia that captures viewers from the very first episode. Set in the 1980s, the series follows a group of kids as they uncover dark government secrets and supernatural forces in their small town of Hawkins. The storytelling is engaging, with strong character development, especially for Eleven and the young cast. The eerie atmosphere, suspenseful plot twists, and retro soundtrack add to its charm. Each season raises the stakes while maintaining emotional depth. Overall, Stranger Things is an addictive, well-crafted series that appeals to both teens and adults.

Sampson

**Could have been a Geek's Favorite Movie**
I really wanted to like Stranger Things more. As a fan of DND, I had high hopes for what this show would be able to offer. While the plots were well written, I found the pacing to be erratic which made it hard to stay interested. Often times, I found myself confused by th jovial interactions in the midst of deeply traumatic scenes. While these moments offered opportunities for character building, I also found they took away from the serious plots. 

Ultimately, I enjoyed seeing these kids save the world time and time again, I don't feel this show left a lasting impression on me. While interesting while watching, I don't imagine I would find myself coming back to this show as I think the mystery and intruige were ultimately weighed down by pacing. While there was a substantial amount of content to cover that might be tough to fit into a film, I think having the limitations of a trilogy of films would've helped focus the story into a more evenly paced final product.

Stranger Things is a highly popular science fiction horror series that debuted on Netflix in 2016. Created by the Duffer Brothers, the show is set in the 1980s and has gained a massive fan following due to its nostalgic elements, thrilling storyline, and unique blend of supernatural and sci-fi themes.

Plot Overview
The series takes place in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, where a young boy named Will Byers disappears under mysterious circumstances. As his friends and family search for him, they encounter strange occurrences, including a girl with psychic abilities, who calls herself Eleven. Together, they uncover a secret government experiment and a parallel dimension known as the Upside Down.

As the group of friends, led by Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, and Dustin Henderson, works to uncover the truth about Will’s disappearance, they face numerous dangers, including government agents and terrifying creatures from the Upside Down.

Key Themes
Nostalgia: Set in the 1980s, the show draws heavily from the pop culture of that era, paying homage to iconic films and books by directors like Steven Spielberg and writers like Stephen King. This gives the show a nostalgic feel that appeals to both older viewers and new generations.

Friendship: A central theme of Stranger Things is the strong bond of friendship among the group of kids. Their loyalty and bravery in the face of extraordinary challenges form the heart of the series.

Supernatural and Science Fiction: The show merges supernatural elements with sci-fi concepts, including government conspiracies, alternate dimensions, and mind-bending powers, creating an intriguing and suspenseful narrative.

Main Characters
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown): A young girl with psychokinetic abilities, Eleven becomes a central figure in the battle against the forces from the Upside Down. Her mysterious origins are a key part of the story.

Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard): A caring and loyal friend, Mike is one of the first to meet Eleven and plays a crucial role in the group’s efforts to find Will.

Will Byers (Noah Schnapp): The missing boy whose disappearance triggers the events of the series. Will’s experiences in the Upside Down have lasting effects on him and his family.

Jim Hopper (David Harbour): The town’s police chief, Hopper becomes an important ally in the fight against the strange occurrences in Hawkins. His own personal struggles make him a complex and relatable character.

Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder): Will’s mother, who is determined to find her son no matter the cost. Her strong love for her children drives many of the series' emotional moments.

Why It Became So Popular
Nostalgia Factor: The show’s heavy 1980s influences resonate with viewers who grew up during that time, with references to movies like E.T., The Goonies, and The Thing. For younger audiences, it provides a glimpse into a past era through a modern lens.

Strong Character Development: The characters in Stranger Things are relatable and undergo significant development over the seasons, making them engaging and memorable.

Suspense and Mystery: The constant suspense, combined with the mystery surrounding the Upside Down and the strange government experiments, keeps viewers hooked from episode to episode.

Critically Acclaimed Performances: The performances of the young cast, particularly Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, have received widespread praise. The actors bring depth and authenticity to their roles, which makes the show even more compelling.

Seasons and Reception
Season 1 (2016): The first season introduced the world of Stranger Things, quickly becoming a breakout hit. It received critical acclaim for its storytelling, acting, and nostalgic elements.

Season 2 (2017): The second season expanded the universe of Stranger Things, introducing new characters and continuing the battle against the forces of the Upside Down.

Season 3 (2019): The third season raised the stakes with a more significant threat and further development of the characters, especially the group of kids growing up.

Season 4 (2022): The latest season delved deeper into the mysteries of the Upside Down and its connection to the real world. It also explores the challenges of the characters as they face new threats and personal struggles.

Stranger Things has become one of Netflix’s most successful and iconic shows, with its gripping storyline and memorable characters. It has built a large fanbase and continues to be a topic of discussion for both its plot twists and the outstanding performances of its cast.

Conclusion

James

Intelligent and witty with a perfect seasoning of 80’s references.

I don't remember Africa being that popular in the 80s... do you?  I mean, those of you who are old enough to actually remember the 80s.  It was a hit, I remember that.  I remember my mom liked it... my MOTHER liked it, which is sort of the population that Toto catered to, but I don't remember Africa having that much play on any station that anyone openly listened to until... what 2014 when Family Guy popularized it again because one of their writers played too much GTA in the early naughts.

Anyway, this show comes with a really important lesson.

It was great, it really was, the first seasons were pretty fantastic, and then it stank.  It went woke, the character did things they wouldn't do, things that were completely out of character, all the men became incompetent morons, and then....

... and then it dropped the woke crap because it's fan base started to walk away and... the fan base came back, and the rest of the season was great again... well it was good again, it was better than just about everything else again.

I just sort of wish the 80s nostalgia was more 80s nostalgia and note more what Millennials think is 80s

I came to the latest season of Stranger Things with real reservations. I felt the last season was simply a recycling of what had gone before and wondered, if this wasn't another case of, "rinse and repeat."

Well, thankfully, that's not the case. The latest season adds new material and fleshes out the overall back story. Its suitably creepy too, with yet more 80's style nostalgia and one of my favourite Kate Bush songs. 

Everything is well placed, great sets, great acting and thrills that keep you coming back. Its sets things up beautifully for the next season too.

NOTE: The last season was truly anti climatic and rather simplistic. Its a shame, given how well, this started out.


Manuel São Bento

**Season 3 - SPOILER-FREE Review**

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com

Stranger Things first appeared in our lives back in 2016 with its phenomenal first season, followed by a less amazing yet still entertaining Season 2. I was pretty excited for the third adventure with one of the best (if not the best) young ensemble casts ever. The acting in this show is unbelievable, even more when considering the age of most of the kids (14-17). Millie Bobby Brown is 15-years-old! Fifteen! Weirdly, the show will only be eligible for next year's Emmy's, but if she doesn't get nominated AND win, I sincerely don't know what she needs to do more. The seamless ease that Millie has in showing emotion and delivering those subtle expressions that only the best actors can achieve after years of experience ... She's going to break the Oscar record for youngest Best Actress / Best Supporting Actress winner. It's meant to happen.

I started with her because last season I handed the highlight crown to Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) who also gives an excellent performance, even if his character has less to do this time around (similar to the debut season). Of all the young actors, Millie is so much ahead of her fellow colleagues that she indirectly diminishes Sadie Sink's (Max) performance. They have completely different emotional responses to similarly painful events. Not that Sadie isn't able to transmit her feelings (I enjoyed both her and her character a lot more this season), but jumping from Eleven showing 200% of her emotion to any other character is always going to feel that the other actor/actress isn't at her level (truthfully though, they aren't).

In addition to Millie, the other standout has to be David Harbour as Jim Hopper. This might be the funniest season so far, as well as the most emotionally powerful. Both are due to Hopper's arc and Harbour's award-worthy performance. He's hilarious, happy, sad, angry, drunk, frustrated, proud, ... His arc is definitely the one that serves as a pillar to this season's structure. Without him, this season wouldn't be near to the quality it is. Harbour's chemistry with Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers) is palpable, and that's basically enough for me to have a great time. However, The Duffer Brothers really deserve a lot of credit. The writing is some of the best I've seen in the last few years.

Everyone hated Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) in the first season, but his development got such a fantastic treatment that now everyone loves him. The same happens with Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery). I genuinely hated him last season due to how cliche and lazily written he was. Now, even though his backstory isn't anything innovative, he's undoubtedly seen as a more compelling character, which proves that Stranger Things really doesn't have a single bad character (main or supporting, at least). Max also gets a better script, plus her on-screen time with Eleven helped the character become more interesting. Nevertheless, how's the main gang?!

Well, Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) spends less time with his original friends, but his side adventure with Steve, Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson), and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), the newest addition to the show which is also the best surprise of the season, is also pretty entertaining even if it's connected to one of my issues (more on that soon). Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), Will, Eleven, and Max have a whole romantic subplot that I surprisingly enjoyed mostly due to how realistic and heartfelt The Duffer Brothers wrote it. Obviously, comedy is always a must inside this group, and I wasn't disappointed, having dropped more than just a few laughs throughout the episodes.

Finally, Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers) and Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler) also have their own inspiring journey, the one that addresses the most how people had to live in the 80s. Dealing with discrimination, workplace injustices, and different lifestyles are put in perspective always through unforced dialogue and/or events. I really loved this season structure. How each group of characters has their own side adventure so that in the end, they can all team-up together to defeat the evil within Hawkins. I never felt bored or less engaged in a story. Season 2 had that horrible episode with Kali (Linnea Berthelson), and some episodes seemed to drag. Season 3 not only has the perfect runtime for each episode, but the story that they cover during each chapter is always remarkably captivating.

Of course, I always felt more entertained when Eleven and Hopper were on-screen, so their subplots obviously became my favorites. However, they don't take anything away from the remaining stories or characters. Evidence number one would be the best ending of the show. It's hard to hold off the tears during those last few moments, especially if you went through the same event (which 99% of people definitely did unless you had literally zero friends growing up). Technically, the show proves that you don't need a big budget to provide visual delight. From the appropriated costume design to the addictive 80s' style soundtrack, everything is on-point with tons of practical effects being employed. The CGI regarding the monsters and everything that comes with them are convincing enough, and the action sequences are mostly shot well. The editing gets a little sloppy near the final episodes, but nothing too serious.

My main and only issue with this season has to be the actual main plot. The thread that connects all of the subplots and groups of characters that I've been praising so much. Besides being very similar to the last season (monster comes, possesses people, and you know the rest), it's worse regarding the "how" and "why" the monsters came back. There's a whole story involving Russians, secret bases and codes, that feel too cheesy and over-the-top, reaching a level of absurdity that even affected some action scenes "a la Fast and Furious". It's unusual for the main plot to be as cliche and uninteresting as it is, while the side stories are astonishingly good.

All in all, Stranger Things delivers yet another fantastic season. Its debut continues to hold the #1 spot, but Season 3 is so much better than its predecessor. Once again, the characters are what make this show a massive success. Even separating everyone into different groups, the cast's phenomenal chemistry remains intact. Millie Bobby Brown takes her crown back from Season 2's highlight, Noah Schnapp, and guarantees herself tons of nominations and hopefully a few awards, due to a perfect display of her emotional range. David Harbour is right behind her, and then comes the rest of the ensemble cast, one of the best to ever grace a TV screen. The Duffer Brothers are masterful screenwriters, presenting extremely developed character scripts, as well as funny, exciting and entertaining side stories. Despite a less strong main plot, Stranger Things finishes this season with the best ending of the entire series. If you're not crying during the last 10 minutes … I don't know. Can't wait for Season 4, even if I would be more than satisfied to see it end its run now.

Rating: A-

Dean

**AVERAGE AT BEST**

This show is average at best. I wouldn't recommend it to adults. It's more suited for kids and teenagers. For me as an adult this show was boring and not serious at all. Propaganda is not very blatant here and kinda hidden, but it's still there and especially visible in 5th season. Attentive eye will catch it.

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