A thread for Stranger Things, the "Goonies meets X-Files" new Netflix series (with SPOILERS!)

We really enjoyed this; Em was a bit dubious after the first episode ("this is SO targeted for us to enjoy it that I'm not sure I can") but the characterisation and plot and design are so well done that she soon got over that, whereas I was suckered in within about five seconds.

Dustin as best character, with the best lines. "Don't keep this curiosity door locked" or whatever he said to the science teacher on the phone was just amazing. Liked all the cast, though - I think the only characters we didn't like were Steve's 'friends' and even he didn't like them by the end.

Appreciated the way it loomed towards and then pulled away from all the tropes you'd expect - the virgin dies, the 'fat' kid is actually the smartest one, the girl doesn't ditch the jock and take-up with the outcast, etc etc - just enough to make it feel fresh.

Really hope they get to make a second season, and that it doesn't just revolve around a monster.

Doug Wheeler era Swamp Thing logo
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/e/ea/Swamp_Thing_Vol_2_88.jpg

just wanted to get that font out there

Glad y'all saw Akira here - and was baffled when it was missing from "influence lists" like the Vulture one.

Add to the bangles and moby quibbles, the New Order track used "Elegia" was on Low Life in 1985 - but that would be being really precious about the times. On that, would a US "alternative" kid have heard of the Smiths in 1983?

Now That's What I Call Music 2 has a Smiths song on it, and that came out in the second half of 1983, so a clued-in teenager who listens to college radio could very well have, I think.

would've maybe appreciated it more if the weird poor kid in nowhere Indiana listened to something that someone in that situation would likely listen to. eyes nearly rolled outta my skull when they had him talking about Joy Division and Television.

More likely a Devo fan

Did US college radio play UK Now series stuff?

but that's kind of indicative of the audience-stroking bs in this show that annoys me

xp to self

i definitely heard "this charming man" on the radio in 1983, but 1984 was ground zero for smiths love between me and my friends. first album. hatful. would be very doubtful that someone in indiana would be putting them on mixtapes based on one or two singles. that didn't even come out in the u.s. i don't think.

Yeah "On the radio in the US" was definitely not the same thing as "On the radio in Indiana."

we had this too in 1984: https://www.discogs.com/Various-Debut-LP-Magazine-Issue-06/release/847817

How far is fictional Hawkins, IN from Indiana U.? They have a pretty good radio station.

you could get the this charming man u.k. 12-inch in 1984 too here. hand in glove 7-inch and this charming man single the only 1983 releases. and definitely never put out here. 1984 was an avalanche of stuff. all those singles.

they were just one year off, basically. by 1984 a savvy indiana kid could definitely get into the smiths.

Season 2 will have to deal with this time traveling Smiths fan

1983 definitely the year that younger people started in with new order here via PC&L and blue monday. tons of college airplay. the earlier stuff was harder to find and probably only bought by older hepcats who knew joy division or who knew what factory records was. i remember having a hard time finding the first album and ceremony 12-inch in new york city in 1983/1984. they had come and gone already.

(i mention new order cuz in 1983 new order love would lead to joy division love. who were still definitely a mysterious cult band in 1983 in the states. not some quincy jones ewok on the beach joint.)

"your son michael is in danger. i can help him. but only if you trust me. do you trust me?"

BASED ON WHAT YOU OLEAGINOUS SILVER FUCK

i mean let's see, you've just turned my house upside down and told me nothing. yep that's enough for me!

i like how winona's dressing like she's in the matrix now

They modeled her hair on Meryl Streep in Silkwood

i'm not saying anything new i realise but the girl who plays 11 should win emmy for best actress. performance of the goddamn year

lol at dustin's pre-google research methods when he wants to know how ro build a sensory deprivation tank

ready to watch this again. i can't get the themesong out of my head

I read a couple days ago they're releasing the score.

this show was so good i dont want a second season

I would have been happy for there not to have been a second season but the multiple points of intrigue and uncertainty raised by the ending piqued my interest too much.

i.e. what will happen to will? how will he be affected by his time in the upside down world. what's hopper up to with those dudes exactly. and does hopper know that eleven is alive? or is he, driven by his guilt of selling her out, leaving the eggos out in the forest in the vague hope that she's out there somewhere and might find them?

i must know!

another huge influence: Silent Hill

also the flower-faced monster getting doused in flames was pure Thing

xp i wouldn't be mad if they made a second season.

hey the synth band that did the soundtrack nailed the vibe so, so hard. they also scored "the guest," and more ppl should watch that movie if they dig 80s retro pastiche/homage. also, it has a RAD soundtrack beyond the original score.

slight quibble: monster looked shite

they didn't reeeeally have an idea for the alien actually but it's OK, it was enough that it was gonna gitcha

i've been watching the resident evil movies again (i like them!) and i always liked their plant zombies.

http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/resident-evil-afterlife-movie-image-22.jpg

and the skinless devil dogs of course.

man as soon as Mike started in with "you'll have all the Eggos you ever want!" I knew 11 was a certified goner

The sudden rehabilitation of Steve was really touching I thought. And I liked his swagger with the nail-bat.

emmy for steve please

EMMYS FOR EVERYONE

http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh1/screens/pics/sh1_screen_09.jpg

hey but like

what about the funeral, and will's "body"

and the pathologist from "state" who presumably submitted an autopsy report?

and dr brenner?

and the trashed school?

how did the town process any of this information??

Love all the ineffectual and/or evil dads in this show. Especially Nancy and Mike's dad. Cracked me up every time he was on screen.

Sorry if this was already discussed but why did the chief put food, including eggos, in the box in the woods at the end? Is he sending food to El on the dark side somehow?

Is he sending food to El on the dark side somehow?

Tune into S2 to find out!

Things I totally loved about this show:

1) The kids, particularly Eleven and Dustin, and the teens.

2) The score and soundtrack in general.

3) That it avoids a bunch of obvious stuff (Sheriff and Winona fall in love, dorky kid gets girl, etc).

4) Any scene with the science teacher.

5) That despite being close to six hours long it still felt pretty tightly put together.

Things I didn't love:

1) Looks like there will be a sequel.

2) Hopper's "strategy" makes absolutely no sense (although I guess Modine was like who cares go into the stupid hole just save me some time).

3) As Tracer Hand notes the whole ending is a little "la la la" considering the level of mayhem...

Overall though this was probably the best Netflix series.

Neat article on the typography of the title card:

https://blog.nelsoncash.com/the-typography-of-stranger-things-e35771f40d31#.79trnn9z2

Feel silly I missed the obvious King homage, I was thinking of Carpenter instead, probably more due to the score.

My only very minor quibble, re the post above, is the skip one month and how reset everyone seemed. It feels like there should have been more fallout from what happened.

well it was Christmas. They were probably trying to put on a brave face