VOD (1)
Seasons(5) / Episodes(35)
Videos (17)
Reviews (12)
In the first four episodes, total engrossment and enthusiasm. In the second half, (only) satisfaction with the gradual revelation of what’s going on, but the initial fascination waned. All those comparisons to the 1980s, Spielberg, Carpenter, King and others are totally fitting. The characters and the casting are great, and I’m looking forward to going back to that world in the second season. 2nd season: In terms of plot, more of the same. But the charm of a small town in the 1980s, the cute interactions among likeable characters and the fear of the unknown are gone and replaced by fooling around with a herd of digital monsters. At times I had the impression I was watching some fucking animation instead of a horror series.
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Stranger Things is undoubtedly a pleasant surprise and a random revelation in today's glut of TV series and miniseries. In my case, I can't speak of a certain nostalgic return to the 80s, as I didn’t experienced them and secondly I am not as familiar with the scifi-horror filmography of the time as others (however, I have seen The Thing and The Evil Dead, which are referenced more than once here, alongside numerous mentions of “Lord of the Rings” or “The Hobbit”, which I also enjoyed, even if I've never read the books). In the first place, I have to praise the idea and the story itself, as I was really tense from the first minutes about how everything was going to unfold, and the tension eased (though not completely) only at the end of the last episode. Another plus point is the believably built up atmosphere of the 80s, from the clothes, to the cars, to the music to the overall mood and "feel", which managed to bring me very well closer to this (unseen by me) era. The cast was generally well chosen – I personally didn't mind Winona Ryder's acting too much, I was more focused on the child actors who played their roles very well, and even managed to evoke emotions when the characters interacted – anger or indignation at the bullies, smiling at the boys' humorous discussions, or sadness at someone's death. At the moment, I can't think of anything else to highlight about the series, as I'd be repeating myself a lot with other reviews here (which I've already violated above, then). In short, a decently made genre series that grabs you in its clutches right at the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end, so definitely both thumbs up from me.
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A time machine for pure retro bliss. All sources of inspiration have been listed, all nostalgic tears have been shed. What in my eyes keeps the speedometer far beyond a hundred even in the second half, when the lively board game is in full swing and definitely shakes off all the air of mystery, is the child casting from the realm behind the mirror. Millie Bobby Brown acts with her eyes in a way that actresses a decade older get Oscars for. Eighteen years later, I got an adaptation of "Half-Life" without knowing it beforehand. And now I'm off to finish reading King's "It" so I can have a pop culture combo without compromise.
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Season 1 – 100% – The instantly omnipresent love that swarms me the day after it airs, and tries to convince me that a powerful series for everyone has appeared after a few episodes have passed, has been getting on my nerves in recent years. So when this carousel started with Stranger Things, I properly shook my head at it. But this series is saving it by being truly for everyone. It has tension, a mysterious creature, a group of friends led by the wonderfully quippy Dustin, the perfect Eleven, a love triangle, and parental love portrayed by Winona Ryder. She is the one who receives the most criticism from viewers, which I can't understand from my own perspective considering her phenomenal performance, but people rarely welcome genuine and real emotions. The eight episodes are just right to get under your skin, solve the basic chain of mysteries, and leave the viewer begging for more adventures. Season 2 – 100% – Those whom I liked, I now adoringly worship; those whom I hesitated about have moved into the first group. From Lucas to Will, from Joyce to Eleven, and with Dustin and surprisingly, even the new king Steve at the forefront of it all. Stranger Things confirms that it is not a seasonal affair, and although most characters continue their expected development and we shouldn't expect any shocking twists, the second season is exactly what I didn't even dare to dream of. A perfect mix of romance, tension, horror, and a complete range of emotions. The enthusiasm of Matt and Ross Duffer and the fiery chemistry of all the actors involved are impressively evident in the result. After watching it for the second time, I definitively consider the second season one of the best things I have ever seen. Season 3 – 90% – After the nervous tension on multiple fronts, it is evident that the Duffer brothers wanted to add humor, which fully corresponds to the mentality of '80s sequels. However, they added a lot of it, so they cannot reach the emotional level of the previous season (which, after a two-year break and being forgotten by the wide audience, logically reached immense heights). Just as the frenzied relationship madness that pushes it to the edge can please many with its hormonal storm or various pranks between teenagers, refreshing as it may be for some, it can also be so annoying that one may not want to wait for another mysterious ride. The same applies to Hopper, who transitions from eternal laid-backness to an irritated ball of nerves – an unexpected change, but perfectly irresistible in David Harbour's portrayal. In the suspenseful moods, however, it is the most magnificent period with many unbelievably disgusting moments (which, however, you can't take your eyes off), with instantly iconic (re)unions, and so many goosebumps-inducing scenes that there perhaps wasn't an episode where I didn't find my jaw dropping to the ground at least once. I have a slight reservation due to minor genre disarray (romance, Russians, slime, family trauma), which this time stick a bit worse and will be tested upon an inevitable rewatch. P.S.: The wait for Millie Bobby Brown to finally receive some genuinely intended awards is starting to get a bit long. Season 4 – 90% – I'm not surprised by how drastically the series is growing in scale, number of characters, or budget, but I am shocked by how the whole world is still tuned to it. This is no longer an intimate horror, nor is it a children's adventure or a modest story from Stephen King's famous drawer. This is a seasonal blockbuster that is waited for months and years to be talked about, paraphrased, and criticized for a long time. And yet the world nods almost contentedly and religiously awaits the next episodes. And I'm with it, because although the concept is sometimes turned almost upside down, the essence remains the same. Irresistible characters, precise actors, a vibrating soundtrack, countless touching moments, and a period atmosphere where realities are not thrown at the viewer as bait, but actively involve them in the story. Stranger Things is one of those rare achievements that can evoke the feeling that these are my memories, even though my own childhood and adolescence had nothing in common with what is depicted.
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At home, we have basically devoured this show in one go. Stranger Things has the best of what I liked about old action/adventure/horror movies from the 1980s that I used to watch in the 1990s. A certain mysticism, fear, child heroes and an amazing contemporary synthwave music. If anyone holds classic movie adventures of times past close to their heart, don’t hesitate! This will definitely grab your attention. Stranger Things has an amazing style and I personally hope that it won’t end at the first season.
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