Stranger Things

Like the previous season, I'm giving this one four stars, although it is considerably weaker. It lacks the excellent atmosphere that I liked so much at the beginning of the series. Instead, it is filled with humor which didn't amuse me much and made me dislike Sheriff Jim Hopper. The creators turned him into a comic character, which I don’t think was a step in the right direction. (09/01/2019)

The first episode had a leisurely pace, probably to ease viewers back after a year-long break and catch up on who's who, who's with whom, and where everyone is. But I can't help feeling disappointed by the tired old trope of blaming everything on the Russians (then Soviets) - it just feels a bit cliché. (08/31/2019)

I'm still waiting for that same excitement I had with the earlier seasons to kick in. Right now, it feels more like a teen romantic comedy with a sprinkle of tension here and there. I'm half expecting the show to be about who should call first and how many days to wait before doing so. (08/31/2019)

So, those phone calls actually happened! I mean, El used to pay dearly for her telepathic connections, but now it's like she's chatting on the phone for free. It's a weird shift. I get that it's all fiction, but the previous seasons felt more grounded, you know? I'm especially referring to the character of an ice cream-selling cryptanalyst. (08/31/2019)

Finally, it felt like I was watching Stranger Things again. The creators ditched the slow pace and really picked up the momentum. For the first time in this season, it felt like something significant was happening. I’m already excited for the next episodes! (08/31/2019)

I really enjoyed the plot and was ready to give it five stars. However, the so-called comedic duo of James Hopper and Joyce Byers really got on my nerves. The forced "humor" was so overdone that it managed to spoil an otherwise well-made episode for me. (09/01/2019)

What was that all about? The episode is supposed to be Drama/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Thriller, but it felt more like a bad comedy. There was no atmosphere, no tension, and the evil Soviets were practically a joke. A pretty disappointing watch overall. 3*- (09/01/2019)

The episode was actually pretty solid, but Sheriff Hopper's character development really let me down. It's a shame to see him reduced to a second-rate comedian/masochist. (09/01/2019)

I was really put off by the attempt to tug at my heartstrings. That kind of stuff always gets to me. I was ready to give it just three stars, but Suzie and Dustin's cover of Limahl's hit song turned things around for me. (09/01/2019)