Quickly becoming one of the most popular series on Netflix to date, Stranger Things has surprised and impressed many viewers since its release earlier this summer.
For those who have yet to see the show, it entails a pre-teen boy named Will who goes missing while his three friends go on a quest to find him, meeting a strange girl with a troubled past along the way. All the while, the missing boy’s mother and a local police officer start their own investigation, and take matters into their own hands. The show creates an impressive feeling of suspense with each new mystery that the show introduces, leaving the viewer craving more answers.
The casting for this show was extremely impressive with many stand-out performances from up and coming child actors. The characters of Mike, Dustin, Will and Lucas are all perfect examples of the typical middle school geek from the 80’s, showing that being a “geek” isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Stranger Things also did exceptionally well on the aesthetics aspect. The camera angles and nature shots fit the theme of “spooky yet oddly pretty”. With many beautiful forest and railroad views, filmed in Jackson, Georgia, it has its own unique aura of beauty, when children aren’t being chased by monsters, of course.
This show may appeal to many generations due to its various use of 80’s nostalgia, having been compared to many of Steven King’s earlier works and classic movies such as The Goonies. Even though the main fan-base may not have been born in the 80’s, many will still appreciate the show for its unique, yet creepy cinematography and relatable characters.
Although Stranger Things has many appealing attributes it also has fans on edge, leaving the end of season one with numerous cliffhangers, enticing you to watch the second season. Although many enjoy cliffhangers, I personally believe that a show should not always end in them. Also, the overall plot can be a little too similar to famous 80’s movies, with some scenes in particular being almost completely identical to movies such as E.T.
Even though the show only came out this past summer, it has already been green lit for a second season in early 2017. So far Stranger Things has proven to not only be one of the most enjoyable experiences of my summer, but quite possibly one of the best shows I’ve seen.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Madeline Coreen// Staff Writer
