Sci-Fi Stranger Things (Netflix) - Part 1

[Batmannerism]

Okay to me S1 was the best, S2 a close second ( other than "The Lost Sister" what a terrible episode). S 3 was too goofy for my liking - although Robin was a good addition.

As for season 4....kind of a mixed bag.

Spoiler

There are a lot of great things about it, but having so many different groups doing different things at once felt a bit disjointed - although I liked Nancy's plan.

Not sure if the Russia sequence added or took away from the overall story.

I did like seeing Hop use Conan's sword though, and Murray's karate.

As for Vecna..... actually I'm not a fan.
Sure, he's deformed and evil and has psychic powers which rival 11's . But otherwise he's just a human.

When the Mind Flayer, season 2, was the big bad it was much scarier. It was a huge, and utterly alien entity - you don't know really anything about it
, and its motivations are a complete mystery.
Thats a much more frightening concept than some guy who's a bit scarred and mutated.

The actor playing Vecna did a great job , especially in his Henry persona - its more the character concept I don't like. If he had just been an agent of the Mind Flayer, that would have been better.

I suppose escalation was inevitable ( now the Upside Down and Vecna threaten Hawkins and the world) but hopefully season 5 wont scatter the cast as much.

The great strength of S1 was the cast were largely together for most of it.

Oh well, we'll see what happens. I imagine they'll
need to get S5 done soon, before the kids get any older.

 

[MadVillainy]

Speaking of the adults in Russia can someone explain

Spoiler: Spoiler

where the HECK did that sword Hopper used come from?! I mean it was cool and badass but did i miss a scene where they built that sword up?!

Spoiler

It was a weapon left on the ground from the earlier prison fight between the prisoners and the Demogorgan. The reveal did take me out for a second because I had the same reaction at first before remembering

Thanks for the explanation because I forgot/didn't know as well and was confused haha

 

[I Am The Knight]

I haven't seen Conan since I was a kid so I went "wait, when did Hopper get the Master Sword?"

 

[MadVillainy]

You mean Argyle and while I agree with the sentiment that change would have meant a lot less to the story. And Russia definitely could have been shortened. I think overall the Russia arc worked out but if there was fat to trim off the season, it was their adventure in Russia.

Kinda of sucks

Spoiler

we lost Eddie, he was really a good character. If we had to lose someone I wouldn't mind the long hair hippy over Eddie.

I still didn't care about the grownups adventure in Russia. That could've been cut completely. Overall this was a good season. I enjoyed it.

I think Russia could've been shortened or at least reworked. We didn't need them to escape 2 times only to go back to the prison.

That being said the main thing that should've been removed was Jason and the whole jock plotline. He was just a human antagonist when they didn't really need one. Because even the town mob stuff could've happened without him (and honestly it didn't affect the season much)

EDIT: And it was a short moment but the whole Gun Store bit could've been cut. I get and agree with the sentiment the show makers were going for, but it just took time and really could've happened off screen.

 

[MadVillainy]

^^^They're not wrong

 

[I Am The Knight]

I think it was a mistake to have Will fall in love with Mike. I get why that would happen but...Mike is never going to turn gay for him. So a "gay reveal" followed by "and I've always loved you Mike" is going to put the characters in a really awkward situation. So I guess they will have to introduce a gay character for Will in S5.

 

[Kane52630]

This remix was fire.

 

[BatsAndNights]

This remix was fire.

You know you've made a banger when even the original creators think your remix is better than the original

 

[antsman41]

I blasted Iron Maiden in honor of my boy, while skateboarding yesterday.

Also, the way the sequenced Running Up That Hill into the Strangers Thing Theme was dope.

 

[Drizzle]

Okay to me S1 was the best, S2 a close second ( other than "The Lost Sister" what a terrible episode).

Funny you should mention that because I was thinking about that episode myself after watching Vol. 2. The Lost Sister is no one’s favorite episode and most commonly criticized element of season 2 if not the whole show but Eight is still out there and if anything El and the Hawkins gang is going to need her help in the final season. I’d actually have a problem if the Duffer Bros didn’t bring her back because of the backlash around her storyline in season 2 but I don’t think that’ll be the case. I personally didn’t have an issue with Eight as a character, I just didn’t like the fact that Eleven going to find her took up an entire episode that sidetracked the season.

 

[samsnee]

Disappointing finale. Didn’t really like how they kept Hopper away from the kids the whole episode.

Also, it’s a helluva lucky coincidence that they all were able to coordinate their efforts at the same time even without talking to each other. So Hopper was able to kill the demogorgon at the exact same time they set Vecna on fire and El was strangling him in Max’s mind and Eddie was being attacked.

 

[samsnee]

I powered through Vol. 2 last night.

Spoiler

Episode 8 could have been roped in with Vol. 1 because the finale felt like an event all its own but Eleven’s escape was cool. I didn’t think that they’d kill off Dr. Brenner before the final season either. Also, I did get a little choked up at Will’s conversation with Mike in the van. Maybe it’s a testament to how good of an actor Noah Schnapp is even with that dumb haircut he can knock an emotional scene like that or his later scene with Jonathan out of the park.

Episode 9 left me emotionally drained by the end.

I legitimately thought that Eddie was going to make it out of the season. Him dying in Dustin’s arms gutted me more than any other death on the show. I also take the blame for that by changing my avatar to Eddie in the days leading up to Vol. 2. I’m sorry I jinxed it, guys. At least he was given one of the most badass scenes in the entire show with his Metallica concert in the Upside Down before he went.

I was on the edge of my seat seeing damn near everyone in danger but I thought that of the most shocking parts was the jock leader’s blink-and-you-miss-it death which was pretty graphic if you hit the pause button. You could see his rib cage as Vecna’s rift tore him in half. But it did feel like the jock subplot was only there because there needed to be a reason for Lucas not to be able to wake up Max.

And speaking of Max, my god, I felt so numb seeing what happened to her. Lucas’s reaction made me lose it and since last night I can’t stop thinking about how she’s blind and broken now. I’m sure that nothing else too terrible will happen to her in the final season after having gone through this but I hated seeing her suffer like that.

I was so broken up about Eddie and Max that I had no more tears to shed at El and Hopper’s reunion. It was a sweet moment before the more bitter final scene.

Overall, Stranger Things 4 as a whole was second only to the first season for me. I’m both anticipating and dreading the final season at the same time. I just don’t think it needs to be quite as long as 4 was. I’m going to chalk that up to the prolonged show absence because of Covid as well as a lot of Vecna backstory to cram in. Either way, even in the chance that it does turn out to be as long I probably won’t complain much because I’m not ready to say goodbye to this show.

I was wondering what happened to the jock. Definitely did not see that moment.

 

[DyeLorean]

Finally was able to finish this season. I really liked that final episode, it was big, epic but it still managed to hit those emotional buttons which made it everything even better. The closest thing to a Stranger Things movie, that could've played in a theater easily.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Disappointing finale. Didn’t really like how they kept Hopper away from the kids the whole episode.

Also, it’s a helluva lucky coincidence that they all were able to coordinate their efforts at the same time even without talking to each other. So Hopper was able to kill the demogorgon at the exact same time they set Vecna on fire and El was strangling him in Max’s mind and Eddie was being attacked.

Gotta love television.

With S5 being the last i just hope that the grown-ups have a better storyline. The Russia thing was....not horrible but one of the weakest parts to the season imo.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I loved every minute, but have some lingering questions about the finale.

-So those letters Max wrote for everyone. If I'm not mistaken they were meant to be opened if she died. Well she didn't die, but everyone still has their letter so...Does that mean she is actually going to die next season? F*** that will be too depressing for me. Like I fully expected Lucas to open his letter at the end of this episode after what happened, but seeing as how the letters were never brought up again I have a feeling next season we will be getting an emotional montage showing everyone reading their letter while grieving. I hope I'm wrong, since Max has become one of my favorite characters and she should live.

-Whatever happened to Antonov? Surely he couldn't stay in Russia, but he was also nowhere to be found at the end of the episode to show he had left the country.

-El crashes that military copter and escapes in the pizza van with the boys, and the military just stops looking for her afterwards? I assume Sullivan will return. And where is Dr. Owens?

Anyway, this was my favorite season since S1. I really hope we don't have to wait 2 years for S5, but with how ambitious the show has gotten, I guess we are looking at 2024.

 

[MadVillainy]

I just assume Anotov (and his family) got out of the country with the rest of them. I don't think it was something that needed to be shown. Especially with how long things were already. I actually hope Anotov doesn't come back unless it's during a final battle type thing. I liked the character and actor. But there's a lot going on.

I assume Sullivan will return too and yeah I had the same question regarding Dr. Owens. I'm sure it'll be wrapped up with

 

[henzINNIT]

I liked season 4 quite a bit. It is bloated and that does slow it down in places. It's not my favourite season. I have enjoyed every season though so it's not a strong criticism.

I've gotta be honest and say I don't really like Will. He was not well served by this season, but I also don't really like him as a performer and find him kind of cringe. I'm also bored by Jonathan now too. If it wasn't for Joyce and the damage it'd do to her character, I'd kill them both off. Sorry lads.

My ranking going off somewhat foggy memory:

Season 3
Season 1
Season 4
Season 2

I know 3 is not popular in general but I dug it. Steve and Robin in the ice cream parlour was gold. 2 is at the bottom but still good minus that one episode which is still far and away the worst thing in the show.

Okay to me S1 was the best, S2 a close second ( other than "The Lost Sister" what a terrible episode). S 3 was too goofy for my liking - although Robin was a good addition.

As for season 4....kind of a mixed bag.

Spoiler

There are a lot of great things about it, but having so many different groups doing different things at once felt a bit disjointed - although I liked Nancy's plan.

Not sure if the Russia sequence added or took away from the overall story.

I did like seeing Hop use Conan's sword though, and Murray's karate.

As for Vecna..... actually I'm not a fan.
Sure, he's deformed and evil and has psychic powers which rival 11's . But otherwise he's just a human.

When the Mind Flayer, season 2, was the big bad it was much scarier. It was a huge, and utterly alien entity - you don't know really anything about it
, and its motivations are a complete mystery.
Thats a much more frightening concept than some guy who's a bit scarred and mutated.

The actor playing Vecna did a great job , especially in his Henry persona - its more the character concept I don't like. If he had just been an agent of the Mind Flayer, that would have been better.

I suppose escalation was inevitable ( now the Upside Down and Vecna threaten Hawkins and the world) but hopefully season 5 wont scatter the cast as much.

The great strength of S1 was the cast were largely together for most of it.

Oh well, we'll see what happens. I imagine they'll
need to get S5 done soon, before the kids get any older.

Strongly agree regarding Vecna...

Spoiler

He had a cool look and backstory. Made for an interesting villain. But making him the 'final boss' by the end seriously demystifies the mind flayer and the upside down in general. That feels like a waste. That unknowable, lovecraftian horror is scarier. Giving it a human motivation diminishes the whole thing. Not a show killer by any means, I was a little disappointed though.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[samsnee]

I just assume Anotov (and his family) got out of the country with the rest of them. I don't think it was something that needed to be shown. Especially with how long things were already. I actually hope Anotov doesn't come back unless it's during a final battle type thing. I liked the character and actor. But there's a lot going on.

I assume Sullivan will return too and yeah I had the same question regarding Dr. Owens. I'm sure it'll be wrapped up with

I still don’t see how they flew that helicopter all the way from Russia to the US without refueling or getting shot down.

 

[Kaleb]

I was hoping the final 2 episodes of S4 would help me change my opinion of this season (pacing/tone) unfortunately that wasn't the case.

 

[Drizzle]

I still don’t see how they flew that helicopter all the way from Russia to the US without refueling or getting shot down.

They most likely flew under the radar to Alaska.

 

[misjuevos]

I still don't know what Hopper did to his foot to slip off the chain. He seemed to run fine on it.

 

[MadVillainy]

I still don’t see how they flew that helicopter all the way from Russia to the US without refueling or getting shot down.

Who cares tho...

And I'm not trying to be rude but I just don't see why people care about stuff like this. This nitpicky, CinemaSins style of looking at movies, shows, etc. Like the "how did Bruce Wayne get back into Gotham in TDKR" "How come we never saw them go to the bathroom in the show 24" "How did Thor know to go specifically to Wakanda" "How did Walter White know how to ______" (and yes those are all real things I've seen multiple people bring up in a serious manner). It doesn't really matter if it's not moving the plot, providing characters, with crucial moments, or if it's not necessary to show . Not every little thing needs to be shown and explained.

I'm not even saying that in a "turn your brain off" kinda way. But I always wonder how people who pick stuff like this out can enjoy movies because almost every movie, especially action ones, have moments like this. Sometimes things are just "Rule of Cool" or "Rule of Funny"

 

[MadVillainy]

They most likely flew under the radar to Alaska.

Exactly or some explanation like that that we really did not need to see play out in an already 2hr+ feature length episode.

 

[Pennywise]