Stranger Things Netflix series catch-all

You know what, I never did figure out why I just couldn't get into Vikings, despite liking the actors, the setting, the production design... You just crystallized it for me. Stretched out stories.

I like that Stranger Things has short seasons, and that Netflix likes to make a season a standalone thing. It makes them focus. It's also a challenge, because especially this season, they had a pretty big story to tell after introducing new main characters and bringing a couple more to the fore. I think it worked though.

I know that Black Sails was stretched out at times, but i didn't care. I really wanted to see how they would go from point A to point B (B being Treasure Island). That made it fun for me.

I got most of the way through season 2 of Black Sails before I realized my feelings for almost all the characters fell somewhere between exasperation and outright contempt.

I put this here because strangely enough it does have spoilers for Season 2:

Poor Barb.

Yeah, what about Barb?

Spoiler:

Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see here anywhere in Season 2

Peoj Snamreh wrote:

Yeah, what about Barb?

Spoiler:

Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see here anywhere in Season 2

Funny trumps accurate every time. Plus, it wasn’t Sharing Things II. Maybe satire done in a Pulp Ficton fluid time line over S1 and S2.

I just realized I want a Sesame Street Pulp Fiction Parody now.

I would love the guilty pleasure of watching a Sesame Street Barbarelle and/or Barbarian Queen Parody.

Just as a reminder: Season 3 is out today. Well, more precisely, yesterday, it's very slightly after midnight.

Malor wrote:

Just as a reminder: Season 3 is out today. Well, more precisely, yesterday, it's very slightly after midnight.

Just watched the first episode. It is understandable that they can't top the first season - which was fresh, new and awesome. But the second was also very, very good. First episode of season three notches it up! I like it!

No stretching... thank God! I hope writers and producers realise that the stretching of stories is something of the past. I dare to say that the complete X-files arch nowadays could be summed up in a half season.

I forget where I read that it's best to view each season as an 8 hour long movie and having watched season 3 start to finish today I wholeheartedly agree.

I've watched 4 episodes of the new Season and I'm really enjoying it. I kinda liked the tonal shift in season 2 to more comedy considering the absurd storylines. It's been pretty excellent.

I'll have to go back and rewatch the first 2 seasons since I don't remember was Mike always such a little sh*t the first seasons. I don't mind and understand he's a boy going through puberty or whatever but man the way he talks to people makes him come off as such a spoiled brat it feels like an odd turn for the character, but also kind of real.

wow Hopper is full on angry asshole this season It's not endearing.

Aside from that I'm loving this season. It's gone full on campy 80's horror / sci-fi / cold war spy movie and it's great!

Liking the Terminator reference a lot! And the Justine/Steve double-act is still very entertaining, especially with the new girl and Erica thrown into the mix.

pyxistyx wrote:

wow Hopper is full on angry asshole this season It's not endearing.

Bit of the point...

ranalin wrote:
pyxistyx wrote:

wow Hopper is full on angry asshole this season It's not endearing.

Bit of the point...

I don't know I still find him pretty likable. At first I thought his character had maybe stepped back to less growth then he had in season 2 but I'm buying it by episode 4.

He spent nearly a year and a half alone teaching 11 and now feels like he is losing her to Mike. I like Mike but he does act like a real scum bag when he is with El and he speaks to people like sh*t. Not to mention that this takes place in the 80's and Hopper is a small town sheriff which traditionally you would assume to be a little macho or toxic. He bucks that a bit in the 2nd season but now he is being challenged by a 13 year old for his daughters affection and to top it off he can't fall back on intimidation because of Els powers it shifts the dynamic a bit the kids are making this intimidating not him. On top of still wrestling with his own loss I buy that he can flip into asshole mode when he feels he is losing grip on his new family relationship. I mean El is older then the other kids in some ways but socially she is so far behind them she is still very much an infant and needs protecting.

Him with Joyce is another story but they both kind of have moments of treating each other badly. And I do think they have good chemistry so I'm good to see where it goes.

I really enjoyed season 3.

I'm glad Erica got some time to shine this season, she had a couple funny moments in s2 so I was happy she got a bigger role this time around. She's a bossy little sh*t and it's great.

I thought Robin was also a great addition to the cast. I really enjoyed how her and Steve's friendship evolved over the course of the season.

Spoiler:

Also, it's nice to finally have a gay character in the show!

Ending spoilers:

Spoiler:

For some reason I thought this was going to be the final season, so the teaser at the end was a bit of a surprise.
- Who is the Russians' American prisoner?
- I guess we've got confirmation now that demodogs are just juvenile demogorgons.
- It seems to imply that the Russians succeeded in opening a new rift -- the demodogs from s2 seemingly all died when the rift closed, and the rift in Hawkins wasn't fully open yet.

OMG.

Spoiler:

Neverending Story!

pyxistyx wrote:

OMG.

Spoiler:

Neverending Story!

That part was adorable.

Spoiler:

also, I'm happy that Dustin's imaginary Mormon girlfriend turned out to be real

pyxistyx wrote:

OMG.

Spoiler:

Neverending Story!

Just coming here to post about that. Probably the best part of the entire season

Kept thinking I must've missed it, then spent 3 minutes cackling like I'd eaten an entire pan of magic brownies.

muttonchop wrote:
Spoiler:

- Who is the Russians' American prisoner?
- I guess we've got confirmation now that demodogs are just juvenile demogorgons.
- It seems to imply that the Russians succeeded in opening a new rift -- the demodogs from s2 seemingly all died when the rift closed, and the rift in Hawkins wasn't fully open yet.

Spoiler:

I think you're right about the Russians opening one. And given that Hopper took a good look at the one he was standing near right after Russian Terminator died, and he wasn't still standing next to it right before it blew, I think it's implied that rather than staying put and getting vaporized for sure, he decided to take his chances by going through it... and somehow, he either emerged in Russia, or got recovered by a Russian recon team.

The most important question is...

Spoiler:

how did the vent become big enough to fit bald eagle ;)

I really enjoyed season 3, and after a slightly disappointing Season 2, I thought they were back to form in 3. Super excited for the next season!

Spoiler:

I'm pretty sure Hopper is the American in the prison, and he somehow escaped the explosion but got captured by the Russians. Also the Neverending song, was so great!

ranalin wrote:

The most important question is...

Spoiler:

how did the vent become big enough to fit bald eagle ;)

Easy.

Spoiler:

Russian base vents != Mall vents

Finished it yesterday and today. Totally agreed with pixi's geek out moment. I was singing along and my wife was like "is that that one stupid movie you love?" Hehe.

Yes nice to see Erica back and involved after some great scenes in s2. Nice to see Billy have an actual reason to be an asshole this year.

Random thoughts...

Spoiler:

Dustin and Steve are great together again. Good point about Steve not winning a fight before haha. Robin was great. And tv trope avoided when it looked like her and Steve were going to date.

Definitely think Hopper is the prisoner. Figure he went in the breach. The line in his letter about leaving the door open has some extra meaning.

A little annoyed that Hopper finally got fed up enough to kill Russian thug (Gregori?), but didn't tap a head shot.

Nice to see doc from s2 show up late and not help at all.

80s references OMG.

Spoiler:

The "police men have rules" but 3 years before Die Hard.

Not just BttF playing, but the music in the background while Dustin was on the radio near the projector. Same scene in the movie where doc and Marty are radioing each other.

The aforementioned Never-ending Story.

Freaking mall with all the stores in the background.

Lots more little things like New Coke, Lucky Charms, etc.

I would totally watch a spin off show about Robin and Steve as video store clerks. Maybe they could call it, like, Clerks, or something.

My friend Erica has now adopted the catchphrase "You can't spell America without Erica".

Patient as always, I missed the last scene of Kamtjakta totally.

I was already blown away by this season. And now... God o God o God.. LOVE IT

That was about as nice a wrapup as I think we could have hoped for and now I'm salty that they're inevitably going to bring this back for a 4th and maybe even 5th season.

I have to say though that the massive Cobra-from-G.I. Joe secret Russian base under the mall strained my suspension of disbelief harder than anything in this show ever has. And where the hell did all the other Ruskies escape to by the time the American troops arrived?

Middcore wrote:

That was about as nice a wrapup as I think we could have hoped for and now I'm salty that they're inevitably going to bring this back for a 4th and maybe even 5th season.

I have to say though that the massive Cobra-from-G.I. Joe secret Russian base under the mall strained my suspension of disbelief harder than anything in this show ever has. And where the hell did all the other Ruskies escape to by the time the American troops arrived?

I think the whole point was that the whole project was funded by the Russian government and couldn't have been possible without the collusion of the corrupt and power hungry mayor. As for the Russians escaping, we don't really know that they did. It is pretty clear that Doc and his soldiers took pretty obvious steps to cover stuff up. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that he had his folks doubletap anyone that didn't look important and face bag anyone who did and disappear them to an equally shadowy American facility.