In addition to being responsible for feeding into binge-watching marathons around the world, Netflix has become widely known for its lineup of refreshing and incredibly addictive original series. And their latest release “Stranger Things” is no exception.
The eight-episode first installment of the series was released on July 15 and has quickly become one of the most talked about shows on Netflix. This sci-fi thriller captures all of the best elements of both thriller and science fiction genres and resurrects the 1980s in all the right ways.
Set in 1983, “Stranger Things” follows a group of Dungeons- and Dragons-loving pre-teen boys ― Mike, Dustin and Lucas ― as they try to find their friend Will, who seemingly vanished while biking home one night. But Will’s disappearance isn’t the end of the strange happenings in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. As our protagonists and the rest of the town frantically search for Will, they begin to uncover dark secrets the rural town has been hiding. Add an alien-like creature snatching people in the dead of night and a nightmarish government research lab, and “Stranger Things” becomes just creepy enough to keep fans of the supernatural glued to their couches and coming back for more.
Though the first season of the series is only eight episodes, viewers are sure to fall in love with each character and their unique, and sometimes quirky, personalities. From nerdy and awkward AV Club kid Mike Wheeler to Steve Harrington, the jock who wears his heart on his sleeve, there’s a character that everyone can identify with. Though the first season only covers the span of approximately two weeks, each character develops so much in that short time period. The character Eleven, for example, is first introduced when our protagonists find her alone in the woods while searching for Will one night. Though she is incredibly timid and seemingly mute at first, she soon transforms into a completely different person, learning the concepts of friendship, loyalty and honesty from her interactions with Mike, Dustin and Lucas. One of the most refreshing elements of character use in “Stranger Things” is that every character in the show, no matter how minor, is tied to the plot in a fantastic and unexpected way. Every character is important, and nothing is done by accident.
Nostalgia is one of the show’s most charming elements. Between references to Spielberg films and Will’s undying love for “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash, small allusions to 80s pop culture take viewers back in time. Regardless of whether viewers grew up in the 80s or are being exposed to this culture for the first time, they are sure to be amused by the use of oversized walkie-talkies and other novelties or the ridiculous, albeit entertaining 80s soundtrack. “Stranger Things” is the perfect homage to the cultural phenomenon that was the 80s.
Directing duo Matt and Ross Duffer perfectly captured the emotion and urgency of the search for a missing child and coupled it with an element of mystery, letting viewers know that everything is not as it seems to be. With its perfect balance of science fiction, mystery, drama and yes, even romance, “Stranger Things” is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seat and clicking “play next episode.” Expect to see season two on Netflix in 2017.
