Stranger Things Season 1 (2016)
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Stranger Things Season 1 Review
Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror series directed by the Duffer Brothers. The first season premiered in 2016 and it is excellent.
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“Don’t take it so personally, okay?
I don’t like most people. He’s in the vast majority“
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Stranger Things is basically a Stephen King television series and although at times it was obviously ripping off his works and mostly ‘It’, I still really liked the show because I like King’s books and films a lot. So although definitely lacking in originality, the show more than compensates that with strong storytelling and characterization.
So the first season has only eight episodes of around 46 minutes in length and literally all are either very good or excellent. The season works so well because it can be viewed as one giant movie and, for a movie lover such as myself, that was a terrific choice. It mixes supernatural elements into investigative drama and mystery while consistently being childlike in tone and approach. Its 80s nostalgic elements are overly abundant, but they were so charming that I did not mind them too much.
Mike is one of the highlights when it comes to the kids as he’s so well developed and such a realistic kid. Finn Wolfhard’s performance is easily the best of the bunch and thus he deservedly won the role for ‘It’ because of it. Will is very endearing and the central mystery surrounding him was so well crafted. Lucas is again very realistic and his interactions with Mike are excellent and again grounded in reality as typically contentious and physical for young boys.
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Dustin is the most sensible of the bunch and I really liked both Jonathan and Nancy as a very likable duo/potential romantic pair. Jim Hopper as the chief of the town is quite well developed and so well portrayed by David Harbour. Joyce is also memorable, but Winona Ryder’s performance is a bit overrated in my opinion. Eleven is easily the standout character and the most intriguing of the entire bunch. I loved her powers and how they were realized as well as her backstory and highly emotional, stupendous performance from Millie Bobby Brown.
Stranger Things isn’t particularly unpredictable, but it’s so well established in characters and so well crafted in terms of storytelling with a great mysterious hook to it that it honestly flies by and is pretty easy to binge watch which is rare for me personally. The series is very well shot as well with great special effects, an excellent soundtrack and an effective atmosphere in it.
So the first season of Stranger Things definitely is a strong opening for the show which is not the most original story out there, but it’s so well told with great atmosphere, attention to detail, emotion and terrific characters that it’s easy to fall in love with it.
Worst Episode: Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly.
Best Episode: Chapter Six: The Monster.
