Television Stranger Things (Netflix Original) | CONTAINS SPOILERS

Finished it today. Immense.

As good as Season 1? Possibly not. But I love these characters - ALL these characters. I genuinely care about all of them, and I think the writers and actors deserve huge credit for that.

People loving the Dustin and Steve bromance (rightly so!) but Hopper and Eleven's relationship this season was probably the highlight for me.
 
Jaap said:
Great season.

I still hope that episode 7 never happened.
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Agreed. Episode 7 was my only issue. Also given how epic episode 6 was, I decided to stay up for another hour that night to watch it was incredibly disappointed.
 
Finished it last night and loved it, so much better than season one, even though it had practically the same story line, but the characters and interactions and overall feel of the show seemed so much better this time round. Absolutely loved the soundtrack too. Some 'complaints'..

Agree on episode seven, it was awful. The sort of episode that after finishing watching, I thought to myself, if I'd known what it was beforehand I'd have just skipped it. Considering Eleven's plot was the most boring of the season and she basically had nothing to do until that point, having a full episode with her out of Hawkin's with these boring characters was really annoying and didn't fit at all.

Steve was great this season, turned into my second favourite character, obviously no-one beats Dustin. Jonathan on the other hand was a bit crap, and Mike was totally wasted, that kid proved in It that he's a great, funny young actor and all he seemed to do was moan, a bit shit considering he was so good last season. Special shout-out to Will who probably had the toughest role and was brilliant in it.

Bob was great, shame they killed him off in such a stereotypical dull fashion. Was always obvious he was a goner, which is a shame, would've liked to have more of him.

Max and the brother were totally pointless, maybe they'll have a better role next season.

A solid 8.5/10 for me.
 
KM said:
Steven has turned from one of the most annoying characters in season 1 to one of the best in season 2.
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That's exactly what I said to the Mrs last night.

Blitzed the series this weekend, it didn't disappoint. It didn't really get properly going until episode five though. Best characters Steve (as per the above) Dustin and the cop (forgotten his name)

The writers are going to have a hard time for the third series, I don't think they can get away with this current format for a third time. The other key thing is ending it at the right time and not overdoing it.
 
Acole9 said:
That's exactly what I said to the Mrs last night.

Blitzed the series this weekend, it didn't disappoint. It didn't really get properly going until episode five though. Best characters Steve (as per the above) Dustin and the cop (forgotten his name)

The writers are going to have a hard time for the third series, I don't think they can get away with this current format for a third time. The other key thing is ending it at the right time and not overdoing it.
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The writers have said they are still deciding how many series they want to do (originally rumoured to be 4/5 seasons), which I find a little worrying. Although, there is definite potential to do a time-jump, i.e. 10/20 years in the future where the kids have grown up, a bit like IT.
 
Nickosaur said:
The writers have said they are still deciding how many series they want to do (originally rumoured to be 4/5 seasons), which I find a little worrying. Although, there is definite potential to do a time-jump, i.e. 10/20 years in the future where the kids have grown up, a bit like IT.
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Yeah I saw that too, five would be overkill.
 
Finished it last night and absolutely loved it, certainly on par, if not better, that season 1. The last 2 episodes are incredible, and the kid playing Will is a tremendous actor. Can't believe I need to wait a year now though :(
 
It's not a TV show in the traditional sense. It's a 7 hour long movie with intermissions every 45 minutes or so.

I only started watching Stranger Things a few days ago and smashed through both seasons by the end of the weekend. I think you have to look at episode 7 (and the introduction of Billy) through the context of that. I quite like the cross-pollination that the writers were trying.

The proof of the pudding will come when the payoff comes, but I'm hesitant to criticise before that happens. Binge shows are a different kind medium than we're used to. They allow creators more freedom (greater runtime than a movie, less reliance on cliffhangers than a TV show) but also ask for more faith from its viewers. I guess I'm more emotionally invested than most, so I can forgive something that seems like it's almost a different show.
 
It's not even on TV, for crying out loud. It's literally not a TV show.

Nor does it air serially, which is perhaps the more salient point.
 
That is the weirdest argument ever.

It's not in a TV network so it's not a TV show. I guess Netflix movies aren't movies either cause they're not in the cinema.
 
Massive Spanner said:
That is the weirdest argument ever.

It's not in a TV network so it's not a TV show. I guess Netflix movies aren't movies either cause they're not in the cinema.
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The term 'movie' doesn't imply its transmission medium. But it would certainly be true that Netflix movies aren't cinema (unless they're distributed in cinemas).

As I said, the more salient point is that it's not aired serially. Which, by implication, means it's not a TV show in the traditional sense. That's quite clearly true. The show is not intended to be consumed at weekly intervals, and makes it markedly different from what came before it.

Stranger Things has as much in common with a traditional TV show as it does with a movie (because it all comes at once like a movie does). As such, it's neither nor.

Whether you agree with all of that or not, it's weird to find anyone who believes that this is a 'TV show traditional sense'.
 
Dante said:
The term 'movie' doesn't imply its transmission medium. But it would certainly be true that Netflix movies aren't cinema (unless they're distributed in cinemas).

As I said, the more salient point is that it's not aired serially. Which, by implication, means it's not a TV show in the traditional sense. That's quite clearly true. The show is not intended to be consumed at weekly intervals, and makes it markedly different from what came before it.

Stranger Things has as much in common with a traditional TV show as it does with a movie (because it all comes at once like a movie does). As such, it's neither nor.

Whether you agree with all of that or not, it's weird to find anyone who believes that this is a 'TV show traditional sense'.
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Just because the Netflix model is to release shows at once doesn't make it not a traditional TV show. It's as traditional a TV show as any. It has pre credits scenes and a cliffhanger/reveal at the end of every episode. It's as TV show as TV show can get.

I mean your only argument is "well it's not on TV". Hardly convincing.
 
Massive Spanner said:
Just because the Netflix model is to release shows at once doesn't make it not a traditional TV show. It's as traditional a TV show as any. It has pre credits scenes and a cliffhanger/reveal at the end of every episode. It's as TV show as TV show can get.
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In what way is the Bond series not a TV show?

For what it's worth season 1 was released in one go and lasted 6 hours 34 minutes. Season 2 was similarly released in one go and lasted 7 hours 43 minutes. They were effectively just a couple of overly long movies with pre-defined dump intervals. Can you name any traditional TV shows that have been released like that and in a manner that's intended for the episodes to be binge-watched?
Massive Spanner said:
I mean your only argument is "well it's not on TV". Hardly convincing.
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:lol: No it's not. Twice I've said the more salient point is that it's not aired serially.
 
Dante said:
In what way is the Bond series not a TV show?

For what it's worth season 1 was released in one go and lasted 6 hours 34 minutes. Season 2 was similarly released in one go and lasted 7 hours 43 minutes. They were effectively just a couple of overly long movies with pre-defined dump intervals. Can you name any traditional TV shows that have been released like that and in a manner that's intended for the episodes to be binge-watched?

:lol: No it's not. Twice I've said the more salient point is that it's not aired serially.
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But most TV shows are released on Blu-ray to binge watch too.

It's not aired serially because it's on Netflix and not network TV. Jesus Christ.
 
Massive Spanner said:
But most TV shows are released on Blu-ray to binge watch too.
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Which is not traditional TV.

But you think the Bond movies are a TV show.

Massive Spanner said:
It's not aired serially because it's on Netflix and not network TV. Jesus Christ.
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'Air' is a synonymous with 'release'. For a non-traditional show like Stranger Things, that means the day when it's made available for viewing. You've just proven my point.
 
Steve and Dustin saved it. They were fecking great. Max's brother could have been good but I guess they didn't want another Steve situation from last season where he pops in last minute to save the day. He was basically a red herring and a way for Max to finally step up and show some balls and be a bit badass. He's got good potential though, that scene with the Mother was awesome. :lol:

Storyline worked on the whole, the demidog developed really well but felt a bit underwhelming at the end, I guess they didn't want them to be too OP otherwise it would be a struggle to explain how the entire cast survived.
 
Dante said:
Which is not traditional TV.

But you think the Bond movies are a TV show.


'Air' is a synonymous with 'release'. For a non-traditional show like Stranger Things, that means the day when it's made available for viewing. You've just proven my point.
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I really don't.

You have a weird way of thinking.
 
Massive Spanner said:
I really don't.

You have a weird way of thinking.
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Yes, you do. According to these brilliant arguments. The Bond franchise meets every one of your criteria. Unless you want to change shift the goalposts again.
Massive Spanner said:
But most TV shows are (Bond is) released on Blu-ray to binge watch too.

It's not aired serially because it's on Netflix and not network TV. Jesus Christ.
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Massive Spanner said:
Just because the Netflix (Bond) model is to release shows at once doesn't make it not a traditional TV show. It's as traditional a TV show as any. It has pre credits scenes and a cliffhanger/reveal at the end of every episode. It's as TV show as TV show can get.

I mean your only argument is "well it's not on TV". Hardly convincing.
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Massive Spanner said:
That is the weirdest argument ever.

It's (Bond's) not in a TV network so it's not a TV show. I guess Netflix (Bond) movies aren't movies either cause they're not in the cinema.
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The new season wasn't perfect, but I thought it was good enough. It would have been very difficult to match magic of the first one.
 
:lol: Late contender for daft argument 2017.


RedSky said:
Steve and Dustin saved it. They were fecking great. Max's brother could have been good but I guess they didn't want another Steve situation from last season where he pops in last minute to save the day. He was basically a red herring and a way for Max to finally step up and show some balls and be a bit badass. He's got good potential though, that scene with the Mother was awesome. :lol:

Storyline worked on the whole, the demidog developed really well but felt a bit underwhelming at the end, I guess they didn't want them to be too OP otherwise it would be a struggle to explain how the entire cast survived.
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I agree with all this. I kind of feel they did well to contain it as a story still, but it did also suffer from knowing they are going to stretch it out for definite now, if that makes sense.

Ep 7 gets a lot of stick, and probably rightly so if for the wrong reasons. For me it was crafted okay and was cheesy, but that's the point, yet it was still so jarring that it was obvious from the moment she leaves what it's doing. There's literally hundreds of ways they could have done that story without the ridiculous journey there and back framing it. I understand why they did it that way, I just still think after seeing it in practice it's not a good idea to drag us away from what we want to watch in the first place. I'm probably not explaining it well, but it's like what Twin Peaks S3 did with the new settings and varied locales, it kind of loses the point of what was actually appealing to most people who want to watch it.

But all in all, it's a decent follow up season to a decent and interesting show. I wouldn't say great yet, but then it's still far better than most.
 
Redlambs said:
:lol: Late contender for daft argument 2017.




I agree with all this. I kind of feel they did well to contain it as a story still, but it did also suffer from knowing they are going to stretch it out for definite now, if that makes sense.

Ep 7 gets a lot of stick, and probably rightly so if for the wrong reasons. For me it was crafted okay and was cheesy, but that's the point, yet it was still so jarring that it was obvious from the moment she leaves what it's doing. There's literally hundreds of ways they could have done that story without the ridiculous journey there and back framing it. I understand why they did it that way, I just still think after seeing it in practice it's not a good idea to drag us away from what we want to watch in the first place. I'm probably not explaining it well, but it's like what Twin Peaks S3 did with the new settings and varied locales, it kind of loses the point of what was actually appealing to most people who want to watch it.

But all in all, it's a decent follow up season to a decent and interesting show. I wouldn't say great yet, but then it's still far better than most.
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The problem with Episode 7 is that it followed a very good episode with a cliffhanger in episode 6. Which meant you had to wait 45mins to actually find out what happens. What they should have done was flipped Episode 6 with 7. Then I think people wouldn't have minded it as much.
 
I find the parallels between Steve and Fellaini's redemption arcs interesting, especially when you factor in the hair.
 
I think the whole point of the 008 episode was to show others are out there. I'm pretty sure season 3 will introduce more - and all of them will be necessary to defeat the big cnut from the end.

I definitely preferred season 1. This season ended and it really felt like nothing had happened this season. I mean episode 1 showed that huge monster and nothing else happened throughout.
 
Traub said:
I think the whole point of the 008 episode was to show others are out there. I'm pretty sure season 3 will introduce more - and all of them will be necessary to defeat the big cnut from the end.
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That's my fear, another group with super powers. X-Men lite.

I'd much much rather Matthew Modine had 10 rejects, all dead, and finally a success, Eleven.
 
Mrs Smoker said:
That's my fear, another group with super powers. X-Men lite.

I'd much much rather Matthew Modine had 10 rejects, all dead, and finally a success, Eleven.
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Same. It's pretty much nailed on though. In season 1 before the finale, they made it seem like the government were well in control of what's going on. Since then it's been left up to a bunch of kids, a manic mom and a depressed cop to save the world.

Also, if the upside down is so susceptible to fire, surely it's piss easy to end this??
 
BennyBlanco said:
Watched with Mrs. Our thoughts.

Pacing was far worse than s1, episodes 1-4 nothing much happend. Lots of filler.
Johnathan & Nancy romance was bad, them meeting vodka/dilution guy was baaad,
New characters added nothing, nutting!
Creepy, stalking through the walls monster in s1 was replaced by something far less ominous scene to scene, far less tension throughout.
Eleven's character exploration we found really dull.
Episode 7 could have been a different show entirely. I was OK with it, Mrs HATED it.

Stuff we liked:
Dustin & Steve bromance.

S1 was better, for us, by a distance.
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Agree with pretty much all this, season 1 was better by faaaar.

Didn't mind Sean Astin's character, I thought it was pretty cool bringing the original Goonie back but his demise was obvious.

Dustin was suburb again. His Gremlins moment was great. The bromance with Steve as others have said.

None of the new characters added anything, Max and her Brother. Number 8 (no idea why the whole series opened with her when she had next to no impact).

The whole 11 training episode was dull. Reminded me of a Walking Dead character episode. In the first series I found 11's mysticism to be her biggest draw.

I know there'll be a third season and a fourth, there will be more in depth stories about number 8 and probably the other numbers, Papa who may still be alive and some form of upside down gateway but I kinda hope not.
 
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Dante said:
The term 'movie' doesn't imply its transmission medium. But it would certainly be true that Netflix movies aren't cinema (unless they're distributed in cinemas).

As I said, the more salient point is that it's not aired serially. Which, by implication, means it's not a TV show in the traditional sense. That's quite clearly true. The show is not intended to be consumed at weekly intervals, and makes it markedly different from what came before it.

Stranger Things has as much in common with a traditional TV show as it does with a movie (because it all comes at once like a movie does). As such, it's neither nor.

Whether you agree with all of that or not, it's weird to find anyone who believes that this is a 'TV show traditional sense'.
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I don't know about you mate but i watched it on a television. Making it a TV show..

I went to a play once, it was one of those outdoor things where as an audience you have to follow the action. It wasn't in a theatre or on a stage. Turns out it was still a play.
 
Finally got around to finishing season 1 and just started season 2. Yeah it's decent and did enjoy it but it's also overrated . Some of the characters do the most stupid things, if this was the walking dead thread everyone would be jumping on how stupud the show is.
 
So nobody else in here thinks Max’s brother is gay?
And that’s his storyline, and the reason for the overly cliche macho act?
 
Cheesy said:
I'd say he probably is yeah.
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I think it ties in with the 80s, his fathers’ abuse towards him - even his father called him a sissy or something, and the general perception of gay people back then too.
 
Just finished season 2, I definitely prefer this season to the previous one. Bar one episode, it was captivating viewing and had to finish the final half of the season in just one day!
 
Seeing as people wont shut up about this show I finally decided to start it, just finished episode 1 of season 1, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Gutted they killed Big Show chef though. Cnuts. :(
 
Having ended season 2 with a win, the kids decided they are so happy they'll do the dance of joy. Sort of!

 
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