I’m Having Thoughts on Stranger Things, For Some Reason?

I don’t know. My day hasn’t been particularly eventful, but while I fixed my problem in Maya and began unwrapping UVs, (a process I wouldn’t wish on anyone), I ended up watching a video essay on the Demogorgon from Stranger Things. I have opinions on this show!

Season One is genuinely some of the strongest writing and atmosphere ever made for a show. I really enjoy all of the arcs the characters go on, the worldbuilding, and the overall vibe. It’s just the right amount mysterious and spooky, and leaves you with plenty of questions that you want answered. The kids are a fun driving force to everyone else’s stories. I like the creature designs, the classic corrupt company/government, and some genuinely strong emotional moments.

…and then there’s the rest of it.

Season Two takes Eleven away from the rest of the gang, which is not fun at all. Max makes for good contrast against Eleven, who is powerful but rarely manages to get more than a few words out. Steve becomes the best character, and everyone else is like, fine. I don’t know, at this point the characters aren’t feeling nearly as desperate and motivated as the first season. But overall the season is really just okay.

Season Three sucks! I did not like it. The subplot of Dustin, Erica, Steve, and Robin was way better than the majority of the focus. Everyone else was busy being pubescent and obsessed with dating, which turned the show from a mystery/horror drama to just a drama, where the real horror was the fact that they continued to dress the kids like they were 12. Then, halfway through, when they remember that there’s supposed to be monsters, they pull the nastiest writhing flesh lump out of thin air and try to pretend it’s as cool and mysterious as the demogorgon, or even the demodogs. It’s not. Everyone becomes flanderizations of themselves.

Season Four: I never finished it. People are saying it’s better than season three, which I hope so. I watched a little bit with Lucy, but there was only so much bone-twisting nausea we could handle–and once again, all of the characters are flanderizations of themselves (and the time period) who only care about aggressively dating each other. So, who knows.

Stranger Things, I think, is a textbook example of “too much of a good thing”. The compelling characters, story, and setting could only go so far before the Duffer Brothers lost me by throwing more flesh creatures from their pockets and going “look! Will still has a bowl cut!” Anyway.

I’m sure you weren’t expecting my thoughts on Stranger Things, but it was just marinating in my mind while I wrestled 3D UV maps, polygons, and other assorted demogorgons of my own.

November 6, 2023