On July 15, Netflix released a new original series Stranger Things, and in less than a month it has received over 8 million viewers, a 9.1/10 on IMDB, and a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is definitly a show to start watching now.
Set in Hawkins, Indiana in 1983 Stranger Things follows the story of the search for 12-year-old William Byers who goes missing one cold november night. His family and friends are determined to find him, and when a strange girl with even stranger powers appears, claiming to know where Will is, the whole town is thrown into turmoil. Will must be found before it is too late, and his would be rescuers must deal with a menacing government agency attempting to cover it up, and a terrifying presence that stalks the denizens of Hawkins. The series is all but guaranteed a second season, but in the meantime, here's a list of some of the things that make this show so great.
1. The Soundtrack
If there's one thing that you'll notice right away about Stranger Things, it's that you never really feel at ease. The show always manages to keep you on the edge of your seat, and one of the reasons for that is its exceptional soundtrack. The mood is always set perfectly, and the the music is so subtle, you may not even notice it happening, which to me is a sign of a truly great score.
2. The Title Sequence
It may seem like a small thing, but I can really get behind a killer title sequence. Stranger Things manages to do some magic with its opening credits. Everything about is evocative, the music, the animation, even the font itself is reminiscent of horror stories from the 80s, be it movies or novels. I watched the show with my family and on the second episode my sister tried to fast forward through the opening. I made her stop and rewind because this title sequence was just as much a part of the experience of the show as the story.
3. The Acting
This seems like it should be a no-brainer for any good show to have good acting, but I really can't overstate this. Winona Rider kills it as Joyce Byers, a distraught mother convinced her son is still out there. She really manages to hit on that frantic feeling and hammer it home to the audience. Not to mention that David Harbour knocks it out of the damn park, as Chief Hopper. Every scene he's in is such a treat. But the real reason I included this was the biggest surprise for me
The freakin' child actors! Whenever a child actor comes on screen, my initial reaction is to tense up and hope it's not too cringeworthy, but not so with Stranger Things. Every child actor is believable and down right enjoyable. Every. Single. One. How does that happen? The Duffer brothers must be some kind of genius child whisperers, because with cast comprised of at least 50% children, they managed to get all of them to deliver wonderful performances.
4. The Homages
Stranger Things is the dark and crazy love child of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King that I never knew I wanted. Every shot, every scene, every episode feels like it could have been lifted from either Spielberg's reels or King's pages. There's even a few easter eggs throughout the show, some subtle like a guard reading Cujo, and some more on the nose, like the science teacher Mr. Clark (as in Arthur C. Clark). Of course the show is so much more than just homages, but their inclusion is an added bonus.
5. Character Depth
Much like the town itself, the residents of Hawkins, Indiana are more than they appear to be. It is clear that the writers loved their jobs and loved these characters because no one is just flat, no one is all on the surface. This show is a sea of icebergs, there is so much going on beneath the surface. Whether it's the 12-year-old boys who somehow manage to be the most mature people in the town, the podunk sheriff who is incredibly competent and goes above and beyond for the people under his protection, or the sleazy high school dirtbag who is very self aware and courageous in the face of real danger. Sure there's a few caricature to fill out the background, but in Stranger Things no one is who they appear to be.
6. The Production
The real beauty of the show is that every shot tells a story, even when no one is speaking, or even if nothing is happening on screen. The lighting, the costumes, the cinematography, all of it is astounding. You feel like you're looking at a snapshot into the 1980s. I honestly don't know how else to describe it. In what other shows will you get a shot like this:
The production quality really goes hand in hand with the acting, and the soundtrack, and all of it put together makes for the can't miss show of the summer. If you haven't seen Stranger Things, you are seriously missing out.
