So, after all the hype I've been seeing around my social channels (not to mention the activities that didn't happen bc folks were stuck on the couch), I binge watched Netflix's latest series, Stranger Things over the weekend.
For those who aren't super aware, the show is about a group of kids who's who get into some shit that they shouldn't. Abductions and government conspiracies type shit. Set in the 80s, it mixes whimsical adventure and supernatural elements with a coming of age story and (from what I hear, because I didn't see it) suspense and horror aspirations. After joining the I'm-on-the-couch-all-day-so-don't-call-me-cuz-you-already-know-I-won't-be-doing-shit-else-club and running through the entire 8 episode first season, I can see why people liked it.
I mean, when you grow up on Steven Spielberg 80s movies, this is like a godsend because it brings back that same feel and vibe. But I didn't grow up on those Spielberg and John Hughes 80s movies, so when I saw them 20-30 years after the fact, they really weren't shit to write home about — they were just regular-ass movies to me, because all that was left was the movie itself + everyone's hype.
Because when you really think about it, so much of what feeds into great movies and their effect on people is the cultural zeitgeist they create. Everyone feels a gravitational pull to participate in the discussion. But when you remove that cultural convo from it, all you're left with is the hype. I mean, it's why they people flock to Thursday midnight showings — in the age of social, you gotta see it first so you can talk about it first; so people can't ruin it for you later. When you add 10 or more years of hype to a movie someone hasn't seen yet, it nearly guarantees a let down. (Sidebar: that was my Star Wars 1-3 experience, but that's a separate article.)
And that's what this show is — a regular-ass show. That may be a little harsh, and it may overstate and simplify things a bit, but that's kind of where it's at for me. The casting and the acting was spot on (the connection to the characters, and their believability, is why I kept watching), but bruh, people are saying there's a lot of Stephen King in this — there was not a single scary moment in that show.
A hallmark of Spielberg films, for me at least, and this is not a positive, is their sometimes comical lack of tension. This isn't LOST or Game of Thrones — you know the main characters aren't going to die halfway through the film. And they get put in situations where the scene is paced so fast that the character is in and out of danger before you can even get settled into (and suspend your disbelief from) this supposed dangerous situation. (I'm looking at you, Bridge of Spies.) The lack of drama and tension for a series that supposedly relies on these genre tropes it is an absolute death knell. The same thing is what has made HBO's Ballers borderline unwatchable. It's well acted and produced, and Dwayne Johnson is always fantastic, but ultimately, it's a comedy that isn't funny, and there isn't any real drama for its backup generators to rely on.
And that brings us back to what Stranger Things is: A well-written, wonderfully-acted throwback to the your favorite adventure 80's flicks, that sorely lacks any semblance of tension or horror. Or adventure. Or a CGI budget. (really, this is 2016. Your CGI should never be on Sharknado-level.)
I give this TV series a rating of a 5th of whiskey and a 6 pack of beer, because that's the amount of alcohol you'll need to get through and enjoy eight straight hours of it.