Stranger Things

[Sr. Mints]

Jif's product recall was either poorly timed with the Stranger Things ad campaign, or a blessing in disguise. Can't buy Jif anywhere, but nobody's talking about the salmonella.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Jif's product recall was either poorly timed with the Stranger Things ad campaign, or a blessing in disguise. Can't buy Jif anywhere, but nobody's talking about the salmonella.

This just reminded me of the discontinuation of whipped peanut butter. Dammit!

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by ripTDR

Me and Mr. PeanutButter are going to open a leather jacket and Michael Myers emporium before halloween and make a killing!!!

Halloween in January? What a great idea!

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by direwolf

Episode 9 felt like it dragged a bit near the end. But overall I thought those last 2 episodes were excellent.

Spoiler!

Eddie's death was quite sad. I grew to love that character over the last few episodes and I was hoping he'd make it to season 5.

Eleven and Hopper's reunion at the end got me all emotional.

So I guess Max's body is still alive, but her consciousness/soul is lost somewhere in the Upside Down? I thought it was interesting that Eleven couldn't find her when she tried to enter her mind at the hospital. And even if Max makes it, will she ever be able to walk again? Vecna gave her quite a beating.

Regarding Max:

Spoiler!

It was said that Vecna absorbs his victims (either Dr Owens or Brenner said it I think), so I'd guess that Max's mind/soul is inside Vecna's mind.

[GGG]

Spoiler!

in the Red world that appears to be Vecnas mind you saw the bodies of christy and the other kids Vecna had killed so that could be where the consciousnesses are being held.


I’m thinking about how they handle the 5th season. Does it start off right where this one left off with an open gate and the upside down pouring in. Or does the dead zone around Hawkings stop expanding and nothing else comes through and the show time skips a few months to set up season 5 better?

Originally Posted by octothorp

Regarding Max:

Spoiler!

It was said that Vecna absorbs his victims (either Dr Owens or Brenner said it I think), so I'd guess that Max's mind/soul is inside Vecna's mind.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

There were a number of brilliant, emotional scenes during the final two. However, the season suffered from a bit of a Return of the King ending; the final episode felt like it dragged on about 30 minutes too long.

Literally a 40 minute epilogue.

Still enjoyed the season, was quite strong and entertaining overall, but yeah that was like an emotional tear jerker moment paced every 5 minutes for the better part of an hour. Nailed my wife hard but after the second or third one I got a bit of Tender Moment Fatigue.

[OptimalTates]

Overall I would say a solid B+ this season.

I'd rate it A+ from a plot driven standpoint. A+++ if it wasn't for the Russia plot.

I'd rate it maybe a C+ from a character driven standpoint. Someone already mentioned it with Infinity War/Endgame but I agree. Maybe more Game of Thrones pre-final season. Scattering all the characters meant we didn't get the interactions and character development that we could have. I recognize it's the penultimate season and now everyone is together for the final season but I don't think we even had a scene with the four boys together. This show isn't Game of Thrones, it's entire premise is based on fanfare, give me it! Not even Dustin and Suzie-Poo?

I was disappointed because it did look like they were going to get everyone together quickly instead of dragging out Hopper's imprisonment. But no, he escapes, then is back, then escapes, then is back, then escapes. Plus I just hated everything about the Russian plot. Joyce and Murray, oh yeah, exactly the people who could totally take down the Soviets.

I don't know, maybe I can suspend disbelief when it's kids, but when you got adults (and not even bad ass ones but the comic relief) it just took me out of it. Or maybe I just cared so much more about the other plots that everytime they went back there I just wanted them to go back and that's why I hated it. I think I would have been happier without any Hopper showing up at all until like the 3rd or 4th episode instead of that plot.

Also I think they did my boy Eddie wrong.

Spoiler!

By far the best of the red shirts (Bob, the slurpee Russian guy). But like the dude saw himself as a coward or at least not a hero because he ran. Except he thought was running away from a mob of angry people who wanted him dead and literally Satan. Like those are okay to run from dude.

And his heroic sacrifice was also...pointless? Like Vecna knew about the trio in his house, they had already touched the vines. Hivemind could have sent the bats there, they didn't need to chase Eddie. And then when he does die, the emotional impact quickly changes when get hit with that "holy #### they are actually going to kill Max" I was not ready for those limbs breaking.

I think, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out at one point it was planned and cut, that Eddie's redemption would have been better if he had ran and left someone in danger or to die. Or even focused on him running away from responsibilities and that's why he wasn't graduating. Build up the cowardness or whatever, instead my biggest gripe with him was that he didn't run far enough. Get out of Dodge dude.

Despite everything that happened, I do think they wrapped it up in a nice little bow too much though. Like if the town thinks that Eddie and the Hellfire Club actually were going around killing people, then the kids (and especially those older randos in the Hellfire club) would be ran out of town at the very least. Mason family level of stigma attached to them.

[Johnny Makarov]

I still can't get over Eddie not being 35-40 years old. lol

Why couldn't they make him a 30 year old HS drop out living in his Uncle's trailer home?

[Looch City]

Spoiler!

I thought for sure Hopper was going to say "for Frodo" when charging the Demogorgon with the sword haha.

[OptimalTates]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I still can't get over Eddie not being 35-40 years old. lol

Why couldn't they make him a 30 year old HS drop out living in his Uncle's trailer home?

Hey, the actor who played him wasn't even in his 30s. He was a spry 29 year old lol.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

Overall I would say a solid B+ this season.

I'd rate it A+ from a plot driven standpoint. A+++ if it wasn't for the Russia plot.

I'd rate it maybe a C+ from a character driven standpoint. Someone already mentioned it with Infinity War/Endgame but I agree. Maybe more Game of Thrones pre-final season. Scattering all the characters meant we didn't get the interactions and character development that we could have. I recognize it's the penultimate season and now everyone is together for the final season but I don't think we even had a scene with the four boys together. This show isn't Game of Thrones, it's entire premise is based on fanfare, give me it! Not even Dustin and Suzie-Poo?

I was disappointed because it did look like they were going to get everyone together quickly instead of dragging out Hopper's imprisonment. But no, he escapes, then is back, then escapes, then is back, then escapes. Plus I just hated everything about the Russian plot. Joyce and Murray, oh yeah, exactly the people who could totally take down the Soviets.

I don't know, maybe I can suspend disbelief when it's kids, but when you got adults (and not even bad ass ones but the comic relief) it just took me out of it. Or maybe I just cared so much more about the other plots that everytime they went back there I just wanted them to go back and that's why I hated it. I think I would have been happier without any Hopper showing up at all until like the 3rd or 4th episode instead of that plot.

Also I think they did my boy Eddie wrong.

Spoiler!

By far the best of the red shirts (Bob, the slurpee Russian guy). But like the dude saw himself as a coward or at least not a hero because he ran. Except he thought was running away from a mob of angry people who wanted him dead and literally Satan. Like those are okay to run from dude.

And his heroic sacrifice was also...pointless? Like Vecna knew about the trio in his house, they had already touched the vines. Hivemind could have sent the bats there, they didn't need to chase Eddie. And then when he does die, the emotional impact quickly changes when get hit with that "holy #### they are actually going to kill Max" I was not ready for those limbs breaking.

I think, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out at one point it was planned and cut, that Eddie's redemption would have been better if he had ran and left someone in danger or to die. Or even focused on him running away from responsibilities and that's why he wasn't graduating. Build up the cowardness or whatever, instead my biggest gripe with him was that he didn't run far enough. Get out of Dodge dude.

Despite everything that happened, I do think they wrapped it up in a nice little bow too much though. Like if the town thinks that Eddie and the Hellfire Club actually were going around killing people, then the kids (and especially those older randos in the Hellfire club) would be ran out of town at the very least. Mason family level of stigma attached to them.

The one thing to keep in mind:

Spoiler!

While we as viewers may know that Eddie distracting the bats was irrelevant; Eddie didnt know that. One thing about Stranger Things is that the characters make decisions based on the info they have, regardless if it's correct or not.

Reminds me of the Big Giant Head episode of Rick and Morty where the cult is worshiping the heads, and to them it all makes sense and seems to jive, they couldn't be further from the truth.

I only say this to say, remember the characters don't know everything we do.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

Hey, the actor who played him wasn't even in his 30s. He was a spry 29 year old lol.

Holy! seriously!? an old 29...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

I still can't get over Eddie not being 35-40 years old. lol

Why couldn't they make him a 30 year old HS drop out living in his Uncle's trailer home?

I think the problem is that all of the other "kid" actors are so old now that casting someone who's age-appropriate for Eddie wouldn't have looked right for being the guy who's on his third attempt at graduating high school.

As it is, he's actually a year younger than the actor who plays Steve. All of the older "kid" actors are in their late 20s and Steve is 30. The younger "kids" are all over 18 now except for the actor who plays Will, who turns 18 in October.


Eddie is supposed to be older than the rest of the group, so they couldn't really cast someone who's the same age as Dustin, Max, and Mike, who are all 20 now.

[Johnny Makarov]

Millie Bobby New Edition Brown is my new favourite actress in Hollywood!

She called the Duffer Brothers, Sensitive Sallies for being too scared to kill off main characters. lol. They aren't game of thrones enough!

But she is right. For such a dark show there isn't enough deaths. Like for sure Max should be dead, but she isn't. I thought she had to die for the underworld to appear. Hop for sure should be dead but then there goes 4 hours of Season 4.

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainme...icism-20220705

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Millie Bobby New Edition Brown is my new favourite actress in Hollywood!

She called the Duffer Brothers, Sensitive Sallies for being too scared to kill off main characters. lol. They aren't game of thrones enough!

But she is right. For such a dark show there isn't enough deaths. Like for sure Max should be dead, but she isn't. I thought she had to die for the underworld to appear. Hop for sure should be dead but then there goes 4 hours of Season 4.

https://www.ladbible.com/entertainme...icism-20220705

She was “absorbed” by Vecna. Her body is alive but her consciousness isn’t there. Now they can still save her sure but the condition for the fate to open was met.

The other thing is that I think thrones making the shocking main character death a requirement also does a disservice to story telling.

What we want is emotional connection to characters and stories. Whether Max is brought back or not the pain in Lucas resonated. Even after 4 years of no mains dying the deaths and near deaths still pack an emotional punch. Eddie’s death with Dustin talking to his dad had surprising heft as well.

Should they have killed Steve as he basically marked himself for death by telling Nancy all his dreams? I don’t think so, it was far more emotionally resonant to have Nancy and John get back together and Robin consoling a crushed Steve in a slightly blurred background.

Deaths don’t equal drama or stakes.

[Inglewood Jack]

If you’re looking for the ideal model to use for the conclusion of your TV series, Game of Thrones is the absolute last place to go.

Max did die, just long enough for the rift to open btw

[Pizza]

Maybe if Eleven wasnt such an emo, she could've saved Max in time

Hopper with the Sword was dumb

Also, is anyone going to try to save Dr. Owens? I have a feeling mid season 5, Eleven is going to do a jail break through the pentagon to save him, to have him put Eleven through "Papa's" training to become stronger

I hope they bring back Eight. Just so she can trap One/Henry/Vecna in an illusion so Hopper can stab him with Conan's Sword

[Nyah]

Did I miss something with the sword? Like where the F did it even come from?!

Overall I really enjoyed the season, but I agree with some of the complaints. I could have done without 95% of the Russian side plot. I found the scenes with Joyce, Murray and the annoying Russian guy to be incredibly badly acted and over the top. Murray's character is freaking terrible and I'd be just fine if they wrote him right out of the show. Winona Ryder is a really great actress most of the time so I have no idea what was going on with her wide eyed, shocked facial expressions in every scene. I got genuinely annoyed every time they cut to that plot.

As for the rest of it, I really enjoyed it. I loved that they finally did something with Lucus, his character arc was great. I really enjoyed Max's story this season too, although I do think it's a bit cheesy that they didn't straight up kill her off. Although it opens up an interesting idea for next season...will she come back as the bad guy? He absorbed her mind, memories, etc. She's the only one to physically survive so will he use her to get revenge?

I also has a laugh that Eleven just needed to hear that her boyfriend loved her before she could pull herself together enough to try and save the world. Teenage girls are hilarious...I know, I used to be one.

And Nancy: dump Jonathan. Steve is way cooler.

[Inglewood Jack]

why the hell would anyone want Sadie Sink dead, she's top 3 in this show in terms of acting ability. there's like a dozen other main characters that could go before the end of the series if you insist on killing someone, starting with anyone from the pizza van. those guys have nothing left to do.

[surferguy]

Good season over all but I’m little bored of the telekinetic fighting. It looks pretty stupid on screen. The long gaze and holding your hand forward is stale and looks dumb