From the ingenious minds of the Duffer Brothers comes “Stranger Things,” an exciting and refreshing sci-fi adventure that follows a group of kids from the quiet suburb of Hawkins, Indiana. The Emmy-winning show takes audiences on a supernatural journey across genres, incorporating elements of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and drama.
Set in Indiana, 1983, the first season of the show follows the disappearance of 12-year-old Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) after he goes missing on his way home from a friend’s house. At the same time, a mysterious young girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) with remarkable abilities manages to escape from a top-secret laboratory. What ensues is a cryptic and thrilling story; it takes you on a terrifying journey across dimensions, plagued with horrific monsters and nightmarish experiments.
Introducing the Series’ Large and Intricate Cast
The first season of the series introduces you to its large cast. This includes Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Millie Bobby Brown to name a few. Together, they bring some of the show’s most iconic characters to life through notable performances and impressive chemistry. Appearing alongside them is a line-up consisting of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, and Natalia Dyer. The whole cast give turns that bring you into the world of these characters and their struggles; but one of the season’s highlights is the performances given by Millie Bobby Brown and Winona Ryder. Brown’s portrayal is especially good; her character doesn’t speak more than a few words throughout the entire season, and must instead rely on physicality and movement.
Production Designer Chris Trujillo and Prop Master Lynda Reiss create sets that range from high-tech laboratories to 12-year-olds’ bedrooms. Using genuine artifacts from 1980s and detailed replicas, Trujillo and Reiss build sets that immerse you into the series’ world. Not only does the show benefit from stellar world-building, the writers (the Duffer Brothers, Jessica Mecklenburg, Justin Doble, Alison Tatlock, and Jessie Nickson-Lopez) seem to have found the near-perfect balance of drama, comedy, and sci-fi. This makes “Stranger Things” arguably one of the most unique shows to come off Netflix’s production line. “Stranger Things” features an interesting and distinctive story; but it also introduces audiences to likable characters they can immediately start to understand and sympathise with.
Good Sound, Score, and Production Elements
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein from the band Survive compose the eerie and synthy score for the show. They create a score that’s one of the most recognisable parts of “Stranger Things,” but also reminiscent of the ’80s. Even though the series might suffer from slight bouts of questionable special effects, for the majority, the technical aspects that have gone into the show are incredibly impressive. Cinematographers Tod Campbell and Tim Ives provide consistently marvellous visuals that enhance the audience’s viewing experience. Alongside this, Editors Kevin Ross and Dean Zimmerman’s efforts elevate the series to a whole other level.
Winona Ryder in “Stranger Things.” (Photo: Netflix).
Something else the show manages surprisingly well is its multiple interweaving storylines, each with different characters at the centre; these smoothly blend together without making the show feel overstuffed. Through these interwoven storylines, “Stranger Things” manages to cover a variety of complex themes; these span from grief to friendship, and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Perhaps the best episode of the season is Episode 4, “The Body.” Winona Ryder’s performance as an unhinged mother looking for her son, the growing bond between Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and the satisfaction of things starting to click for characters about Eleven and Will Byers’ disappearance, makes the episode one of the season’s best. By the time the credits roll on the eighth and final episode of the season, audiences will be left both eager and intrigued to start season two of the show.
A Good Start to Look Forward to Season 2
Overall, Season 1 of “Stranger Things” is a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi themed adventure that will leave you on the edge of your seat and tug at your emotions. Showcasing superb performances from its ensemble cast, “Stranger Things” is easily still one of Netflix’s best original series despite being released nearly six years ago.
“Stranger Things” is available to stream on Netflix.
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