- Jan 6, 2015
- 13,680
- 25,358
Stranger Things Season 2 <Netflix>
Came in with decent expectations, but still unsure of how they could get another season after the first one was so spectacular and fairly wrapped up. Others have talked the plot in here, so I'll skip that. However, my impression of the season...it was pretty good. I'll admit there was a moment when it felt like they were about to jump the shark, which was disappointing. However, as a plot for Season 2, it mostly worked. I get the addition of new characters, some seemed necessary (the new punk taking over the role of lead 4ssh0le from Steve, because Steve became too likeable), and some seemed like they were just planting seeds for seasons 3 & 4 (I assume this is the role the last two posters were discussing). I still cherished all the 80's authenticity and the soundtrack selections. At one point, they drive across a state border into Indiana and I had to google who was the governor then to check them for a goof...nope, they were dead on again.
I didn't like the much heavier reliance on CGI, as it changed the flavor from a honest look back at 1984 into a Sci-Fi mini-series. I can accept the expanding plot and idea of 'bigger, badder, evil' (which appears to also be a seed for subsequent seasons). I can accept additional characters as they can change the personalities and relationships of the characters we've known and loved so they don't get stale and predictable. I'm just afraid they are setting seasons 3 & 4 to be closer to Guardians of the Galaxy 2 with splash bang CGI and trite characters following a lead through a soap opera journey. At least Season 2 kept some of the dialogue breakdowns between characters that smacked of what it was like back then, and how friends would really call one another out on things. Still, tremendous respect for the soundtrack and feel of the 80's. 7/10
PS - anyone catch the Beyond Stranger Things 2 series of interviews that followed? My Netflix rolled into those directly after the show, so I'm on Ep 5 of these interviews. They appear to be all shot the same day (everyone is in the same clothes, same set), but it gives a lot of insight into why some of Season 2 played out the way it did. Some people don't like to pull the curtain back, but I liked understanding the new characters, the evolution of some of the favorites, and how things went as they did.
Came in with decent expectations, but still unsure of how they could get another season after the first one was so spectacular and fairly wrapped up. Others have talked the plot in here, so I'll skip that. However, my impression of the season...it was pretty good. I'll admit there was a moment when it felt like they were about to jump the shark, which was disappointing. However, as a plot for Season 2, it mostly worked. I get the addition of new characters, some seemed necessary (the new punk taking over the role of lead 4ssh0le from Steve, because Steve became too likeable), and some seemed like they were just planting seeds for seasons 3 & 4 (I assume this is the role the last two posters were discussing). I still cherished all the 80's authenticity and the soundtrack selections. At one point, they drive across a state border into Indiana and I had to google who was the governor then to check them for a goof...nope, they were dead on again.
I didn't like the much heavier reliance on CGI, as it changed the flavor from a honest look back at 1984 into a Sci-Fi mini-series. I can accept the expanding plot and idea of 'bigger, badder, evil' (which appears to also be a seed for subsequent seasons). I can accept additional characters as they can change the personalities and relationships of the characters we've known and loved so they don't get stale and predictable. I'm just afraid they are setting seasons 3 & 4 to be closer to Guardians of the Galaxy 2 with splash bang CGI and trite characters following a lead through a soap opera journey. At least Season 2 kept some of the dialogue breakdowns between characters that smacked of what it was like back then, and how friends would really call one another out on things. Still, tremendous respect for the soundtrack and feel of the 80's. 7/10
PS - anyone catch the Beyond Stranger Things 2 series of interviews that followed? My Netflix rolled into those directly after the show, so I'm on Ep 5 of these interviews. They appear to be all shot the same day (everyone is in the same clothes, same set), but it gives a lot of insight into why some of Season 2 played out the way it did. Some people don't like to pull the curtain back, but I liked understanding the new characters, the evolution of some of the favorites, and how things went as they did.