by Julia Hershkowitz
Third grade – I was nine, and I loved making slime and playing ROBLOX, when my mom told me the girl she was babysitting was watching a new show called Stanger Things on Netflix and we should watch it. That night, we watched the first three episodes. Heck, I was probably traumatized after the third episode, but I also had a strong feeling at the same time: I was in love with the show. Retro Halloween costumes, laughter, compassion, tears, adrenaline, excitement, good 80’s music: these are aspects of the show that will remail with me forever. Every season was something I eagerly anticipated, and I can’t believe it’s actually over.
At first, knowing about and watching Stranger Things was like bringing in something cool for show and tell – most kids my age were unaware of it because the show was not really for children my age–maybe that’s why I was so enraptured by it. Now Stranger Things is a household name, and it is Netflix’s most watched show ever. I think what makes Stranger Things such a success is its great ability to capture the 1980s that many adults appreciated and got to reminisce about (like my mom) and their kids adore (like me). The Duffer brothers’ choice of hiring eighties child actors to play adult roles, such as Sean Astin and Winona Ryder, brings nostalgia to a whole generation of people who grew up in the 80’s. Great eighties songs, selected for the show’s soundtrack, aprovided the show with its signature 80’s feel.
At it’s core, Stranger Things is a coming of age story. The lessons the chracters learned after disagreements and the depictions of loss and sorrow in the show are unforgettable. No matter your age, there’s a character that you can relate to, laugh at, or grow with. Stranger Things is a nostalgic and sentimental show paired with great sci-fi-horror climax-building. You get to see all the pieces come together one by one until the very last episode of the season – that’s the magic of Stranger Things.
IOverall, the show had a great run, but his final season was missing something. The plot moved too quickly and there wasn’t enough charisma and depth from the actors in season five. Given that, the show doesn’t deserve all of the insane keyboard warriors bashing the show over and over again for days. There was one scene I’d like to acknowledge from season five that I felt was on par with Stranger Things’ level of greatness: Will’s “growing up” montage of memories with Robin’s narration. It was a powerful scene, and it has that nostalgic Stranger Things music that will make you tear up. I think that’s the kind of emotion that Stranger Things fans that have been with the show since season one were craving in the finale. Unfortunately, the show didn’t quite deliver.