By Quinn Farr, Year 11
Over the past decades, Americans have prided themselves over the blockbuster industry. And it’s true; Hollywood has produced some of the best films and television shows: Titanic, Full House, Saving Private Ryan, Game of Thrones, Jaws, and Friends. But recently, America, land of the free and home of the brave, has replaced old-fashioned television production with a new star of the show: Netflix.
Over the past year, Netflix alone has produced 126 original productions, but one in particular has taken the Western World by storm: Stranger Things. The hit series came out in 2016, and when its second season returned this summer, over 15.8 million people saw the first episode within three days.
The show, set in 1984, has all the elements of a perfect family sitcom, yet there are several twists in the story. There’s no real way to explain the plot: a mystery over the disappearance of a boy, the existence of a different dimensions, a girl with strange powers, and four nerdy boys cruising on 80s retro bikes. Nevertheless, the show draws a crowd like no other.
But why?
There are far more analytical and dedicated viewers than I am, but here are a couple ideas as to why it is the obsession of all obsessions.
- It’s a mystery.
The disappearance of Will Byers is the hook that occurs within ten minutes of watching. It is the reoccurring theme that connects everything. As humans, we cannot help wanting to find out what happens: Murder on the Orient Express, Harry Potter, and Sherlock Holmes are among some of the greatest works of literature in history, but they do not even come close to real life mysteries. Who killed JFK? Who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby? Who are Taylor Swift’s songs about? Did OJ do it? Did Anastasia Romanov survive? As compelling as these real-life mysteries are, they pale in comparison to the drama surrounding Will Byers!
- It’s short.
It is the perfect length. There is a beginning and end, and I did not feel confused by conclusion. Shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Quantico drag on forever and ever, and by the end the plot has become watered down or repetitive. This show is quick and to the point. It does not mess around with your feelings, and it does not kill every character you love.
- It’s Nostalgia 101.
The references to the 80s are rea
l, guys. And they are amazing. From its synthpop theme song to the outfits they wear, Stranger Things makes you feel. . . cool. It feels like a classic. The music is also incredibly important: David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Olivia Newton-John, and the Bangles make casual appearances. That, however, does not even begin to encapsulate the cultural references: Dungeons and Dragons, Ghostbusters, Goonies, It, and Star Wars are Easter eggs that the producers have laid out for us to find.
- The Horror (because why not?)
This TV show is like an eight-episode extension of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Corn fields, Jurassic Park-esque creatures, an unsettlingly quiet and normal Indiana town, and flashing lights are all things that managed to terrify me over the past two seasons. I avoided this show for two years because of these things, but now I am on the Stranger Things bandwagon. Oh, well. . . what can you do?
- Because it’s really good.
You cannot understand until you watch, so go and watch (preferably during the holidays).
That’s all I have to say.
