Stranger Things

I took a three-year break from the first season and finally watched the second. It must have been very challenging for the Duffer brothers to come up with a new, original idea for the plot while retaining all the successful aspects of the first season, which quickly won a wide fan base. But I can tell you with a clear conscience that they succeeded. The main group stayed together, and I truly loved their witty dialogue, which often made me laugh. Sheriff Hopper remains the same; he's one of my favorite characters in the entire series—he's such a brave person with a sense of justice who wants to help everyone, and he’s a character that everyone can easily like. Another interesting thing I want to mention... what happened to Steve? The character who was hated in the first season has become Dustin’s buddy, and their interactions are a perfect addition to an already brilliantly functioning concept. The story is once again top-notch, the special effects are impressive for a TV series, and the '80s feel with period music hits is just what you’d wish for. The ending was incredibly well-executed by the Duffers. We’ll see what the third season brings with a slightly more mature tone (after all, we have to accept that the actors won’t stay children forever... puberty is here!). I give it 90%. (18/07/2019)

Fans of Stranger Things had to wait two years for the third season of this beloved series, and I’m genuinely glad they took the time to perfect it. The Duffer brothers’ ideas seem incredible to me; they keep coming up with new twists and stories while maintaining the original, proven charm of the first season from 2016. They have truly exceptional talent. The third season naturally has a more mature tone; the main characters are no longer little kids playing D&D in the basement but have grown up and are dealing with teenage issues. However, we’re not just getting a romantic comedy with sitcom elements; the drama with horror elements that we’ve come to expect is still there (though viewers should expect fewer such moments). The subplot involving the Russian base is appropriately over-the-top, and the one with the monster was also enjoyable. The return of familiar characters was heartwarming, and the new faces made a strong impression as well (especially Robin, whose perfect chemistry with Steve entertained me throughout all eight episodes—great casting... and I mustn’t forget Alexei). Sheriff Hopper faces a minor existential crisis; his occasionally comical behavior initially annoyed me, but over time I grew quite fond of his new image. Besides the excellently written characters (again!), there’s a top-notch soundtrack; I’m now listening to ‘80s hits (this saga has influenced me that much), and the CGI has once again been pushed to a higher level. The ending was epic, with strong emotional moments that brought me to tears. I didn’t think the fourth season could match its successful predecessors, but I thought the same after season two. So I eagerly anticipate what the creators have in store for the coming years. I give it 93%. (23/07/2019)

The Duffer brothers are amazing! After a three-year hiatus, coming back with such an incredible penultimate season, which at times rivals the quality of the first season, was beyond my wildest dreams. I really liked how the story was divided into four separate plotlines (Hopper in Russia, the group in Hawkins, California, and last but not least, El's storyline), which all came together like a flawless puzzle by the end. Technically, it was a perfect piece of work; you could see that the money spent on production was well spent, with every dollar visible in the final result. Introducing new characters was also top-notch; Eddie quickly became a favorite among a huge number of dedicated fans. And Vecna also pleasantly surprised me! This series desperately needed a villain as terrifying as him (plus, I appreciate that they used masks and makeup over CGI)! The show built up nicely, with the fourth episode absolutely blowing me away like it did for most people, and the first part laid the groundwork for the two-part finale almost flawlessly. And here we are, ladies and gentlemen, at the finale itself! The 4-hour ride, full of tension, fear, and emotion, left no one indifferent. Sure, at times it might have felt a bit cliché, but on the other hand, this is exactly what we wanted to see! I’m looking forward to the fifth season like a little kid, and secretly hoping the wait will be shorter. The fourth season deserves a well-earned 9/10 from me. P.S. Kate Bush absolutely dominated the charts with her song! (08/07/2022)