Stranger Things (2016)

So many shows fail their endings. Stranger Things stuck the landing. The final episode resolves Hopper's arc in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable. The Duffer Brothers clearly knew where this was going from episode one.

Stranger Things takes a few episodes to find its feet. By the time you reach Dear Billy, you understand what the show is going for. The Duffer Brothers has a long game in mind and it pays off beautifully.

Stranger Things showed me what television can do. The the supernatural as metaphor storyline is handled with more intelligence than most films. the 80s nostalgia done right elevates the whole thing. Required viewing for anyone who cares about storytelling.

I haven't been this invested in characters since I was a kid. Mike Wheeler is brilliantly written — you understand exactly why they make terrible decisions. Millie Bobby Brown's remarkable performance is the best part of an already excellent show.

Dustin Henderson is played with incredible subtlety. You believe every choice they make even when those choices are catastrophic. Millie Bobby Brown's remarkable performance is a big reason this show rose above its peers.

Every line of dialogue in Stranger Things has purpose. The Duffer Brothers and the writers' room craft scenes where subtext carries more weight than text. The episode The Piggyback is one of the best hours of television I've ever seen.

I started Stranger Things thinking I'd watch an episode or two. Three sleepless nights later I'd finished the entire run. the ensemble cast chemistry is just unmatched. Mike Wheeler is one of the great characters in TV history.

Stranger Things has a few uneven episodes across its run but the high points are some of the best television ever made. The Piggyback alone is worth the subscription. the supernatural as metaphor is explored in genuinely surprising ways.

Stranger Things lives up to maybe 80% of the hype. the 80s nostalgia done right is genuinely excellent. The the supernatural as metaphor element is well done. My only complaint is that things drag slightly in the middle. Still four stars.

Stranger Things will be talked about in TV history discussions for decades. The way it handles the supernatural as metaphor is mature, nuanced, and unflinching. Hopper is one of the most complex characters ever written for television.