Sharp analysis of how the show's relationship with nostalgia has mutated over time. Your observation that we're now nostalgic for Season 1's intepretation of the 80s rather than the actual 80s itself captures something profound about media consumption in the streaming era. The negative space comment is especially astute,the early seasons let viewers project their own anxieties into the void while later seasons felt compeled to over-explain everything. It's like the difference between a good horror film that keeps the monster off-screeen versus one that shows too much CGI.
Yes! I almost feel like getting to see too much of Vecna/learn too much about his backstory is providing too much of a peek behind the curtain. It's less science fiction now and more superhero-adjacent, where there's a clearly identified villain and a plan to defeat him.
loved reading this. have totally felt the same watching the new episodes! there was also something about the first few seasons when most of the actors were more unknown vs now when we know a lot about their lives like you said… really curious to see how things will wrap up fully
What a great essay! And honestly, thank you for the recap. I was confused for most of the new episodes, but didn't have the energy to look up an explanation haha! I love how you articulated the decreasing "blank space" in the seasons -- now that you say it, that really articulates how I've been feeling about what was lost from season 1 to now. I'm interested to see how they wrap it all up.
This is so well written!! I have enjoyed watching Stranger Things over the years, it’s nostalgic and fun and over-the-top in the best way, but I always maintain that season 1 is a perfect season that didn’t necessarily need any more.
Sharp analysis of how the show's relationship with nostalgia has mutated over time. Your observation that we're now nostalgic for Season 1's intepretation of the 80s rather than the actual 80s itself captures something profound about media consumption in the streaming era. The negative space comment is especially astute,the early seasons let viewers project their own anxieties into the void while later seasons felt compeled to over-explain everything. It's like the difference between a good horror film that keeps the monster off-screeen versus one that shows too much CGI.
Yes! I almost feel like getting to see too much of Vecna/learn too much about his backstory is providing too much of a peek behind the curtain. It's less science fiction now and more superhero-adjacent, where there's a clearly identified villain and a plan to defeat him.
loved reading this. have totally felt the same watching the new episodes! there was also something about the first few seasons when most of the actors were more unknown vs now when we know a lot about their lives like you said… really curious to see how things will wrap up fully
What a great essay! And honestly, thank you for the recap. I was confused for most of the new episodes, but didn't have the energy to look up an explanation haha! I love how you articulated the decreasing "blank space" in the seasons -- now that you say it, that really articulates how I've been feeling about what was lost from season 1 to now. I'm interested to see how they wrap it all up.
I don't think i would've even watched the show if it was in 21st century. Bringing the 80s was probably the best decision by the Duffer brothers
This is so good it could genuinely be a media dissertation. I love this
Loved this
🫶
This is so well written!! I have enjoyed watching Stranger Things over the years, it’s nostalgic and fun and over-the-top in the best way, but I always maintain that season 1 is a perfect season that didn’t necessarily need any more.
If anyone’s interested I wrote about the philosophy of Stranger Things:
https://open.substack.com/pub/brinleymccully/p/how-to-survive-in-the-upside-down?r=1l8ih9&utm_medium=ios
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I write reviews of the first episodes of nostalgic tv shows to help you decide what to watch next!
Check out my latest review of the first ever episode of Stranger Things!✨
https://open.substack.com/pub/thepilotroom/p/stranger-things-pilot-review?r=6vbi6l&utm_medium=ios