Over the past two days, all I've done is binge-watch one of the latest Netflix original science fiction series: "Stranger Things." With one season and only eight episodes, it didn't take long for me to be completely hooked on this newly popular show, and finish the whole season. Starring award-winning actress Winona Ryder, the show takes an approach on facing the supernatural. The show takes place in Indiana during the year 1983, and features many references to 80s pop culture. One of the first things I heard about the show before watching it was to look out for the iconic soundtrack, and it did not disappoint. It features songs like "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, and "Heroes" by David Bowie, not to mention the almighty synthesizer as the head instrument to score the show. Released on Netflix just this past July, this show has caught the attention and conversations of many.
The show begins right away with a sneak peek into Hawkins National Lab, where an alarm sounds, and a scientist is bolting towards the elevator. He slams the buttons to try to shut the door, then growling is heard, and the man is lifted off of his feet with a shriek. Almost immediately thereafter,12-year-old Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) mysteriously disappears one night on the way home from his good friend Mike Wheeler's (Finn Wolfhard's) house. His mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), and brother, Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), soon become frantic in trying to look for, and potentially save, Will. Joyce contacts the chief of police, Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour), who has lost a child himself, and wants to get to the bottom of this. Will's friends, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) become increasingly suspicious as well, and begin an investigation for Will. They run into a soaking wet girl in the middle of the woods during their search party. This girl, named Eleven, comes with a rollercoaster of a back story, but only the audience gets an inside look on that. She barely speaks, but packs a punch, proving she has super powers like telepathy and telekinesis.
And that's only the first episode.
The show features other key characters, such as Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine -- the bad guy), who is in charge of Hawkins National Lab, Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), who forms an unlikely alliance with Jonathan Byers, and Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono), Mike and Nancy's mom. Throughout the eight episodes, it is an emotional ride from beginning to end. Nancy's best friend also disappears, the police find Will's "body" at the bottom of a quarry, and Eleven ("El") shows off some badass stunts -- flipping cars and breaking necks, for example. I have laughed, cried, jumped, and clutched a blanket in the course of the season. Netflix has not yet renewed the show for a second season, but due to the overwhelming demands from viewers and many unanswered questions after the season finale, I can only imagine what this show has in store.
