If you haven't checked out Netflix's latest synthpop, nostalgia, and Eggo-fueled gem, stop reading right here and go watch the pilot for Stranger Things.
Seen it? Read on.
Stranger Things is a weird series, filled with things we've seen before--the Midwestern small town, the preteens who bike around in a pack, the out-of-touch mom, and the ominous, three-piece suit Government Guys. A lot of critics have been hammering on this so-called flaw: what's so great about a series that's a patchwork quilt of other movies' tropes?
It's true. Stranger Things pulls pieces from The Goonies all the way to E.T. and It. But you know what? It works.
Stranger Things is great because it makes old things new.
I've seen a lot of hate thrown at remakes. People ask, where's the originality? Where's the creativity? Your story's already been told before--what's the point?
Here's the thing.
A remake, a good one, demands creativity. You're taking familiar parts and fitting them into something fresh and exciting; do it wrong, and--well, why not go watch the original instead? You have to be conscious of every detail, knowing what to change, what to preserve, what to combine. Times, and your audience, have changed--and your remake needs to respond to that.
This is the genius of Stranger Things.
It's mastered the art of homage. It knows it's not an eighties movie--but it flawlessly imitates, it cares, and it knows its audience. The earnest excitement and nostalgia of Stranger Things' creators shine through in every detail, and you can't resist the pull--it's just a joy to watch, from vintage TV dinners in the supermarket to shots paralleling Stand By Me and E.T.
Are all the concepts original? Nope. Do they combine into a fascinating, unconventional trip down memory lane? Yes--and that's why this show is topping the charts.
It's not a remake proper, but it's absolutely incredible at taking cues from other movies, stitching tropes together into a story that hooks you and doesn't let go. From monsters, shadowy hallways, and mature themes of death and loss to little kids biking with flashlights and cops munching donuts, Stranger Things is a winning, weird, dark, endearing hybrid.
E.T. is E.T. and It is It. But when you mix E.T. and It, you get something new, bizarre, and enchanting. You get Stranger Things.
