Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a sci-fi supernatural mystery thriller series with an initial release in 2016. The show became a trending headline with its phenomenal first season and received a staggering number of views as a web series.
This read is about:
- What makes Stranger Things so Entertaining?
- Is it your must story?
- Are there any criticisms?
Average viewer rating from different platforms.
Is it your must Story?
Stranger Things is an aggregation of multiple subgenres and themes. It’s hard to pinpoint a specific audience. The diverse attributes of the series make it suitable for a mass audience, so everyone should give it a shot.
What makes Stranger Things so Entertaining?
- Setting
Hawkins:
The town of Hawkins changes the entire dynamics of the story. We usually get engrossed with the characters, thrilling events, and suspense, overlooking one of the vital components, the place where the story is set, the town of Hawkins.
It’s not strictly worldbuilding but the idea and the way the town is designed, which elevates all the elements of the plot and the storytelling itself.
The idea of a small ordinary town away from mainland cities develops an isolated and secretive environment for the characters, creating a gripping mystery for the audience. In addition, the sparsely populated and spaced-out locations encourage the story to be more adventurous. On the other hand, setting it in an urban environment might have been a mistake, failing to be suspenseful and thrilling and coming across as a superhero show rather than a supernatural one. Season 3 is clear evidence of this choice, which received fair criticism.
The 80s:
After the place, it’s time for the time, the period in which it was set, the 1980s. The 80s is the best possible creative choice for this story. If the story had taken place in the present or the future, it would have leaned more toward a sci-fi alien invasion feel. Besides, the whole secrecy thing would have been blown away. On the contrary, if it was set in the 60s or earlier, the lack of technology would’ve made it difficult for the characters to interact, prompting them to be together most of the time. In addition, the retro theme that comes along with the 80s is the cherry on top.
- Coming of Age
The coming-of-age genre appeals to a large segment of the audience. Characters are certainly more favored considering the other genres, especially to the demographic of a particular age group, as the experiences are more relatable.
The universal messages, light romance, and a tinge of humor of the coming-of-age narration do lighten the tone and, in turn, stretch the scope of the audience emerging as a mass entertainer.
- The Concept
The concept of Stranger Things is hands down one of the best. In a time where adaptations rule the shows, a series-exclusive concept of such a caliber is commendable. The premise of the initial seasons, creating the suspense and building the mystery, followed by the fourth season filling the gaps, is a brilliant execution of the storyline.
Are there any criticisms?
Before we criticize, we must first understand the intention of its making. After 4 seasons, it’s evident that the series is more of commercial entertainment, targeting a wider audience. And it delivered on that and stood up to the hype. Season 3 received a fair bit of criticism. However, the overall show is highly entertaining.
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