Random Thoughts on Stranger Things

My husband and I just finished Season 5 of Stranger Things. Before watching the final season, we did a complete re-watch from Season 1, since the first season came out like 20 years ago (not really but it feels like it) and pretty much all I could remember was Will being trapped in the wall of his house. We had a goal of finishing the re-watch before the final season dropped, but you know how it goes - you set goals that are hard to achieve. In other words, I tried. I tried my best. If it were up to my husband, we would have completed the re-watch in a week, but due to my inability to stay up past 10pm, we did not achieve this goal. As much as I would love to, I just don't have it in me to binge episodes. My eyelids (almost) always put up a good fight though. This drives my husband crazy sometimes, when he looks over and sees me struggling to stay awake, or when he sees me straight up snoozing, right before an incredible action-packed scene is about to commence. This especially happened during the Marvel movies. He got me really into those, which I love, but they're like 3 hours long! Again, I really do try my best.

Anyway, it took us a little longer than we had hoped to get to Season 5. Most people had finished it before we started it. But I wanted to have the re-watch under my belt before the final season. I loved Season 5. I loved all the seasons - I thought Season 2 was weaker than the others but overall I really enjoyed the whole show. I know a lot of people did not like the Season 5 finale, specifically the fact that after the action/major plot concluded, there were 45 minutes of wrap-up to show how the characters were doing after everything ended. Other viewers found this boring and unnecessary. I personally loved this, because I am always so curious to see how characters are doing and "where they are now". But hey, we all have different opinions, and that's ok!

Throughout the series, my husband and I kept talking about how funny it is from an outside point of view when one of the main characters who is "in the know" of what is going on tries to tell someone else everything that is happening. The other character is (very understandably) in disbelief and thinks the person telling them this is information is crazy. Like, if someone said to you: "Hey, so I really need to tell you something. There is this other dimension that is a mirror of our world but very creepy and dark and weird particles fall from the sky. It's filled with disgusting monsters that have like 3,000 teeth/mouths - we call these cuties Demogorgons. Then there is a gigantic shadow-like spider-looking thing - we call this fellow the Mind Flayer. And there is a dude that looks like a tree who has a very deep voice and is extremely powerful - we call this guy Vecna/One/Henry/Peter/Mr. Whatsit. So basically a portal was opened to this dimension, which we are calling the "Upside-Down", and it turns out our town's lab along with the military/government have been totally in on it, and are even the reason that this portal was opened in the first place. Oh, and the government and lab have also been stealing children from their parents and unethically training them in the lab to have magical powers in order to fight these monsters in the Upside-Down. This has been going on for years in secret, and it has gotten out of hand, and the Upside-Down is gradually taking over our own dimension (which they did not label as the 'Right-Side-Up' which I feel was a missed opportunity but whatever), and soon the entire city/world will be destroyed. So yeah, wanna help us out?"

If someone said this to us, I think there would be a few possible reactions we would have. Number 1: this would be one of those classic moments when someone thinks they have to be dreaming. Number 2: we would think that this person is trying to play a major prank on us to make us question reality and embarrass us. Number 3: we would say "I'm sorry but if you believe this I'm going to need to pink slip you". I think Stranger Things does such a great job of portraying these very realistic and understandable reactions to these absurd claims about the Upside-Down. But I think it's funny when a character continues to be in disbelief about the situation and actively fights against the whole concept. As viewers, we understand their doubt of course, but we also know that the claim is actually true, so we are like "Oh my God come on dude! Just accept it and help them do something about it!" It also stinks when an outside character finally does believe the main characters about what is going on, and then the outside character tries to help, and they end up dying. I would just feel so guilty, but then again the fate of the world is at risk, so help was needed.

Anyway, those are some of my random thoughts regarding Stranger Things. Thanks for reading!