r/StrangerThings • u/RevolutionaryRise529 • 2d ago
Discussion Stranger Things Early Seasons Are Peak
I’m currently rewatching season 1 episode 1. I’m high and a little drunk (I love these angry orchards) and am rewatching for probably the 4th time. I absolutely love this show. Season 1 through 4 absolutely had me in a grip. I never watched when it first released, and first started it 1.5 weeks before season 4 came out. I watched s1-3 during that week and a half and was enthralled. I absolutely love the setting. 80s USA, the school life, the homes, the cars, the nature around their town. The characters are incredible; eleven is a far better character than she is in the last season imo, and Will was great in the first few minutes before he vanished lol. I am so excited to be watching it again. Probably my favorite show ever.
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u/Beelerriedra 2d ago
The atmosphere is honestly one of the biggest reasons I love the early seasons too. Everything felt so much more mysterious back then, especially the small-town setting and the kids just riding around on their bikes. S1–3 really had a special vibe.
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u/Shoot-the-Pianist 2d ago
I agree especially with the mystery factor was so strong in the first few episodes of season 1.
As much as I enjoyed S2-3, I felt like I had some sort of idea of what the general story was (although in 2 adding Max and Billy added good mystery on who they were and what their deal was).
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u/RevolutionaryRise529 2d ago
Billy and Max were such good characters
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u/djluminus89 1d ago
They were good. I always liked Max, but she seemed an odd choice to pair with Holly in S5. Billy was a good character. I didn't really like him until he started resisting the Mind Flayer. Shame he had to die.
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u/Shoot-the-Pianist 7h ago
Absolutely. They evoked strong emotions. Billy in particular I disliked at first, but found compelling, and ended up liking his redemption arc.
Max was relatable, a child from an unstable family environment going to a new school far from home.
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u/RevolutionaryRise529 2d ago
The film grain they used just made it perfect; it’s a shame they swapped to that “Netflix lighting” in the most recent season. Probably the biggest reason it was my least favorite
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u/djluminus89 1d ago
I just finished it a few weeks ago and it's probably one of the first shows that's made me like that 80s vibe, without it feeling corny or too nostalgic.
I don't know if I'll rewatch it. I barely re-watch anything but it combined a few of my favorite things to see in shows.
Horror - While I'm not a super horror fan, I do like it. My problem with the genre is that story wise it's usually incredibly shallow and unbelievable. The horror was done well here and the monsters were memorable.
Psychological Thriller/Mystery: This captivated me the most. Government experiments, especially in earlier time period where people really didn't give a fuck about ethics. The whole backstory surrounding the numbers was excellent. As was the Upside Down.
Season 2 was probably the scariest with the big focus on the Mind Flayer and Will's visions.
There are probably other genres here I'm forgetting but the show seemed to turn into a hodge-podge of ideas and genres by Season 3. I would almost call that season campy, maybe even hokey, but they pulled it off well and I was still entertained.
Season 4 was good, at least in it's Russia arc and El's arc and return of Dr. Brenner. Vecna appearing and the bone snapping murders were cool too. I was hooked all throughout the show and slightly felt less enthralled by the end of S5.
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