Television Stranger Things 4 (New Trailer)

[ufcfan4]

Next 3 episodes dropped over Xmas. Some good scenes in there but also a lot of filler and mostly a tease for the series finale dropping Dec 31. Looking forward to that one.

I really liked 5 and, even more so, episodes 6 and 7. I think the season is building nicely and I liked the latter 3 more than the previous 4 (which I also enjoyed).

I feel like Max has been, since the third season, consistently involved in the best storylines of the seasons. Whether that is because the writers like writing for that character and Sadie Sink is a great actress or purely that Sink is a great actress, I'm not sure, but she's obviously really good and one of the best aspects of the series.

Spoiler

I really liked that scene where she gives the pep talk to Holly Wheeler at the end of episode 6. Great work from both those actors in selling the emotion there and I hope Sink gets nominations for supporting actress for this because I think she was robbed last season out when she obviously deserved one. From what I recall there was some weird season timing technicality cited for why she didn't get an emmy nomination but who knows.

Will strikes me as sort of like how Bran Stark should have played out on Game of Thrones in that

Spoiler

he was hyped up to serve a really important purpose and wield a lot of power and he's ACTUALLY serving a really important purpose and wielding a lot of power. The final face off with El and her sister battling within the Upside Down and the Abyss and Will leading the group in Hawkins should be cool.

Ultimately, I think this is actually concluding in a fitting manner which is significant because a lot of series, quite frankly, don't. Episode 8 hopefully concludes on a really high note but even if it stumbles a little bit, I'd say this season has been quality so far. I appreciate that it feels like a satisfying end to a series and I appreciate that the character relationships and performances were so well established over the years that it legitimately feels like the stakes are high.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Next 3 episodes dropped over Xmas. Some good scenes in there but also a lot of filler and mostly a tease for the series finale dropping Dec 31. Looking forward to that one.

Good acting from a quality cast, but I was still checking out during a lot of the, let's-discuss-our-relationship scenes.

Spoiler

Having the kids restrained with a tube down their throats while their minds are trapped in a fantasy world is a clear homage to The Matrix.

 

[Daverisimo]

Caught up in the show over the last week. It's limping towards its conclusion, but there's still enough going for it to keep me watching. As awkward as I thought Will's coming out was, I did like his scenes with Robin before that. Also, Derek the Delightful Dipshit is the best addition to the cast this season, and it seems like I'm not the only one who thinks so.

 

[KnightTemplar]

Caught up in the show over the last week. It's limping towards its conclusion, but there's still enough going for it to keep me watching. As awkward as I thought Will's coming out was, I did like his scenes with Robin before that. Also, Derek the Delightful Dipshit is the best addition to the cast this season, and it seems like I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Derek goes from being a live action Cartman - "Suck my fat one!" - to a genuine hero who demonstrates greater courage and intelligence than some of the adults. And who only backs down when Vecna threatens his parents and sister.

War Delightful Derek!

 

[Jackonfire]

Butthole Surfers. Fuck yeah.

(the song is Human Cannonball if you're curious)

 

[ChickenBrother]

I really liked 5 and, even more so, episodes 6 and 7. I think the season is building nicely and I liked the latter 3 more than the previous 4 (which I also enjoyed).

I feel like Max has been, since the third season, consistently involved in the best storylines of the seasons. Whether that is because the writers like writing for that character and Sadie Sink is a great actress or purely that Sink is a great actress, I'm not sure, but she's obviously really good and one of the best aspects of the series.

Spoiler

I really liked that scene where she gives the pep talk to Holly Wheeler at the end of episode 6. Great work from both those actors in selling the emotion there and I hope Sink gets nominations for supporting actress for this because I think she was robbed last season out when she obviously deserved one. From what I recall there was some weird season timing technicality cited for why she didn't get an emmy nomination but who knows.

Will strikes me as sort of like how Bran Stark should have played out on Game of Thrones in that

Spoiler

he was hyped up to serve a really important purpose and wield a lot of power and he's ACTUALLY serving a really important purpose and wielding a lot of power. The final face off with El and her sister battling within the Upside Down and the Void and Will leading the group in Hawkins should be cool.

Ultimately, I think this is actually concluding in a fitting manner which is significant because a lot of series, quite frankly, don't. Episode 8 hopefully concludes on a really high note but even if it stumbles a little bit, I'd say this season has been quality so far. I appreciate that it feels like a satisfying end to a series and I appreciate that the character relationships and performances were so well established over the years that it legitimately feels like the stakes are high.

Personally I liked the previous 4 episodes better and thought they advanced the plot with more interesting reveals. Although I didn't care for:

2' 8" Dustin somehow holding his own against 4 jocks and after they cut scene with him getting beaten into the living death, he casually rides up on his bike in the next scene with a bloody nose and a small owie on his forehead. Then again, he later goes toe to toe in a bromance fist fight with Steve MFing Harrington so maybe he's been training UFC in his spare time.

Agree Max has been a standout since she was introduced and she continues to run with it. The biggest downgrade since S1 has been El. Her gimmick was cool in S1 and kind of in S2. But with her they've just been recycling the same shit and it's gotten old. We get it. She's overpowered and can save the day by making an angry face, then everyone sings hallelujah and gargles her ovaries. It would be like if every Karate Kid movie and every episode of Cobra Kai was resolved by Daniel LaRusso crane kicking the bad guy in the nuts.

I like what they've done with Will this season and Bran from GOT is a good analogy. Here's my prediction for the finale:

Like Bran, Will turns out to be an overpowered dick. He's been in Hodor Hopper's head controlling him since S1 and that's why Hopper is fat but also strong. So he can hold the door while the rest of the gang escapes.

Then the Night King Vecna finally corners them and asks how they wish to die. Tyrion Dipshit Derek says, "In my own bed at age 80, my belly full of chocolate and my fat one in your sister's mouth..."

But then Arya Erica drops in out of nowhere and stabs Vecna with a space pen, killing him. Then El goes mad with jealousy and reveals herself as the real bad guy of this show and starts to destroy everything in the upside down and within Hawkins. Mike taps out as Dungeon Master, says fuck this shit and wallops her over the head with a frying pan, KTFOing her. Then Kali, full of her own confused anger, breathes superheated psychic morning breath onto the D&D figurines the kids brought with them, burning them all into a molten puddle of shit before Kali picks up El's comatose body and flies off into the sunset.

Then they cut scene with Bran Will gazing into the wormhole, his expectations having been subverted.

Spoiler

 

[ufcfan4]

Personally I liked the previous 4 episodes better and thought they advanced the plot with more interesting reveals. Although I didn't care for:

2' 8" Dustin somehow holding his own against 4 jocks and after they cut scene with him getting beaten into the living death, he casually rides up on his bike in the next scene with a bloody nose and a small owie on his forehead. Then again, he later goes toe to toe in a bromance fist fight with Steve MFing Harrington so maybe he's been training with Master Yoda on Degobah.

Agree Max has been a standout since she was introduced and she continues to run with it. The biggest downgrade since S1 has been El. Her gimmick was cool in S1 and kind of in S2. But with her they've just been recycling the same shit and it's gotten old. We get it. She's overpowered and can save the day by making an angry face. It would be like if every Karate Kid movie and every episode of Cobra Kai was resolved by Daniel LaRusso crane kicking the bad guy in the nuts.

I like what they've done with Will this season and Bran from GOT is a good analogy. Here's my prediction for the finale:

Like Bran, Will turns out to be an overpowered dick. He's been in Hodor Hopper's head controlling him since S1 and that's why Hopper is fat but also strong. So he can hold the door while the rest of the gang escapes.

Then the Night King Vecna finally corners them and asks how they wish to die. Tyrion Dipshit Derek says, "In my own bed at age 80, my belly full of chocolate and my fat one in your sister's mouth..."

But then Arya Holly the Heroic drops in out of nowhere and stabs Vecna with a space pen, killing him. Then El goes mad with jealousy and reveals herself as the real bad guy of this show and starts to destroy everything in the upside down and within Hawkins. Mike taps out as Dungeon Master, says fuck this shit and wallops her over the head with a frying pan, KTFOing her. Then Kali, filled with her own confused anger, breathes superheated psychic morning breath into the D&D figures the kids brought with them, burning them all into a molten pile of shit before Kali picks up El's comatose body and flies off into the sunset with it.

Then they cut scene with Bran Will quietly gazing into the wormhole, his expectations having been subverted.

Haha. Great points. And nice finale. Vecna getting murked as easily as the Night King after all that buildup would be funny.

All they would have needed for the penultimate episode to seal the deal would have been Murray telling Mike that El is losing it and Mike repeatedly saying, “nah, my queen.” And when asked to take the role as the savior of Hawkins “I don’t want it..”

El in season 3 was legit too. I thought her facing off against Billy and the gang of nasty vermin people was among her best stuff. Great intensity in her performance in that season.

 

[My Spot]

The ending should be Vecna getting poisoned by Erica after he refuses to eat her (damn) pie.

 

[Conrad Veidt]

Butthole Surfers. Fuck yeah.

(the song is Human Cannonball if you're curious)

 

[Daverisimo]

The ending should be Vecna getting poisoned by Erica after he refuses to eat her (damn) pie.

Thus begins her reign of terror over Hawkins

Erica became a goddamn psychopath this season, and I love that for her.

 

[TuBB]

I thought this show was pretty good up until this season. I’m at the point where I hate half of the characters now. The dialogue just drones on and on. They have barely moved the plot much. They killed off all the comic relief that filled in the teenage relationship crap.

The whole thing feels like a cliffhanger and reused plot devices at the same time. It’s very formulaic and cheesy. I do not care about what happens in the finale lol

 

[Zazen]

I'm seeing some comparisons online to Game of Thrones. Like are we fucking serious now? Does anyone remember how absolutely amazing that show was and how fucking terrible the last two seasons were. Game of Thrones had higher highs but my god the lows were way worse. Even though Season 5 isn't quite as strong as I had hoped it's not nearly as bad as the last season of Game of Thrones. I'm still enjoying it for what it is. Hopefully last episode delivers. I'm not expecting anyone to die at this point though, they are playing it a bit too safe so that's my biggest criticism.

 

[Limbo Pete]

I'm seeing some comparisons online to Game of Thrones. Like are we fucking serious now? Does anyone remember how absolutely amazing that show was and how fucking terrible the last two seasons were. Game of Thrones had higher highs but my god the lows were way worse. Even though Season 5 isn't quite as strong as I had hoped it's not nearly as bad as the last season of Game of Thrones. I'm still enjoying it for what it is. Hopefully last episode delivers. I'm not expecting anyone to die at this point though, they are playing it a bit too safe so that's my biggest criticism.

The biggest problem by far with S5 is the casting of Holly. It was a major misstep, and not one they've made before really throughout the rest of the show. And not only is she an absolutely terrible actress, but dear god so much screen time is given to her plotline. It sucks all the air out of the show any time she is on screen. There are other issues with clunky writing, etc, but the Holly problem is insurmountable. I've rewatched a bunch of it already and I just skip the scenes with her, last episode in particular. And there is some really good stuff in this season, too. Delightful Derek is the MVP by a mile, maybe my favorite character in the whole series. The Game of Thrones comparisons were, I expect, already locked and loaded from people waiting to be obnoxious.

 

[Limbo Pete]

Derek goes from being a live action Cartman - "Suck my fat one!" - to a genuine hero who demonstrates greater courage and intelligence than some of the adults. And who only backs down when Vecna threatens his parents and sister.

War Delightful Derek!

Spoiler

Little bro looks the Dark Wizard square in the fuckin eye and drops the ballsiest "Your mom!" in history without missing a goddamn beat. As something of an irl shithead myself, and a lifelong member of the Your Mom Joke Gang, I felt immense pride in that moment. War Delightful Derek!

 

[Bob Gray]

These 3 episodes were a noticeable drop from the last 4. A couple of good developments but lots of meh. Still, im invested Im the show and characers so im ready for the finale.

 

[KnightTemplar]

My one major criticism of this season is that unless you've seen The First Shadow, the stage play which shows how Henry first made contact with the Mind Flayer, scenes like the cave are without context.

It would have been better if they had actually shot a prequel of TFS and released that before this season, IMHO.

 

[Limbo Pete]

My one major criticism of this season is that unless you've seen The First Shadow, the stage play which shows how Henry first made contact with the Mind Flayer, scenes like the cave are without context.

It would have been better if they had actually shot a prequel of TFS and released that before this season, IMHO.

I knew there was a play, I had absolutely no fucking idea it was a goddamn plot critical prequel lol

 

[KnightTemplar]

I knew there was a play, I had absolutely no fucking idea it was a goddamn plot critical prequel lol

Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Limbo Pete]

Yeah, I only heard about it a few weeks before this season dropped. It's set in 1959, when all the characters like Joyce, Hopper and Henry are teenagers in high school. It also shows how Henry found the guy in the cave and was sucked into the Abyss by the Mind Flayer, which began corrupting him into the psychopathic Vecna.

I thought about it for a few seconds, then figured well there's no way they include the plot to an entire play in the final episode, so I should probably just look it up. Which I did, and now everything makes sense.

 

[KnightTemplar]

I thought about it for a few seconds, then figured well there's no way they include the plot to an entire play in the final episode, so I should probably just look it up. Which I did, and now everything makes sense.

I edited my post to include the Wiki link for anyone else who's interested.