A Noob’s Focus on the Positive Aspects of the Show
Introduction
While planning for this month’s content, I came up with the idea for a review/recap of Stranger Things. Then, I heard the voices who hated the new season, especially the finale and I wanted to be a fresher voice amid all the criticism. Those of you who know me, know that I often want to focus on the more positive aspects of creative projects. I let everything stew for about a month and now present you with my “Stranger Thoughts”.
My Journey into the Upside Down
Initially, I resisted watching the show. Christine and Aiden watched it without me. They continually told me how much I would enjoy the series. I continued to rebel for no good reason. We shared other series like Wednesday, Cobra Kai, and Only Murders in the Building. Then, during their rewatch before season 4, I decided to finally join them. Okay, I get it now. The show survives on winks and nods to the “good old days” of the 1980s (which, as usual, weren’t all that good) and builds on nostalgia for guys like me who played Dungeons and Dragons in our basements.
I loved the first season for the mystery. The Stephen King of it all without his weird penchant for sexual abuse brought me back to my childhood spent riding bikes with my friends and exploring the woods. One core memory I have is my friend and I stomping through the snow and ice, pretending to be on the frozen surface of Pluto. We came back wet and frozen, but happy beyond belief. Season two expanded the mythos and started to fray some at the edges. However, I stuck with it and some of my favorite scenes are from that season. The mind flayer (one of my favorite monsters from D&D) stars in season three and sets up for the big bad in season 4. Cue Vecna, Eddie, and probably the best story arc in the entire series. We waited, and waited, and waited for Season 5.
The final season came with more jokes at the show’s expense. It included a massive suspension of disbelief that these people were still teenagers and young adults. The plot felt paper thin. The danger wasn’t quite as dangerous anymore. But, and I stand by this, I still loved every single minute. It meant that, for a couple of hours every week, we came together as a family and laughed together and loved one another and this show that gave us so much joy over the years.
A Case Study in Positivity: Eddie Munson’s Sacrifice
From the moment he showed up on screen, I fell in love with Eddie Munson. They tried the old trick of making him unlikable. However, that trick rarely works on my. I can see the heart of the character through any nonsense they try to build around it. He represented the kind of mentor I that I wanted when younger. And the kind of parent and teacher that I try to be. Someone who loves and welcomes in the oddballs, outcasts, and weirdos. Someone who gives them a place where they are free to be their weird selves and not have to give in to the pressure to fit in to society.
I’m fond of saying, “Society? Have you seen society? Who wants to be a part of that?” And, 50 years later, much more comfortable with who I am and what life means to me, I think we’ve built ourselves a weird little village that can withstand whatever this society throws at us. As you can see from the picture above, I dressed as Eddie for Halloween that year. More than just a costume, it reflected my metamorphosis from angry teenager and young man to fun loving adult who doesn’t care anymore what anyone thinks.
When Eddie sacrificed himself to save Dustin and the party, I legitimately felt grief at the loss of the character. I don’t often feel that way about fictional people. Sure, when the mood strikes, I feel the mood. Oh, that’s sad and a decent way to advance the plot. But, Eddie, that one hit hard. I missed him so much that I thought I saw his actor’s name in the title sequence for the 5th season and excitedly said, “Eddie’s back!” My son Liam broke the hard news that, alas, he wasn’t. But, he lives on with me every day that I talk about Marvel with a student or compliment another on their artwork they doodled on their assignment.
Right Place, Right Time
In the past, I often wrote, I can’t wait to share this with my kids. Often, a game that was too advanced for them at the time or a movie just a bit outside of their age range. Stranger Things became something that we shared with each other. I will be forever grateful for that. No amount of negative criticism from the internet or people in my life can take that away from me. Crap all over the 5th season as much as you want. I just know that my family and I had so much fun enjoying this thing that came into our lives and brought us so much joy. Thank you for sharing my Stranger Thoughts with me.