Stranger Things

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 15, 2016
Season #: 5, 4.5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 2260 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,103 out of 2260
  2. Mixed: 95 out of 2260
  3. Negative: 62 out of 2260

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User Reviews

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  1. Forfithf
    Aug 29, 2016
    6
    This is good, but a long way off being great. I do wonder how appealing this show would be if it had a contemporary setting? I dont think i would have stuck with it to be honest. The core horror/sci-fi/fantasy element seemed very weak to me. The CGI effects were horribly out if place.Still, good acting, characterisation and a lot to appeal to children of the 80s such as myself.
  2. hopippolla
    Dec 28, 2016
    4
    If Stranger Things were a 3 part series with 20 minutes episodes, I think it might've been good.
    My main problem was with the characters and acting.
    After the second episode, the kids stop being cute, and every time there is a joke between them it feels extremely forced. The whole thing seemed too artificial for me to get inside the story and actually root for the characters or to let    If Stranger Things were a 3 part series with 20 minutes episodes, I think it might've been good.
    My main problem was with the characters and acting.
    After the second episode, the kids stop being cute, and every time there is a joke between them it feels extremely forced.
    The whole thing seemed too artificial for me to get inside the story and actually root for the characters or to let the story take me wherever it wanted.
    Suddenly, you find yourself surrounded by 80s references but without content and/or creativity to actually keep you engaged with the story.
    Just boring and easily forgetful.    … Expand
  3. A-A-Ron837
    Jan 4, 2018
    10
    This is a great, short, and easily bingeable show. It could've gotten by on pure 80's nostalgia, but it went the extra mile to have a great cast of characters, a compelling story, and a great soundtrack. Would definitely recommend, especially to fans of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King.
  4. DudeManGuy
    Jul 18, 2016
    5
    Welcome to the internet where everything is either the worst or best thing ever. This show is interesting due to the subject matter, but the execution is merely serviceable. The writing, acting(OMG Winona, stop), and scene pacing are among the most amateurish I've experienced in this "golden age of TV" we are experiencing. There are no characters that you will grow to like. They are allWelcome to the internet where everything is either the worst or best thing ever. This show is interesting due to the subject matter, but the execution is merely serviceable. The writing, acting(OMG Winona, stop), and scene pacing are among the most amateurish I've experienced in this "golden age of TV" we are experiencing. There are no characters that you will grow to like. They are all just... there. You understand their motivations, but there is very little actual personality on display.

    The show also wears all of it's influences on its sleeve, making it feel like homage rather than something unique or vital. If you grew up with 80s horror movies, Akira, ET, etc. you are probably going to roll your eyes at just how on the nose some of this stuff is. The title credits are even in the same font as Stephen King's as it appears on many of his novels. Stranger Things > Stephen King. Get it? Overall, the show is completely watchable if you can handle some of the sub par elements.    … Expand
  5. ryeca
    Aug 3, 2016
    6
    A few good suspenseful moments and some great young actors, but overall pretty boring and too reliant on the mystery-reveal to be called "Spielberg-esque." Also, I think the 80's-synth-remake vibe peaked at Drive, so let's just all calm down or everything is going to be John Carpenter+M-83+neon signage or Souvenir typography from here on out. Stranger Things has two episodes of contentA few good suspenseful moments and some great young actors, but overall pretty boring and too reliant on the mystery-reveal to be called "Spielberg-esque." Also, I think the 80's-synth-remake vibe peaked at Drive, so let's just all calm down or everything is going to be John Carpenter+M-83+neon signage or Souvenir typography from here on out. Stranger Things has two episodes of content stretched over eight; too much style over substance, but if you binge watch that's not a bad deal.… Expand
  6. tranemonk
    Jul 22, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Outstanding. The acting is excellent. I love the very real bond of the boys and 11. I'm assuming and really hoping she comes back next season. Truly, outstanding.… Expand
  7. zachisonreddit
    Aug 3, 2016
    10
    Stop everything and watch this show right now. Yes, right this very moment. Do you want to feel nostalgic about 80's movies? Do you like good writing, talented actors, and a story line that makes you think and gets you to keep watching? Why are you reading this and not watching Stranger Things?!
  8. bradcheng
    Aug 2, 2016
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I only manage to accomplish that by "purge watching." It's my new term. It's the opposite of "binge watching" where you're apparently so enraptured by a show you can't stop watching. "Purge watching" is when you can't wait for a series to be over, so you use the fast forward button during the throw-away, tempo-killing scenes. A number of critics thought 8 hours devoted to the somewhat thin story of "Stranger Things" was excessive. I was thinking about the story in my head, and if it hadn't been given the soap opera drag out treatment, condensed down to a 2-hour movie it would have been even worse -- exposing more clearly the basic silliness and retread plot. The watered-down tempo helped what otherwise would have been Cream of Condensed Crap. You could claim running the same old numbers is in the name of "homage" or you could argue there's really not a lot of new ideas in the show. It's okay. But everyone seems to need to think they've found the next big buzz word (most of the times those are websites angling to stir up excitement) when maybe they've found an okay little show. Which is what Stranger Things is to me: an okay little show. From the first scene where the scientists get pulled upward into the elevator, dangled by an unseen beast, I went "ho hum." Like I haven't see that visual in a million monster films. An old clever show like the X-Files would have had a pair of eyes creepily material in the wall of an elevator and then maybe the doors close and a scream. That show as extremely creative at coming up with original ideas and images -- which is why it was a great show. But immediately I wasn't that impressed with the "Duffer Brothers" mise en scene. I need more "things I've never seen before" from Sci-fi. And little touches like the elevator scene are where true originals and moderate talents separate themselves.
    I nearly bailed completely on the series. Episode 3&4 were sluggishly directed by Shawn Levy, who is pretty much an incompetent as a stylist. By episode 4, it has completely lost the "vintage feel" and leaning on the influences of contemporary cable: Let's play a moving piece of rock music over a montage of the different actors staring thoughtfully into space. The music swells... It's the HBO Method of audience intercourse. A directorial cliche. Sorry, but this doesn't have the "feel" of a 70s or 80s production at all, maybe a bit in the opening episode or two, but it pretty much is quickly replaced by a run-of-the-mill cable show feel. Vintage Spielberg always had a very kinetic feel. 70s and early 80s films were riffing off the vibe of Altman, Pennebaker, Penn, but sanitizing them a bit and joking them up. The vibe of this series is probably closest in spirit to the lousy cheapie Steven King films, and not in a good way. It's a leaden feel. I'm still skeptical of the "tribue" aspect of this show The Winonna"Poltergiest" ripoff/tribute is the worst bit so far. So stupid. Where's the dwarf psychic? As I also noted they managed to pay "homage" to "Under the Skin" :Alien" "The Twilight Zone: and "Pan's Labyrinth" That's nostalgia? Hmmm. Honestly, is this really a tribute or is just the ultimate recycling job. If your pose a show as a tribute (and make sure to let people know up front to cover your tracks) does that eradication the icky "borrowing." I think a couple of producers (the Duffers you would assume) sat down and saidL "Yeah, I like the kid with powers from FireStarter, let's use that. (And also I hadn't gotten to the part where they even steal David Keith's nosebleeds from "Firestarter" at the time of my last comment) And the kids from "It". The whole kid thing from King. "Alien" was a great movie. How about goo? And we'll stay away from the afterlife and just make it a portal to another dimension...." Add Shaw Levy's teleplay staging (someone should let him know the camera moves) and it's all a bit snoozy. By the way, I also notice that the Duffer Brothers didn't write the series. They farmed out the episodes to a bunch of writer. Right there, their auteur status goes down the drain, IMO.    … Expand
  9. f2250255
    Aug 7, 2016
    2
    I don't know. I wanted to like it but the cliché characters and their cliché dialogues are too much to try to ignore. You got the same characters from every film here. It's like ET meets some common thriller meets It Follows meets Goonies. I mean there is Chunk (the fat stressed out kid), token, the smart leader kid that is perfect and beyond his intelligence level, bullying at school, theI don't know. I wanted to like it but the cliché characters and their cliché dialogues are too much to try to ignore. You got the same characters from every film here. It's like ET meets some common thriller meets It Follows meets Goonies. I mean there is Chunk (the fat stressed out kid), token, the smart leader kid that is perfect and beyond his intelligence level, bullying at school, the sister that is involved with a jock trying to get some action, the drunk cop guy who lives alone because of some marriage break up ...... zzzzzzzzz so done. OH but an 80s score and theme makes it hipster so now its new and creative ? zzzzz Foff give me a break how much BS can one deal with seriously. I get it, if some Silver Lake/ Echo Park hipster saw this then, yes, I understand that it will be successful because hipsters never lived in the 80s so now they are obsessed and super cut they didnt llive in the best era, but for the rest of us who did live the 80s this show S U C K S...… Expand
  10. EludiumQ36
    Aug 4, 2016
    2
    Wow, this User Review section is full of SHILLS! Anyone gushing that this is great and rates it 9 or 10 is out and out lying. This is a boring, slow-paced Goonies / X-Files rip-off that features Winona Ryder having a nervous breakdown episode after episode. So it's an awful combination of boring and aggravating. It's 8-eps long, about 50 long drawn out minutes each, and was clearlyWow, this User Review section is full of SHILLS! Anyone gushing that this is great and rates it 9 or 10 is out and out lying. This is a boring, slow-paced Goonies / X-Files rip-off that features Winona Ryder having a nervous breakdown episode after episode. So it's an awful combination of boring and aggravating. It's 8-eps long, about 50 long drawn out minutes each, and was clearly designed to watch as a VERY long movie rather than as a satisfying episode-by-episode serial. But seriously, you can feel yourself age due to the oh so slow pacing. Don't believe the shills and don't waste your time.… Expand
  11. TBall
    Aug 2, 2016
    3
    Welcome to ET meets Stephen King via The Breakfast Club. Nothing but ideas stolen from better films and shows. Winona Ryder has one level, manic turned up to eleven (no pun intended) and never dials it back. The kids are good but this is crap.
  12. weirdcryo
    Aug 16, 2016
    5
    Despite all the things copied from a lot of other things there is quality that we all expect from a Netflix show, considering it that it also has all the problems that Netflix shows are known from.
  13. daeneryswift
    Aug 3, 2016
    10
    this series is a little jewel, literally! I loved it, every single moment of it. I finished it in two days (which is almost impossible for me). Great writing and great story! The whole '80s vibe, ADORE. The children were GREAT they left me speechless. And Winona too! Great comeback! Highly recommend it, it became one of my faves within the first ten minutes!!
  14. EHTZ28
    Jul 31, 2016
    10
    Oh boy, "critics" who give Stranger Things TV series a bad review are probably the same people who think the new Ghostbusters 2016 is a "cinematic masterpiece". LOL.

    See, these "critics" have forgot everything about compelling characters with clear motivations, a coherent plot, story arcs, a strong/mysterious villain with clear motivations etc. You know, the basic bits and pieces of    Oh boy, "critics" who give Stranger Things TV series a bad review are probably the same people who think the new Ghostbusters 2016 is a "cinematic masterpiece". LOL.

    See, these "critics" have forgot everything about compelling characters with clear motivations, a coherent plot, story arcs, a strong/mysterious villain with clear motivations etc. You know, the basic bits and pieces of good story telling?

    Do you like Stephen Spielberg's, John Carpenter's or Stephen Kings' movies from the 1980's? If you do, you will LOVE this series. The best TV series in years.    … Expand
  15. sciencebird
    Aug 4, 2016
    10
    This is the best show I have seen in a long time. After episode 2, I found myself thinking about the show and wondering what would happen next, something Preacher and Outcast failed to do. It does use 80s nostalgia quite a bit (which like), but the characters draw you in as does the mystery. Some elements of the action are difficult to believe, but the overall plot is so engaging it isThis is the best show I have seen in a long time. After episode 2, I found myself thinking about the show and wondering what would happen next, something Preacher and Outcast failed to do. It does use 80s nostalgia quite a bit (which like), but the characters draw you in as does the mystery. Some elements of the action are difficult to believe, but the overall plot is so engaging it is worth suspending judgment.… Expand
  16. Gustavito
    Feb 13, 2017
    1
    There were only 2 of the 20 characters I remotely wanted to watch. The other 18, starting with a very whiny Winona, and including brat kids trying to be cute, were painful. I don't sit in front of the tube to be irritated.

    Crappy plot: even if one tries to suspend belief and go with the flow, there are too many inconsistencies that do not add up logically.
  17. Artas
    Apr 8, 2017
    1
    There is nothing new in this!.
    maybe some say it nostalgiacal but problem is in this process of show. story become repetitious and after e3 or 4 !! it lost any advantage to making a greate show and become surprising .
    because slowly you gone to have this fill (or maybe just me !!) the story gone end well and all problems resolved Without any special cost. for start is notbad . but    There is nothing new in this!.
    maybe some say it nostalgiacal but problem is in this process of show. story become repetitious and after e3 or 4 !! it lost any advantage to making a greate show and become surprising .
    because slowly you gone to have this fill (or maybe just me !!) the story gone end well and all problems resolved Without any special cost.

    for start is notbad . but for nex seasons this way is not somthing can use all the potential.    … Expand
  18. Kilrymont
    Jul 15, 2016
    6
    It's okay but it's not going to run away with whatever takes the place of Oscars for TV programmes. Ryder overacts heavily - which she's prone to do in most shows/movies she's in, but this one does require some extreme reaction to extreme circumstances. So perhaps it's forgiveable to some extent.

    The first couple of episodes drag by at a snail's pace, with some acceleration in    It's okay but it's not going to run away with whatever takes the place of Oscars for TV programmes. Ryder overacts heavily - which she's prone to do in most shows/movies she's in, but this one does require some extreme reaction to extreme circumstances. So perhaps it's forgiveable to some extent.

    The first couple of episodes drag by at a snail's pace, with some acceleration in subsequent offerings. The kid appeal thing is core interest here, with the youngsters being the main protagonists, the policeman and mother of the missing boy coming next. Most of the other characters are cardboard cutouts, without any particular demands on their acting skills.

    Interested to see how this one develops - will it make it into second/third seasons? I doubt it somehow - this is more like a tale that will run its course and that'll be that. Netflix isn't that quick with follow ups, see the time it took for the 2nd season of Marco Polo to materialise. We'll see.    … Expand
  19. tvnewsguido
    Aug 3, 2016
    10
    We've reached peak television. This show is mostly perfect.

    It is a nostalgia fest of synthesized soundtrack and Spielberg kids on a Sci-Fi adventure in their backyard. Unlike other recent attempts to emulate the period ('Turbo Kid' comes to mind), 'Stranger Things' Season 1 never gives into the urge to do an 80's parody. This IS an 80's movie and these same characters and    We've reached peak television. This show is mostly perfect.

    It is a nostalgia fest of synthesized soundtrack and Spielberg kids on a Sci-Fi adventure in their backyard.

    Unlike other recent attempts to emulate the period ('Turbo Kid' comes to mind), 'Stranger Things' Season 1 never gives into the urge to do an 80's parody. This IS an 80's movie and these same characters and performances would be at home in 'Poltergeist' or 'ET.'

    There are a few slow bits but, in 8 hours of content, a few slow bits don't amount to much when there's this much to enjoy.    … Expand
  20. benjaminoteko
    Aug 5, 2016
    0
    I do not understand why the hype is so much. This series is very predictable and uses all the clichés we expect in such films. I do not see anything ground-breaking in this TV show and I guess people like it because they haven't been exposed to great TV show.
  21. KyleBroflovski
    Aug 3, 2016
    0
    I'm truly baffled as to why anyone thinks this show is good even in the slightest. Maybe nostalgia has clouded our judgement. This show is terrible, apart from the soundtrack, which is phenomenal, there's nothing good about this show. It's a really bad show that heavily copies elements from a lot of movies and tv shows.
  22. reelsight
    Aug 2, 2016
    1
    Winona Ryder came back from no where to display her lame, wooden acting technique. The acting and script are so hackneyed in the first episode, I couldn't continue watching. Don't know how anyone could give this stinker a postive review.
  23. darkrock999
    Aug 8, 2016
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It had so much potential and they butchered them and instead we get to see a bunch of cliches that we could see a mile away which is the first of many problems. Another big problem is the character development which is a joke! I have not lived a long Life yet but it is still a bad sign if I say that the character development is the worst that I've seen and Will Byers is a great example of that. What I mean is that most adults and even less kids would make it out completely sane but not in this show! In the end he acted like nothing happened to him.

    This show was also afraid to kill anyone. I mean by the end of this show every good guy made it to the end. I was almost hoping for something bad to happen just so we could have one emotional moment. They attempted to have one moment when Eleven sacrificed herself (No,as far as we know she did not die since the hint at the end of the show.) but then Three month later no one that was with her the most even cared.

    The fourth biggest problem is the bad guys and I have to say that the bad guys are the biggest joke of them all. All that the writers revealed was that they do these things to compete with Soviet but would it not be interesting if the main villain revealed that he did it for another reason? But no,they killed him off. They could easily make the good guys surround the villain and to save his skin he would reveal why he did what he did but no.
    I could go on but I will say why it at least got one score,they managed to keep it exciting.    … Expand
  24. johnpaulwhois
    Dec 1, 2017
    0
    Even though it is only 9 episodes in the second season, Stranger Things is incredible from the surprising plot, to the incredible actors. Stranger Things is a show everyone should watch.
    The child actors in this show are incredible and they surprise me with every episode. Also the plot writers did such an amazing job; you will always be wanting more. This is definitely a show I would    Even though it is only 9 episodes in the second season, Stranger Things is incredible from the surprising plot, to the incredible actors. Stranger Things is a show everyone should watch.
    The child actors in this show are incredible and they surprise me with every episode. Also the plot writers did such an amazing job; you will always be wanting more. This is definitely a show I would push anyone too watch. Just take a few hours out of your life and delve into this show. Believe me you will not regret it.    … Expand
  25. desertinutah
    Jun 4, 2018
    0
    Stranger Things is an excellent production with exceptional actors. In fact, it's good to see Winona Ryder back. The script and photography are also outstanding. Watching the first season on Apple TV, I noted similarities with other movies and television shows. The foundation of the piece involving four friends has the familiarity of the friends in Stephen King's book and movie, It. ThereStranger Things is an excellent production with exceptional actors. In fact, it's good to see Winona Ryder back. The script and photography are also outstanding. Watching the first season on Apple TV, I noted similarities with other movies and television shows. The foundation of the piece involving four friends has the familiarity of the friends in Stephen King's book and movie, It. There are overlays of the X-Files, Jeepers Creepers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The monster is reminiscent of the space creature from the Alien franchise. Aside from those comparisons, there are several things that would prevent me from recommending it for children: product placement (of junk food, no less), which I realize is inevitable, and the fact that numerous actors smoke while several of the main characters are chain-smokers. I'm not quite sure if that's a spoof of the "smoking man" from the X-Files or another product placement. The tobacco companies can't advertise on television, so television shows take place decades previously when far more people smoked. Now, to me, that is creepy and disgusting. Oh, yes, and there's the gratuitous teen sex.… Expand
  26. Kool4Kats
    Jul 17, 2016
    4
    Pays homage to the 1980's movies which featured science fiction themes and young kids. Also shows like "Eerie Indiana" and "Twilight Zone" were big influences. As far as the acting goes, it is generally good except for Winona Ryder who is constantly shrieking her lines and brings the entire production down.
  27. AryamanS
    Feb 16, 2017
    0
    Overrating shows has a limit and STRANGER THINGS has crossed it. From the characters, to the grim settings and the dark story line. Though, the performances are top notch. I would not suggest this as 'must-see TV'.
  28. Max_Headroom
    Jul 26, 2016
    0
    Not good. Am I the only person that things this show was horrible? I never write reviews for movies, but seeing all the glowing reviews, I had to put my two cents in. I watched Stranger Things over the weekend. I can't mince words, this movie sucked! Winona Rider is terrible!!! No one has even spoken about her since she stole that stuff from that store. It has B and C list actors. TheNot good. Am I the only person that things this show was horrible? I never write reviews for movies, but seeing all the glowing reviews, I had to put my two cents in. I watched Stranger Things over the weekend. I can't mince words, this movie sucked! Winona Rider is terrible!!! No one has even spoken about her since she stole that stuff from that store. It has B and C list actors. The plot and dialog are so lame. The arguing between the young boys is dumb. The scientist and the people that work at the lab and their relationship with the girl and the back story is just stupid.… Expand
  29. noirfx
    Jul 27, 2016
    5
    The biggest mystery of this show is how the hell it gets so overrated. Everything in it except the 80 's atmosphere is boring and what's worse, annoying. Characters made stupid decisions all the time, there is no plot twists or unexpected turns, you can easily predict the whore show after watching first 3 episodes. Acting is terrible most of the time, child acting looks silly, Winona isThe biggest mystery of this show is how the hell it gets so overrated. Everything in it except the 80 's atmosphere is boring and what's worse, annoying. Characters made stupid decisions all the time, there is no plot twists or unexpected turns, you can easily predict the whore show after watching first 3 episodes. Acting is terrible most of the time, child acting looks silly, Winona is overacting. 30% of the whole show is taken by love story that is lame and too cliched. CGI is pure garbage. At first I was intrigued, then I was disappointed, but watching 2 last episodes was torture. This show is cheap and dull, I'd never gave it rating more than 5 out of 10 and I would never suggested to watch it to anybody. This was complete waste of my time.… Expand
  30. mariaj21
    Oct 31, 2017
    0
    Everything love in the story, except that the kids are using too much profane language unnecessarily. I'll give a 9 out of 10 just for the language used for the kids.
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Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Best TV Season of 2016
1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    Aug 16, 2016
    80
    This is astoundingly efficient storytelling, eight hours that pass in a blink, with even minor characters getting sharp dialogue, dark humor, or moments of pathos.
    Read full review
  2. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Lenika Cruz
    Jul 26, 2016
    60
    There’s a higher bar for original stories--even homages--to clear when it comes to incorporating the lessons Hollywood has learned recently about depicting female characters who are as layered as their male counterparts. For all its charms, Stranger Things doesn’t quite meet that standard.
    Read full review
  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Molly Eichel
    Jul 22, 2016
    80
    You'll turn on the first episode and mysteriously find yourself sitting in the same spot on your couch eight episodes later, never having moved an inch.
    Read full review
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