TMC
06-03-2022, 05:46 PM
https://www.looper.com/884090/why-stranger-things-season-1-is-still-its-best/
BY RICK STEVENSON/JUNE 3, 2022 1:50 PM EDT
It's no mystery that "Stranger Things" (https://www.looper.com/868654/ranking-stranger-things-characters-by-likability/) is one of the most popular TV shows of the streaming era. The Duffer brothers' retro sci-fi horror saga has repeatedly broken records at Netflix (https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/31/media/stranger-things-4-viewership-netflix/index.html), assembling a massive fan base of dedicated viewers in the process. The combination of the show's '80s aesthetic, numerous old-school horror inspirations, and stellar ensemble cast has proven to be a winning formula season after season.
When "Stranger Things" Season 1 premiered in the summer of 2016, it was a revelation. Despite the hit that it quickly became, rumors have circulated for years that Netflix didn't have much faith in the series at the start and therefore held back on extensively promoting it (per Us Weekly (https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/david-harbour-paul-wesley-questioned-stranger-things-promotion/)). Whatever the underlying reasons, "Stranger Things" was certainly a bit of a stealth release, but that may have ultimately worked to the show's benefit. The first trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnd7sFt5c3A) only gave hints of the kind of story audiences would be in for, which imbued the whole viewing experience with a unique sense of discovery.
Of course, that kind of sneaky success would never belong to "Stranger Things" again. The show quickly exploded in popularity, and it's been a juggernaut ever since. And yet, despite the acclaim that later seasons have earned (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stranger_things), there's something undeniably distinct about the show's first chapter. Here's why "Stranger Things" Season 1 is still its best by far.
BY RICK STEVENSON/JUNE 3, 2022 1:50 PM EDT
It's no mystery that "Stranger Things" (https://www.looper.com/868654/ranking-stranger-things-characters-by-likability/) is one of the most popular TV shows of the streaming era. The Duffer brothers' retro sci-fi horror saga has repeatedly broken records at Netflix (https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/31/media/stranger-things-4-viewership-netflix/index.html), assembling a massive fan base of dedicated viewers in the process. The combination of the show's '80s aesthetic, numerous old-school horror inspirations, and stellar ensemble cast has proven to be a winning formula season after season.
When "Stranger Things" Season 1 premiered in the summer of 2016, it was a revelation. Despite the hit that it quickly became, rumors have circulated for years that Netflix didn't have much faith in the series at the start and therefore held back on extensively promoting it (per Us Weekly (https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/david-harbour-paul-wesley-questioned-stranger-things-promotion/)). Whatever the underlying reasons, "Stranger Things" was certainly a bit of a stealth release, but that may have ultimately worked to the show's benefit. The first trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnd7sFt5c3A) only gave hints of the kind of story audiences would be in for, which imbued the whole viewing experience with a unique sense of discovery.
Of course, that kind of sneaky success would never belong to "Stranger Things" again. The show quickly exploded in popularity, and it's been a juggernaut ever since. And yet, despite the acclaim that later seasons have earned (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/stranger_things), there's something undeniably distinct about the show's first chapter. Here's why "Stranger Things" Season 1 is still its best by far.