Stranger Things Have Happened

I watched Stranger Things Season 3...without prior knowledge of the show.

Netflix: Stranger Things Season 3 Promo

So, as we know, I'm always a little late jumping onto bandwagons. Commitment problems? I like letting entertainment media age like fine wine...or wait until there's enough seasons piled up for me to binge watch in a straight week. Yeah, we'll go with that.

I had no prior knowledge of the show, other than there was a semi bald girl with an Eggo fetish and Dungeons and Dragons monsters. While all my friends were raving about the first and second seasons, I was (now regrettably) unaware of the reason for the hype. Now I wish I would have gotten into the show sooner.

When the third season came out on Netflix, my friends squealed and started making a list of snacks to binge the show with. When I told them I've never seen a single episode of the show, I swear my life flashed before my eyes.

Eleven: No shit Sherlock, of course you'd love my show.

They convinced me to watch it with them, and I haven't been the same since.

I have to give my friends major props for explaining the plot to me and answering my stupid questions in the middle of heavy plot points. I now know how parents feel when they watch movies:"Who's that again?" "What are they doing?"

By the third episode I was able to recognize all the characters and their backstories. I fell in love with the character's quirks, the mysterious plot set and the amazing 80's aesthetics.

Turns out the Starcourt Mall set was built out of a real dead mall in Georgia. Click to read full Twitter thread.

Speaking of 80's aesthetics; I wish malls were still cool hangout places. It would be so refreshing to escape this awful summer heat in a mall. Turns out, the Starcourt Mall from the show wasn't a set. The show built the mall inside a real dead Georgia Mall. I wonder if I can take a road trip to Georgia to shop in Sam Goody's and RadioShack?

Anyway, needless to say, the director of Stranger Things did a fantastic job of making the audience fall in love with the characters; well into the third season. Most shows don't emphasize building emotional connections in later episodes as they assume the viewer already gained this experience in the beginning.

I didn't need the first or second season to develop a connection with the characters' personalities and struggles. I was automatically saying "Oh I love her!" whenever Joyce did anything in her bad-ass fashion (I might have a crush on her).

I raise my glass to the producers of Stranger Things for pouring every ounce of effort into ensuring the viewer gets the most out of the show. I'm berating my past self for not watching this show earlier. I guess I need to keep my Netflix subscription alive just a little longer to binge on seasons 1 and 2 and see how this masterpiece started.

Also, Hopper is alive.

I swear.

I love you.