I’ve mentioned before that I’m a sucker for good storytelling. This week, I’m going to write about something that’s in a completely different genre than comics. The reason? It’s an awesome story with equally awesome writing. There’s actually another reason. That being the fact that this story in a few ways brought me back to my childhood which then brought me to a place where i was tapping into a deeper kind of inspiration.
So what is “Stranger Things,” you ask. Here’s the low-down:
This thrilling Netflix-original drama stars award-winning actress Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, who lives in a small Indiana town in 1983 — inspired by a time when tales of science fiction captivated audiences. When Joyce’s 12-year-old son, Will, goes missing, she launches a terrifying investigation into his disappearance with local authorities. As they search for answers, they unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries involving secret government experiments, unnerving supernatural forces, and a very unusual little girl. Stranger Things was created and penned by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, Hidden) who serve as co-showrunners and have also helmed several of the episodes.
Those are the basics. Here’s why i think the show is amazing. It is a throwback to every sci-fi and horror movie I enjoyed as a kid. There is homage after homage yet they are so subtle that you’d miss them completely if you didn’t know what your looking for. The main cast which was compromised of mostly children brought me back to movies like “The Goonies” and more recently “Super 8.” They successfully captured the innocence of childhood and what it was like to be that young in an era where there were no smart-phones, no internet, and time was passed playing a game of imagination. Its a period that i personally grew up in. Though that doesn’t mean you have to have grown up then to enjoy the show now.
The show’s character development over the eight episodes was done well because i cared for every one of them. Thats why the season finale was so stunning. It all definitely inspired me as a writer to want to tap into my own childhood and tell an important story for myself. I do have one particular idea though you’ll have to wait until i put it on paper.
All in all, I recommend watching the show and I’m sure that you’ll find your own reasons to enjoy it.
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