It is not often that I am stricken with an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. I love new things, new content, and new ideas; so while nostalgia does not elude me completely, it is hardly ever the feeling I am aiming for when digesting media. When something like Stranger Things comes out, it not only reminds me that the reminiscing on the past is great, but it is also a gateway into why we love the things we love.
Stranger Things is the orgy love child of old movies like ET, Goonies, and Monster Squad, with genetic hints of great directors like Spielberg and John Carpenter. While Stranger Things dances on the line of homage and Netflix original, it does so with extreme grace. And though it is going to be difficult to navigate around spoilers, as the premise of the show revolves around one giant mystery, I will not spoil this increasingly interesting series. The less you know about Stranger Things going in, the better for this fresh take on the thriller genre. If you were an 80s kid, strap on your denim jacket, your mop top, and your Duran Duran T-Shirt and prepare to get weird because as the title suggests, Stranger Things is a delightfully bizarre experience.
The show is elevated by an amazing cast of both familiar faces and new young performances. Winona Ryder and David Harbour carry the torch for the adult arcs while newcomers Finn Wolfhard (as Mike Wheeler), Millie Bobby Brown (as Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair) all carry the very intriguing kid’s arc. Though the adult and child arcs are different in terms of characters on screen, everyone is working towards the same solution – finding the answers to the overarching mystery.
While the adults do great with their conflict, the real heart of the show comes from the child actors who feel handpicked by Spielberg himself. Finn Wolfhand really takes the role as the star of the show and plays well off of Millie, who is sure to have oodles of work here in the future. This dynamic duo has a bright career ahead of them as working actors.
Though shorter than most series at only eight episodes long, the viewer gets a satisfying ending – despite the elements of cliffhangers and eventual continuations. The creators of this show, the Duffer Brothers, have the elements of being the next Russo Brothers (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Civil War), and I have a feeling we will be hearing plenty more from this team.
I can’t help but have a rant about how this show tugs on the strings of nostalgia throughout its entire run time. The first episode opens up with the kids playing a session of Dungeons & Dragons and manages to recapture what it was for me to be a kid at that time. Drinking soda, riffing each other, and calling each other names while trying to figure out exactly what the Dungeon Master wants us to do. That opening scene has a flood of childhood memories flow into me that have a very homey feeling, just like movies like Super 8 did that tackle a similar story/era.
The music is fully synthed and harkens back to classic 80s horror and slasher flicks, and the way the sounds hits the ears is pleasing in every sense of the word. Hats completely off to “Survive,” a band from Austin Texas, who did the opening theme for this show, which is perfect in setting up the tone. The style of music chosen coupled with the aesthetic of the sets brings to life a lived in 1980’s style world that feels as real now as it did back then. The billboards, the store fronts, the wall posters, the clothing, and the lingo all work in tandem together to bring this era back to us in ways that will have our childhood racing to the forefront of our frontal lobes.
Background aspects can only add more realness to the story, and this is where Stranger Things really shines. In terms of plot, the mystery is solid, and has you guessing from start to finish. By the show’s finale, the viewer ends up in completely new spaces where the laws of our universe no longer apply to the ones previously created in this show. The journey is as amazing as the destination itself.
Stranger Things is a hard recommend for the consumers who love weird and outlandish mysteries. This Netflix Original is the embodiment of the 80s, and a reminder that this generation was the thriller genre’s golden era. Netflix has been on a roll over the last two years and Stranger Things continues that trend. We don’t get shows this special as often as I would like, so it’s an obligation to check them out whenever they manifest themselves into our dimension of consumerism.
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Finally, my favorite water based game has been turned into a Netflix original series! Kidding aside, Marco Polo seems like one of those shows that you either hate or love. While I understand that this show may not be for everyone, I implore anybody who has a fascination with history, the Silk Road, or the khans, to check this show out because it offers so much more than other shows on TV at this time.
Marco Polo takes a page out of the History Channel’s show, Vikings. It takes real historical figures, real moments in history, and real locations, and mushes them all together in a period piece show that takes many liberties in the name of creating a more entertaining and interesting story. Marco Polo also studies at the school of Game of Thrones as it ties its story and pacing directly towards the political intrigue of the world they are building. Multiple scenes this season of Marco Polo had me thinking of Vikings and Game of Thrones, and while this show is not on the same level as those, I feel it is playing in a similar ball park in terms of production, wardrobe, sets, and props.
The show itself is called Marco Polo, but with limited clarification that the real Marco Polo ever even spent time in China looming over the credibility of the show, you have to go into it knowing that this series is not striving to be 100% historically accurate.
In the first season, the actor who plays Marco Polo, Lorenzo Richelmy, comes across as wooden, uninterested, and overall not a pleasure to watch play the character. Thankfully, though the show takes his name as its title, he has limited screen time despite being the starring man. Like many, I am of the camp that think the show should be renamed to “The Silk Road,” because the show is more about the Mongol and China war as well as Kublai Khan and his family. However, while watching Season 2 there was something so obvious in the changes Lorenzo Richelmy made to his performance. His line delivery was not as pain educing, and he showcased much more charisma that we all think of when pondering about the type of person the real Marco Polo probably was. Lorenzo did seem like he was in the shoes of the character more, and was having more fun walking in said shoes. By no means was this a memorable or amazing performance, but it was serviceable and that was enough for me to really get behind his scenes this season.
The real star of the show and ultimate scene stealer is Benedict Wong, who plays Kublai Khan. This guy has one of the most kinetic performances on TV right now. Every moment he is on screen he is oozing the great Khan of Khans which offers many memorable moments of a wide range of emotions on display. I could watch this guy act ALL day, and I think it would be a crime if he weren’t recognized by some sort of award, be it verbal or physical.
There is always one character that I do not get enough of, and heck could even use a spin off show on and that is Hundred eyes, played by Tom Wu. Tom Wu is relatively unknown in terms of leading man roles, however he did have short spots in movies like Batman Begins, 007: Skyfall, and Kick Ass 2. This surprisingly talented actor really shines as Hundred Eyes, the blind monk who “serves” for Kublai. Some of the most emotionally rich scenes this season are from him and the always lovely Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) who continues her resurgence as the mighty protector, Lotus. There are so many great martial arts scenes with these two together as well as apart. The choreography really shines when either of these two are on screen.
Marco Polo is a show that looks good in terms of cinematography, set design, and wardrobe. Even though this show does not live up to the plateau that Game of Thrones and Vikings shows have created, it still stands on its own as a very intriguing and interesting “historical” show. The acting may not be perfect across the board, and some of the arcs may not bare fruit until late game but, the pacing always worked for me as a person who is deeply interested in the political and cultural nature of those times. While the show offers a somewhat high barrier to entry which relies on the viewer’s personal interest in this culture, the times, and political ongoings, I strongly suggest any and all who are interested in the Silk Road to check out this show. Start from Season 1, check out the Hundred Eyes episode in between season one and two and then finish off with 2, which ends on a major cliffhanger which has me hoping we will get plenty more of this show. It seems the viewers enjoy it more than actual critics, so it is just one of those polarizing shows that require your own eyes to see where your views align. Mine align strictly on the side of fandom and I could not be more hyped for more to come.
If you enjoyed it and want to chat, or need some convincing and want to ask questions, leave a comment for me below and I will be more than happy to interact!
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Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
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