#gotta justify your effects budget somehow!

[ashleyetc]

new season of stranger things is mostly pretty bad so far. there are things i like about it, there are things it is doing well and that feel like how the show used to feel when it was top tier television, but overall its. just not good. this season is way too interested in lore in a way that is actively detrimental to what came before. like, everyone who is aware of it has only had mockery and derision for when bbc sherlock had a plotline where someone had a sibling in their childhood who died and they just forgot about, why the fuck would you steal that plot device but Harder (i dont count that as spoilers bc literally the first scene). messing with 11's backstory is just cheapening the much better stories theyve already told with her. also fuck off with hopper having fucking trauma from serving in the vietnam war. can we stop with that already? i will say tho that the cheesiest elements work the best for it- this is a show that started that way and its always been at its best when it leans in on that. i think the villain is poorly done in some ways but i enjoyed a lot of his scenes anyways.

also i appreciate that they had a post credits scene on the last season showing hopper is actually alive despite hiw whole noble self sacrifice moment. just letting us know in advance that all stakes are nil and that the story is gonna be real bad. that set the tone and i appreciate the heads up.

overall its an object lesson in why you should maybe plan ahead past your season finale. yes i am aware breaking bad never did but the duffer brothers aint on that level. every single season ive thought 'hey it will only get worse from here' and so far ive been right. but if you enjoyed the previous ones youll probably have fun with it.

most obnoxious possible product placement still going strong. somehow its MORE obnoxious to me than waffle brand