If you're not watching this, you should be. Think 1980's Stephen King meets Steven Spielberg:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334

This show is incredibly well-paced, acted, shot, written...just plain good on every level. Don't be fooled...when you start watching you'll feel you've seen everything before and you have. This series pays homage to so many great plots before it, but without sarcasm. It is a culmination of great classic science fiction and horror cliches on purpose, while still remaining fresh. The Duffer brothers used the past greats as building blocks for something just as good...Horror and Sci-Fi gestalt.

Oh, and enjoy the music. It's awesome!

Goonies meets x files, is the way a friend described it to me. Well worth checking out, lots of fun. I hope there is a season 2.

Yep! I'm sure we can expect to see all of those references and more. What I'm amazed by is the acting quality. I never thought anyone could match Spielberg's ability to capture childhood innocence, but this show is doing a really good job at it. Really natural interactions taking place while still keeping a good pace in the action. And the sets, costumes, and props are top-notch. The kids and hairstyles look so awkward, just like I remember living through. And the cars look gritty (but I'm still looking hard to see rust...but see none. Cars back then in most states had a lot of rust. But on movie sets they have collectors bring in their cars, and guess what? They don't have rust. The movie companies dirty them up, but they always forget to add the rust).

So far, so good regarding ratings.

I was hooked within watching the first episode. Yeah I agree Wizard the show is well acted and I am not far into the season but can not wait for what is next.

He dies in the end...


Just kidding. Its a great series well worth watching for all the above mentioned, it is magical. I only wish "magicians" could act 25% as good.

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I just finished the first episode and enjoyed it immensely.

Yes, this is very good. Lots to like about it. A lovely idealised version of the 1980s which hits nostalgia buttons for those of us who were children/teens then. As you note, Wizard of Oz, it captures an innocent view of childhood very beautifully, just like the best Spielberg does, and that recent film 'Super 8' did too. Nothing too original about it, but it's a good yarn well told.

I'm personally pleased that the heroes are role-players(!), as I was too (though more a 'Call of Cthulhu' fan as opposed to D&D but I played that too, of course), and that intelligence and friendship/solidarity serves to save the day, not just bravado.

Best,
Francis

My Daughter did Practical Special Effects on it. We're hoping for new seasons.
If you liked the 'look' of all the weird creepy crud that made up the 'other place'...that was her concept and application.
:-)

That's amazing Doug! The other place does indeed look both creepy and magical, like an eerie winter. She certainly has a lot to be very proud of. As do you, of course.

Best,
Francis

Love that Doug.

We just finished the last episode tonight. Outstanding. The kids are wonderful actors, and Winona - in my opinion - has never been better.

Congrats Doug, it worked, wonder where she got the inspiration for her creations? Happy to hear Doug and Lori genes were in there!
2 episodes to go-

True. That apple clearly did not fall far from the tree. And we are all the better for it.

Doug give her a high five for the fans out there.

Agreed, many high fives.

My 11-yr old son and I binge watched the entire series today; it was amazing. Best thing I've seen on TV in years...much better than many King book adaptations from the same time period. It looked like the creators might have been partially inspired by a little known film from a few years ago called Beyond The Black Rainbow. Many elements from that film were present in Stranger Things...down to the weird synth music and 80s time period. Stranger Things did it much better though, and the Other Place was truly amazing, Doug's daughter did an incredible job with it.

Just finished the series. I really truely love all the throw back references to the 80's...like the synth music...opening graphics and so on.
What will happen in season 2? Will it be the same cast? same decade? same storyline?

The ending certainly hinted that the story line will continue.

Makes perfect sense why the wife and I loved this series. Congrats Doug, on raising a talented gem!

Doug created the Strange Thing, and his daughter was a creator on the Stranger Things.
(I wonder where they got the name of the show from...)

I really enjoyed the show.

What I know is, Andi (my Daughter) was on the FX team and the producers need a killer look for the 'Upside Down'...they didn't want to use CGI (THANK YOU!!!) and had a small budget to create the world...Andi got an idea and went for it. She came up with a plan and a unique process that she presented by doing a small area...the producers etc. loved it and so she was given the go ahead to dress the set. Once the lighting was directed and they saw the footage they knew they had it. (When they find the kid in the ick you can see it best)
I want to tell HOW she did it and WHAT it was but it was a secret at the time she told me...SO...I'll see if I can get permission to tell y'all what it was she came up with. You'll crack up. Brilliant!!!

I'll pass along your kind words.
Picture is Andi at DragonCon rockin' her ST shirt.

Thanks!!

Click here to view attached image.