Stranger Things 101-102

The description of this video really hammers the point home. 😁👍

Jack Urmson

Former US Army Tank platoon leader here, "Never 'out' your uppers." Was a common instruction, meaning you never end a transmission when speaking to your leader.

Jon Johns

George! I was 15 in 1985, so, I guess a few grades older than these boys? But, this show is both an homage to 1980's movies, and culture, but also a snapshot of the times. I guess you need to look at it not through your modern POV, but just remember times were different back then. 🤷🏻 Don't judge these people to harshly, we did our best, we were free, on our own, and nobody could imagine anything bad happening. These parents were raised in the 50's, when the world was magically safe, and 'normal'. 🤷🏻 Innocent? The first milk carton kid appeared in 1979, so, it was 'common' during this era. But adults blamed satanic cults, or misadventure (kids getting lost, falling off a cliff, drowning, etc) for missing kids. They couldn't imagine a grown man taking a child, doing terrible things, then burying the kid in the woods somewhere. It was a different time!

Jon Johns

The only thing with Lucas for me was how he treated El. Understandably, he should be cautious and wary, but he was a bit of a jerk to her, even if it was justified in ways.

revnamjin

Everybody always gives Donald grief for hesitating giving Joyce the 2 weeks advance...like Hawkins isn't a small town and his radioshack type store makes tons of profit.....A business owner with small profit margin pinches pennies where they can....he hesitates only because his business mind instinctively kicked in...before his heart opened up once Joyce made her case. Lucas and Mrs. Wheeler are the only 2 sane characters so far. Lucas' friend goes missing and his other friends are getting distracted by a strange kid that mysteriously shows up...of course he'd be annoyed that they aren't making Will a priority. Mrs Wheeler(Mike's mom) puts all the kids under house arrest because a kid in their small town goes missing and a day later, a suicide happens.....lol

Nate Terry

I like to think that "The Weirdo On Maple Street" is an oblique reference to the famous Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."

Truthful Timmy The Blowjob Queen Of Saskatoon

Speaking of Explorers (1985) it might be worth a watch. The ending is a bit..something but it’s worth the ride.

REDR58

I think the point with Pulaski is that she is supposed to be this dedicated scientist which lacks social graces. But they could have used a better target. Not only is Data really popular, he is also an innocent, child-like, not even capable of any malice or meanness.

fforw

I don’t think I’ve ever seen George lean in so much to the camera during a reaction. This is so good. I love how he’s already analyzing the character types and story. Simone is so great at reacting to the spooky stuff also! I might rewatch this commentary during the week just to pass the time. Btw Season 5 will air at the end of this year. It will be the final season. So much to look forward to!

BoredLittleLady

they have, it just didn't leave the same indelible mark on them as it did the rest of us old farts from repeat viewing on VHS

Ben Stevens

Welcome back to the 80s and you're a kid on a bike, some of your little gang have skateboards too, but not you because you brought the flashlight and compass... 🤣 Literally didn't even matter if these kids are in Indiana and I'm in California, we were all the bike riding kids from ET, and THE EXPLORERS* (reco!). Goonies never say die. We do die we just don't say it. Thanks you Simone and George for noting that the 80s were fucking amazing for music (3rd decade in a 4 decade run of musical genius in my opinion 1964 - 2004, uh, give or take IDFK? I stil love music before that and since but, something about that era... Also, this is gonna be fun 🤘great show

MacGuffinStuff

God, Jonathan is such a fucking fantastic older brother. I would have loved to have an older brother like him. Killer taste in music, good head on his shoulders, offering helpful and relevant advice, on his little brother's side.

hurryupmode

Milk Carton Kids became a thing in September 1984. This takes place a little over a year prior. https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2024/milk-carton-kids

hurryupmode

not the same actor, but popular theory (well, a theory anyway) holds that steve harrington and nancy wheeler may have been jean ralphio’s birth parents.

nj

But there is a long-running joke/fan-theory that Jean-Ralphio is actually Steve's son

dys

The guy who did “the arm thing” has no collarbones so he can move his shoulders forward very dramatically.

djKENTO

Over - I'm done talking and I await your response. Out - Conversation is over and I do not expect a response Over and out - makes no sense Just an FYI if you were thinking about getting a heathkit hamshack...

Logan Nelson

The children’s portion of previous versions of IT take place in the 1960s. The movie you’ve seen shifted to the 1980s specifically because of the popularity of Stranger Things. This “kids on bikes” aesthetic is more inspired by Spielberg films of the 80s and their clones. the KIDS ON BIKES sub-genre.

djKENTO

She obviously saw Star Wars and is trying to use the force ... top tier one there. Well done, Simone! Don't listen to any of the haters, this is a great show and I'm so glad to see it's finally on the channel. So unique and I know you'll love it. Great performances throughout, the kid actors are amazing, and Winona Ryder is awesome in this.

Terdell Ferguson

hi Dan, on the Cinebinge player the arrow keys jumps the video forward and backwards by 10 seconds each time. If you do not see any arrows on screen, or the arrow keys on your keyboard does not work, be sure to check you are using the Cinebinge player. You can do this by going to the homepage, and at the very top there is a toggle between Cinebinge Player and Streamable Player. Switch to the Cinebinge player to have access to the function.

George Simone

I don't know if you're now defaulting to your own player, but is there a convenient way of jumping say 10 or 30 seconds back or forwards? ISTR double-tapping Youtube style (on Android) worked in the past.

Dan

This is the first truly valid reason I have heard from someone on why they didn't watch this show... I feel you George... I hate crystal meth for the same reason (j/k) lol...

Logan Nelson

I actually had to Google that because I was shocked lmao (I didn't read the rest of your comment) but if they died, that would explain a few things about the later seasons

Inkpendude

It's a real tragedy that the Duffer Brothers died in a fatal tandem moose-goring accident in the summer of 2016, but they left behind a perfect season of television, a single, full season which works perfectly as a standalone creation that would have only been weakened had they lived to make the sequels that so many obtuse fans thought they wanted.

Carol_White

*Benny dies* George: 😨 Simone: 💃🎶

Polybios

Really enjoyable watch along. I'm sure someone else has said it further up the thread, but I hope you're able to adjust your watch cadence so that you can finish up Season 5 in real time or shortly after the show airs live.

Joseph Tamburo

lol Steve's actor isn't Jean Ralphio from parks and rec!

G B

She's got the Shinning! *Said with Groundskeeper Willy accent* I also have the feeling that y'all haven't seen E.T. yet

CommanderBrownCoat

I had a 10-inch *black&white* TV that I used to play my Atari 2600 in my room in the early 1980s and that was like a treasure to me.

REDR58

Plenty of other things to watch on here!

REDR58

I think you should avoid looking up the season posters to dissect before you start them. Many have spoilers on them especially when you get to the later seasons.

Pendergasted

Matt Cammalleri

there was actualy 2.2 inch tv:s out at that time (Watchman FD-200 (1982) ) so it might not be to farfetcht that the TV is 10 times bigger :P.

Twoside

Each season definitely has its own vibe, but that's part of the charm for me. I feel like some people just wanted it to stay exactly the same each season.

Tmatts

I know some people don't really like season 3 (I liked them all and enjoyed how each season gets its own vibe) but I'm generally surprised to hear of someone not liking season 4.

Tmatts

I do love how even early on here we get little glimpses into what kind of guy Steve really is.

Tmatts

These reactions are going to be peak

Tmatts

Really?!?! I felt like it definitely stepped up the game in season 4... 4,3,1,2 is my order...

Logan Nelson

Growing up in the 80's in Texas we had home phones of different types through those years... I've never even heard of leasing a phone... I assume you mean like a router now a days...

Logan Nelson

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet...

Steve Mercier

Awesome! I’m looking forward to revisiting this one! I’ve only watched the show once, binging each season as it came out. With how long the gaps have been between seasons, I can barely even remember what happened in each one.

Cincassette

It really sucked that Paper Girls got canceled.

Roy A

I recommended this movie yesterday, but you should really do Summer of '84. Especially now that you're watching ST. Summer of '84 is a horror/mystery that centers on a group of kids and, like the name implies, takes place in the 80s. (And it was filmed in Vancouver.) Though it's not as well-known. I don't really see it winning a poll.

Roy A

Hell yes. I'm excited for this.

Armchair Rizzard

Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), born in 2002, has the condition "Cleidocranial Dysplasia" (as he mentioned in the show) which resulted him being born with no collarbones and it also affects teeth development. Finn Wolfhard (Mike) born 2002 is Canadian. Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas) was born in 2001. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) is British and was born in 2004. Natalia Dyer (Nancy) was born in 1995. Charlie Heaton (Johnathan Byers) is also British and was born in 1994. The black deputy "Calvin Powell" is played by Rob Morgan who was “Turk” in all of the Netflix Marvel series. George, a horseshoe mounted upside down means the luck runs out! It's a little strange seeing Joyce *buy* a phone. Our family was still leasing phones from the phone company in the 1980s in Pennsylvania and I don’t know anyone who owned a house phone outright back then. Maybe it was different in other states but I feel like everyone leased phones before the phone company was broken up into regional ones.

REDR58

I think there's a term for feelings of nostalgia for events or times that one never experienced, but I can't think of it at the moment. But I get that sometimes too.

REDR58

Yeah, really loved the 80s retro-electronic music soundtrack. The tone and feel of the music and the atmospheres, especially in the first season, really brought back fun memories for me.

Major Peril

Funny story, there was a comic book that started the year before this show, about four outcast kids who ride bikes around their 1980s small town and get dragged into a time war. I watched two seasons of this show but then I lost interest after I read the comic cause it's doing so many things in the same vein but does them better. They tried turning it into a TV show too but it was canceled after one season, I think because it's just too big for Hollywood to do it justice. So that's a recommendation. It's called Paper Girls. However, I'm looking forward to watching this along with you. It has its own charms, and your reactions are always fun.

Amelie W

This series was 100% worth being picked just for Simone's freak out scream at the beginning of the 1st episode lol

Mavs4177

For more Matthew Modine: Cutthroat Island

Odd Thomas

Hard agree. Throw Will's haircut on Simone (and make George into Dustin, while we're at it).

Jeff K

+1 for both "Enola Holmes" movies as well as "Damsel". Some good Netflix fun.

Major Peril

Heathers is definitely a must.

sarCC

For the love of all that is comedy please George please! Please make the YT edit thumbnail Simone with a bowl cut.

YourBigBut

Essential Winona Ryder viewing: Heathers Edward Scissorhands

Odd Thomas

LOL

Raven Dark

For more Millie Bobby Brown check out the “Enola Holmes” movies on Netflix. Lots of fun.

REDR58

I am so happy you guys are watching this.

RichieRich

Series 1-3: great. Series 4...oof (imo)

Odd Thomas

D. T. Nelson

The biggest problem I have is not with the quality of the show but how long it’s taken to get it all out. I know there are all sorts of reasons beyond the control of the show, the directors, producers, actors and everyone involved. But it’s a little frustrating that 5 seasons are going to take ~10 years to get it all out. This rewatch will be a good refresh for me as I’m caught up with the show up to this point, I just don’t remember all of it!

REDR58

i totally forgot this was what we were getting today! super stoked!

Ben Stevens

I’m so excited that you two are finally getting to the show. The show is great every season good. this will be my fourth time seeing season one. I rewatch the show every season when a new one comes out.

BigGuy209

yeah this show is a bit inconsistent when it comes to quality, but season 1 really excellent.

Stugotz

Get ready for one good season, one bad season, one ok season, and then another good season!

Ari Ramirez

I'm so glad you are watching this show. It is great. I love the dynamic between the characters and how they seem like real people. The kids act and talk like kids, the adults like normal adults, teenagers like teenagers and it connects and brings some grounded realism to a story that is very sci-fi/ horror based. All the 80'd references are well done, and you can see that the creators really wanted to pay homage to the classics. You will get a lot of easter eggs of 70-80's horror movies etc. Season 1 is great but all their seasons were really good, which is pretty impressive for a show that is on going for almost 10 years. Also, I'm glad they are ending with 5 seasons, as they have been saying since season 1. So even though it had major success, it will not be milked over by Netflix and executives for unecessary extra seasons.

Liuzetz

This show uses nostalgia not for nostalgia's sake, but as a style to invoke the classic 80s sci-fi horror vibe. So there are so much visual elements borrowed from 80s movies that it simultaneously reminds you of something but it's completely unique at the same time. Similarly, the music is made on actual vintage synths used in the 80s but the melodies and compositions are new.

Flerb

1000000%. That scene does hit hard for me, though. I'm sure it would have before I was a parent too, but having a kid, yeah, you'll fight a fucking bear trying to protect them.

Jeff K

George: yes, season five IS the final season. Netflix is doing a weird rollout with about half the episodes in November, and then most of the rest around Christmas (maybe even on Christmas? Can't recall), with the series finale dropping on New Year's Eve.

Jeff K

7min in... I get it now... I fully understand why Simone prefers her hair so long. 😭 (I can feel the trauma)

AC10

This show means so much to me. Lots of nostalgia for a time period I wasn't even alive for lol. I've watched every episode at least half a dozen times but I am really looking forward to watching it with Simone and George. I love watching other people enjoy a show or movie that I love as well!

Nobody

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! TISHAPPENING!!!! I didn't know it was today! 😲

AC10

It's Samuel L Jackson and Laurence Fishburne all over again LOL

Nathan Jasper

The actor who plays Steve Harrington isn't the guy who played Jean Ralphio, but it's an honest mistake a lot of people make. There was this interview with the two of them where they're interviewing each other and they address this. People confuse them with each other all the time. You've seen the Steve Harrington actor before in Free Guy. They do look a lot alike but I also credit it to both of their heads of hair... always so much volume LOL

akaTheBARON

No, they saw him in Full Metal Jacket too

Stugotz

It bothers me just a little bit that their first introduction to Matthew Modine is his character in Stranger Things.

ShoNuff3000

I like to believe Simone would go back into the house after the wall stretching to get her cats.

ShoNuff3000

I’m so excited for this journey!! Steve is played by Joe Keery. He and Ben Schwartz look so much alike that there’s a fan theory that Steve is actually Jean-Ralphio’s father since both ST and Parks & Rec take place in Indiana. I’ll try to remember to share the link to a bit they did together for late night TV once you’re done reacting to this season as not to spoil anything.

Nanners

I don't know if it helps but I'm in my fifties and I've enjoyed the show a lot over the years. Full disclosure: I always hated Happy Days.

Stephanie Bedworth

Never watched this show because 1. don't usually like child actors and 2. everyone saying it was great was a younger generation than me so I took it as millennials projecting nostalgia the way my generation loved "Happy Days" but never lived through that time period. So I'll give it a try with you guys. Let's see if I dislike it as much as I always assumed I would 😄

James Melton

So its basically new for both cause we know Simone. ❤️

Curaitis

Steve is cool. We love Steve.

Amos T Fairchild

It’s fun to go back. The first season was very good and I don’t think there was a notable shift in quality just in audience perception. A few people have mentioned Stephen King but Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter and Sam Raimi are all grist for the mill.

Jacob King

Let's go pls play close attention to Johnathan and then answer why tf is he running sideways all the time 😂

PASCAL Schüttte

This show is HEAVILY influenced by Stephen King (the font of the title card is literally the font from King’s novels). Which is part of why the episodes are called chapters. EDIT: damnit, Jeff, learn to scroll and see someone else already said this.

Jeff K

Joe Keery is also a hell of a singer and musician. His music is legit good.

Jeff K

George, Joe Kerry just looks remarkably like Ben Schwartz. It was definitely noticed when the show first came out.

Matt O'Keefe

Just starting the reaction, and I wanted to say this before I forget: A lot of this show is a direct homage to Stephen King's stories, both the stories themselves and the way they are told. That's why the title card (the part in the intro where we see the title of the show and the chapter titles) has the same font that is used on a lot of King's books, and why the vibe of the interactions between the kids feel very "It" as you said, George. That's also why the episodes are referred to as chapters, because each one is supposed to be reminiscent of a chapter or a "part" as he sometimes has them, in a King book. That's also why the chapter titles sound like they could be titles Stephen King would use. The Vanishing of Will Byers, that's a very King-esque title.

Raven Dark

The first time missing kids' pictures were put on a milk carton was September of 1984 in Des Moines Iowa. The first store to do it was Anderson Erickson Dairy after two local paperboys went missing and it expanded nationwide but declined in the 90s once the AMBER Alert was established.

Nathan Jasper

I think the Duffers said there was always a 5 year plan but they left season 1 open-ended just in case Netflix decided not to renew. I think lol

Nathan Jasper

I'm so hyped for this show!

Jeremy S

This is the perfect example why your Page with the full length video is so awesome. Seen the whole seasons on Netflix but have no active subscription anymore. Can't wait to relive the story with you til season 5 arrives.

Boris Kopp

you kid (probably) but man, theres people who genuinely threw tantrums in the past thinking they are just moving on. even though in the past at the end of a season of show, they will explicitly say "we're returning to this after 1 season of another show". and youd think if someones a fan of a show, they would watch that finale and hear them say this. but nope, people lost their fucking minds. thats also why you will occasionally see "when are you doing the wire season 3" coming up here and there, as an inside joke for the rest of us who were normal tempered adults.

lalaland

I wonder: Will you return to Andor Season 2 after this first season of Stranger Things?

Pierre Markuse

My ranking for the seasons would be 1, 4, 3, 2 personally, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them all. And this rewatch with George and Simone is coming at the perfect time because we’ve started a rewatch to introduce the show to my son in the last couple weeks, so I was getting back into it anyway in anticipation of the final season this winter. Also: while season two is my least favorite of the four, the Thriller trailer for season two is quite possibly my favorite trailer ever, for anything.

Jeff K

They tell you in the first 30 seconds 😂

Sandow

The last couple of seasons made me quit the show but for the first few it was my favorite thing on TV. Setting it in 1983 with kids who were right about my age at that time was a big part of it. Aside from the other obvious attractions to the show, it's like an homage to my childhood with all the 80s references. This should be a fun ride and I promise that if you two make it to the last seasons I'll make myself watch them with you. I will add that when I say it's an ode to my childhood, it is on so many levels - The time period Some of the adult actors in the show were actors as children at that time The music on the radios but also the music they made for the show is very early 80s The logo for the show is very of that time What the kids do in their spare time (won't go into details because spoilers)

JayF

Is this for both first time watch??

Josip Buretić

It's Stranger Things Day! I think season 3 is my favourite but Season 1 is up there. This came out between my mom passing and her funeral. I ended up binging it in that time and it became a comfort show.

beefjerkywizard

Season 1 is a love letter to the 80s, and it's pretty perfect. From what I recall they only set out to make this 1 season, but then it blew up and they made more. I hope you all can appreciate some of the references from 80s pop culture.

8bitAndy

I am SO excited for this! Let's go!

BubblyRainbows