Stranger Things (2016)

The series is a fun, creepy retro-fest that pays pitch-perfect homage to 1980s filmmakers like Spielberg, Carpenter and Hughes. It delivers a richly enjoyable shot of nostalgia whose cockle-warming qualities compensate for a slightly predictable narrative.

The review finds the eight-episode series engaging overall despite some overused references and a lack of surprises. It singles out the group of young friends at the heart of the story for their camaraderie and the show's affectionate nostalgia for 1980s coming-of-age adventures.

The review calls the season a satisfying, spooky and well-arced mystery that succeeds through strong juvenile performances and a welcome lead for David Harbour. It singles out the kids' authentic writing and casting, especially Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven, for carrying the emotional weight alongside the nostalgia.

The review praises the series as an enjoyable and evocative genre piece that balances familiar references with deeper emotional explorations of family and friendship. It singles out the strong casting of the young characters and Millie Bobby Brown's performance in particular for making the story binge-worthy.

Stranger Things successfully evokes 1980s films like E.T. and Poltergeist through its period-accurate world-building, synth score, and central mystery of a missing child and a mysterious lab creature. The critic highlights the strong performances from the child actors, particularly Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, while noting some minor issues with world-building logic.

The critic praises the show's affectionate recreation of 1980s sci-fi adventure tropes and nostalgic childhood wonder through its small-town setting and supernatural elements. They single out the effective blend of comforting safety and genuine scariness, along with strong performances like Winona Ryder's.

The series is an entertaining and impassioned throwback to 1980s Spielberg-style sci-fi and horror. The familial and neighborhood drama stands out as effective and nuanced, though the overall nostalgia limits its imagination.

The series delivers comforting nostalgia through its 1980s-inspired sci-fi horror story of a boy's disappearance and the young friends who investigate it. The critic praises the convincing young cast, especially Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, and the well-paced, satisfying storytelling that blends multiple plot threads effectively.