I believe the reason we won't agree is perhaps due to you not quite grasping what I'm saying lol. I realize that the monsters, ESP, etc are not realistic. It's the character's personalities, behavior, the settings, the way people interact in this world: these are what I'm saying are more grounded in reality in the earlier seasons. The same way some superhero movies are more grounded in reality than others. Obviously, the catalyst for the plot is absurd make-believe regardless of which superhero movie you're watching. But it can be handled in more realistic ways, with more true-to-life characters, in a more real-feeling world. This is why I said that the earlier seasons felt like they they took place in a "realistic world where something out of the ordinary has occurred".
As far as the comedy goes, I already went over this in my original post:
The funny moments usually felt natural and realistic, due to them spawning from the fact that these were just little kids acting like little kids; the same reason something like Stand by Me felt so funny. Now though (and ever since season 3, really), it seems to me like most of the series is just jokes, wisecracks, kooky characters, outlandish situations, and campy action.
Again, I'm differentiating between the realistic feel of the way the comedy was handled in the first seasons compared to the
constant over-the-top shenanigans and quirkiness later on. It's like the difference between Stand By Me and the new Jumanji movies. Yes, Stand By Me has comedy. But many, including myself, wouldn't refer to that as a comedy in the same way we probably all would agree the new Jumanji movies are.
I don't think the change itself is even a debatable topic. It's obviously become very all-around zany. This post wasn't even questioning the fact that the change occurred (slowly heightening with each season). It obviously occurred. What's subjective here is our opinions on that change.
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SamDirtbagBurns (15)
3 years ago
I completely understand what you mean about it not feeling grounded in reality anymore. One quirky character is fine but they have gone completely overboard. Murray, Yuri, Robin, stoner guy, Dustin’s girlfriend (and her entire weirdo family), Lucas’s sister, and probably some more I’m forgetting. You could cut all of them out and it would vastly improve the tone and not effect the plot much. I do like the D&D kid (I’m sorry I’m so bad with names). I had friends back in the day that he totally reminds me of.
Also, starting last season they’ve been way too heavy handed with the 80s shit. It’s becoming a parody and no longer feels authentic.
But the silliest thing has been the bullies. I’m sorry but you would never get an entire roller rink full of people to all cheer and laugh as a girl gets taunted and assaulted (throwing a drink on someone is assault). But even if people were that cruel, they would have been equally as amused by a girl getting clocked in the face with a roller skate. The bullying could have been toned down in the present day and flashbacks and still had similar impact. Bullying doesn’t have to be sadistic or overly violent to be emotionally scarring to a kid.
However, with all that said I am enjoying this season. It could have been a perfect season if they dropped some of the bloated cast and edited a lot of the goofy dialogue out. The story is great, the villain is the most fleshed out we’ve had in the series, and the way things tied together was well done. Depending on how it ends it can potentially surpass season 1 as my favorite.
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TheGutterMonkey (298)
3 years ago
Oh god. I forgot to mention Dustin's girlfriend and her family in the original post. You're right. It was like something from a completely different series when they walked into that house. Like we were suddenly thrust into a Wes Anderson movie outta nowhere.
Funny enough, though, the thing you think is the silliest, the bullies, didn't really bug me as much haha. Not that you don't have a point, technically, but I dunno. This is how the bullies were on the first season, as well, it seems like. Like those two boys putting a knife to Dustin's throat and telling Mike to jump off from a cliff (yeesh!). Also, in 80's dramedies like Stand By Me (how many times am I going to mention that movie? lol), from which the series drew much inspiration, the bullies were always pretty over the top and it usually seemed to work. In fact, that's how the bullies are in nearly every Stephen King book, now that I'm thinking about it. Granted, if they can subtly humanize them a bit more (such as they did with Steve or Max's brother) I'd find that much more preferable. I actually thought that's the direction they were going with the preppy guy this season but, instead, they just made him even more cartoony by turning him into a Jesus freak.
I still enjoyed the season, as well, though (for the most part). I never meant for this to be a hate post but, rather, just that I'd have preferred a more serious tone. You hit the nail on the head when you said "It’s becoming a parody and no longer feels authentic."
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SamDirtbagBurns (15)
3 years ago
I don’t think your comments came across as hate posting. Btw I love “Stand by Me” and am a big SK fan, I don’t know how I didn’t notice its influence on ST.
You’re right about the bullies in his novels but in some cases, such as in “It”, they are influenced by malevolent forces.
The basketball guy (name I can’t remember and too lazy to look up) I can almost buy. He’s clearly upset about his girlfriend and saw some messed up shit. It’s him convincing the whole town that I had some trouble with.
I forgot what an awesome left turn they made with Steve’s character in season 1. I remember when he showed up at the Byers house (?), I thought “well he’s getting killed by the demigorgon” and was so surprised when he not only didn’t die but was given a redemption arc! What a great season that was.
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