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I started Night Sky but after ep 1 I figured out the sci-fi element was mostly likely bait and so I cut it. Still haven't finished Outer Range either. My tolerance for mystery Box shows with slow pace and no resolution is low.
I agree with the assessment that these two shows use the sci-fi element as a scene setter and end up being character studies. I do enjoy the character studies, but think Outer Range is the stronger of the two.
My problem with season 4 of Stranger Things is that there's simply too much happening that strains credulity, which is a weird thing to say about a science-fantasy show. I can't go into detail without enormous spoilers, but basically all of the storylines away from what's happening in Hawkins are so contrived that they range from "Wait. Why would they do this?" to "Yeah, that would never fucking happen." And this is a show about psychic powers and extradimensional monsters. I realize that they wanted to get away from the "all this stuff happens in this one otherwise-normal town" situation, but I think they went way too much "Marvel universe" and not enough "Eerie, Indiana" with this season. I haven't found it nearly as compelling.
charlest wrote: I'm a huge JK Simmons fan (his performance in Whiplash is unbelievable)
He guest stars in an episode of Party Down that is just *chef's kiss*. The show as a whole is fantastic and that particular episode is a standout.
That episode is so good. Party Down seems like a show that if you described the cast and premise it would be a 30 Rock fake show, i.e. "this can't exist", but for a brief moment it did.
The grifter investment guy in the empty house... another classic.
Jackwraith wrote: My problem with season 4 of Stranger Things is that there's simply too much happening that strains credulity, which is a weird thing to say about a science-fantasy show. I can't go into detail without enormous spoilers, but basically all of the storylines away from what's happening in Hawkins are so contrived that they range from "Wait. Why would they do this?" to "Yeah, that would never fucking happen." And this is a show about psychic powers and extradimensional monsters. I realize that they wanted to get away from the "all this stuff happens in this one otherwise-normal town" situation, but I think they went way too much "Marvel universe" and not enough "Eerie, Indiana" with this season. I haven't found it nearly as compelling.
I'm still early into Stranger Things 4, but I've been spending a lot of it wishing the teen angst crap would get out of the way. I wasn't the world's biggest fan back when John Hughes was doing it, and getting older hasn't changed me much.
Re Stranger Things, I'm having a hard time reconciling these like 20 year old dudes still acting like whiney little bitches. The casting of what must be 30 year old dudes to play HS seniors just so the OG cast looks, by comparison, sorta young enough to be sophmores is appropriate for the 80's I guess
They way they try to hide what Milli Brown looks like now is even more amusing, she is practically unrecognizable when she wants to vamp it up in real life.
I must say that so far this season is better than 2 and 3, even if every cut to California is a strain and they had serious balls to have a bulemia arc when that older sister actress looks like death warmed over.
I wonder if these long episodes are a cost cutting measure to reduce the overall episode count. Are streaming actors still paid by the ep or is it more of a "whole season" kinda thing?
Stranger Things Season 4 -- I'm only one show in and my thought coming away at the end was that you have an entire town with undiagnosed, untreated severe PTSD. Going to be a real entertaining spin through mental illness, always a crowd-pleaser.
That said, the montage between the basketball game and the D&D session was really well done. Bringing Vecna back was a pretty doggone amusing scene. Someone did their homework.
Shortly after that the special effects department kicked in for the remaining 10 minutes in the episode.
Stranger Things Season 4 -- I'm only one show in and my thought coming away at the end was that you have an entire town with undiagnosed, untreated severe PTSD. Going to be a real entertaining spin through mental illness, always a crowd-pleaser.
That said, the montage between the basketball game and the D&D session was really well done. Bringing Vecna back was a pretty doggone amusing scene. Someone did their homework.
Shortly after that the special effects department kicked in for the remaining 10 minutes in the episode.
jason10mm wrote: The casting of what must be 30 year old dudes to play HS seniors just so the OG cast looks, by comparison, sorta young enough to be sophmores is appropriate for the 80's I guess
I'm a little farther into Stranger Things 4 now, and I'm going to take back a little of my whining about the teen angst. It looks like they dialed it down a notch.
re: jason10mm - I think every show with teens in it casts older, especially if the want to check off the 'handsome jock' box.
Spoilers up to Ep. 5 for me.
Warning: Spoiler!
If Robert Englund is stunt casting, I was entertained.
That whole Victor Creel "Horror movie in 5 minutes" was awesome.
Bringing Dr. Brenner back surprised me.
"Hey, isn't that guard that guy in Game of Thrones?"
Excellent TV shows this summer. Seems like 2 years of Covid has resulted in some good Science Fiction script writing. Love the new season of Stranger Things, Obi Wan has been awesome so far and Star Trek Strange New Worlds has been really good. I'm hoping Orville will also be good.
KingPut wrote: Obi Wan has been awesome so far . . .
I watched the first two last night, very good Star Wars content. Quite impressed.
But a question -- three episodes only? Is this a onesie release, or something where we can expect more installments? I could understand McGregor not wanting to be tied in to a long-run TV series given his usual work in film.
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