Stranger Things. Season 5.

[HappyGilmore]

Episodes 1-4 of Season 5 dropped on Netflix last night. I stayed up til almost 2 this morning watching. Belted out a few profanities.

Linda Hamilton joins the series this time around. Presumably has a bigger role in the back half, because it's an epic fail casting her to not have a sizable role.

Series Finale on New Year's Eve, and I think it's the first time I'm actively staying in to specifically watch a show instead of going to a party or bar. 

[M.10rda]

So what'd you think of the "back half", so to speak?

[HappyGilmore]

I didn't hate it. The final fight should've gone longer. Leaving it kind of ambiguous with 11 was a bad idea.

Should be dead. But I suppose they'll want a reunion down the line.

Not a perfect season. Holly was a great addition as a main character.

[M.10rda]

The 11 "resolution" is lifted directly from Frank Miller's DAREDEVIL Issue #190. Ah well, steal from the best.

I agree that the action undelivered but oddly the final 25 minutes of sentimental goodbyes was my favorite part of the season. I'm not a big fan of lengthy, laborious "sentimental goodbyes" at the end of high-conflict fantasy/action/adventure et al, but somehow the Duffers handled it well. (I wasn't going to be at all happy if Steve or Dustin or Max sacrificed themselves so I can't complain about their lengthy send-offs.)

A recreation of a conversation with my brother-in-law:

BRENT: It just went on forever. Just everyone being sad and saying goodbye to each other. Way too long.

ME: I get your point... similar issue to the end of the last LORD OF THE RINGS movie... forty-five minutes of unnecessary tearful homoerotic gazing...

BRENT: (Baffled look.) What are you talking about? That was awesome!

 

[HappyGilmore]

    

The LOTR sequence was fairly long. But I did like how they handled the goodbye at the end. Hopper referencing Montauk. Robin's "weird uncle in Philly." Which, considering the Montauk project and Philadelphia Experiment, nice touches. If anything happened to Max I'd be livid.