[ds44]

Originally Posted by The Apt (View Post) Me too, Shu. It’s been a little over two years for me and I feel like it was yesterday. The pain is indescribable. Holidays aren’t getting any easier either.

The holidays are the hardest part.

[jediwands]

Originally Posted by ds44 (View Post) The holidays are the hardest part.

They are. I hate this time of the year. It was once my favorite time of the year. Now I despise it and want to fast forward until after the new year. Have they gotten better for you at all?

[ds44]

Originally Posted by The Apt (View Post) They are. I hate this time of the year. It was once my favorite time of the year. Now I despise it and want to fast forward until after the new year. Have they gotten better for you at all?

New Year's is what kicks me in the gut. That was our holiday. We would have dinner. See a movie . Dad was like my bestfriend not just a parent. I can only imagine how hard Christmas is for you.

[stlavin95]

Originally Posted by ds44 (View Post) New Year's is what kicks me in the gut. That was our holiday. We would have dinner. See a movie . Dad was like my bestfriend not just a parent. I can only imagine how hard Christmas is for you.

How old was your dad when he died?

[ds44]

Originally Posted by stlavin95 (View Post) how old was your dad when he died?

71

[jediwands]

Originally Posted by ds44 (View Post) New Year's is what kicks me in the gut. That was our holiday. We would have dinner. See a movie . Dad was like my bestfriend not just a parent. I can only imagine how hard Christmas is for you.

It is awful for sure. My mom was the exact same, Shu. She was my best friend, not just a parent even if she was the best mother. We did everything together. The hole in my heart is still there and I know it will never be filled in and healed up. It's not possible.

[stlavin95]

Originally Posted by ds44 (View Post) 71

Sorry about your loss.

[jediwands]

Koni, have you watched Stranger things yet? I'm going watch The Pilot shortly before the NFL games get started.

[secretk]

Originally Posted by The Apt (View Post) Koni, have you watched Stranger things yet? I'm going watch The Pilot shortly before the NFL games get started.

I did watch it last night and I was about to post my thoughts on it.

Strange things

I will start with the things I did not like. First point is the fact that show is set in 1983. I was not prepared for that. Things like that distract me a lot so I spent most of the show thinking about this than anything else. I would have liked it more if it was set in our time.

Second point is that the characters are weird. I watched a whole episode there was not one character that I could enjoy enough to say that they will be my favorite. All of them were out there. I could not even get their names and sometimes would even mix them with each other. And there were certain moments of the episode related to typical personal drama that I wanted to fast forward right away because I did not care about that. Like at all.

The overall main mystery is good. I will wait for you to watch it before going into details so that I don't spoil it for you. I already have some ideas about some stuff and we will see if they are true or not.

For now the sci fi aspect is the only one I enjoy in the show.

[jediwands]

^^^ Cool. I have to get moving and watch shortly because if I don't watch The Pilot before noon my time, I'm going to get lost in football all day and night and won't be able to watch until either very late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

[jediwands]

I just watched! I am in love.

That was so damn good. I will say more in a second. I am already putting the show in my list of shows in the OP.

Back in a second with thoughts!

[jediwands]

Stranger Things: 1.1: CHAPTER ONE: THE VANISHING OF WILL BYERS

I am in love. Hooked after the first five minutes. How on earth have I not seen this before now? It's SO my cup of tea!

I am an American who grew up in a suburb of Cleveland in the 80s/90s, Midwestern USA. Of course I am going to relate to the culture and setting! I seriously feel like I am experiencing my childhood again. Bikes, oh the bikes are brought back! Bikes = everything in the 80s/90s USA. Kids rode bikes everywhere and we felt powerful and damn special on our bikes too... it was our form of independence and it was everything.

As a result, I am digging the 80s Midwestern vibe and all the American trends and pop culture stuff (Dungeons & Dragons! ), the music ("The Rains of Africa!" Ha!), and overall feel to it. It reminds me of a combination of The Goonies and The X-Files (80s/90s). That recipe is a good thing in my mind. 80s tropes. Small town Midwest America, kids on BMXs, D&D and nerds and repulsive bullies. Perfection. I can see why this show has been nominated and won endless awards already. Putting the terrific acting aside, the setting, production, music, directing, everything fits together like peanut butter and jelly. Just perfect! Acting is incredible, both the children and adults, this cast can act.

I love seeing Winona Ryder back on my screen. I seriously adore her acting skills. She's outstanding and I can tell she's going to light it up in this role.

The reason why this show works for me immediately is because not only did I devour and relate to the American culture and setting... but the strength is the friendship and bond between the four kids... a monster story only works if we care about the characters the monster is chasing around... and I do care! Will and his dorky friends are the heart and soul of this show... they bicker, call each other names, fight, make up, have fun, but the biggest thing of all is the intense loyalty, love and caring they have for each other. Their bond is what will carry this show.

Speaking of... I loved seeing the kids get so excited about the ham radio! These little things make me love this group even more, while remembering how much simpler and awesome growing up in their time truly was. We didn't have to worry about all the new age technology and endless social media constantly tormenting. Life was so much more simple and awesome back then.

I feel so sorry for Will's brother, Jonathan. He took an extra shift to help make some money and his brother is missing and he feels responsible. Poor guy. I love how his mother comforted him. It is not his fault, even if he thinks it is.

Ted is the most annoying oblivious kind of dad. He can leave. Do. Not. Like. Him.

Poor Benny! I immediately liked him but that was the point. He's too helpful and caring. The minute "social services" showed up and he commented on how quickly she arrived, I knew he was a goner.

Nancy and Steve making out in the bathroom... I can't tell whether Steve is a player only or really likes her. Either way I appreciated how she put her foot down and let him know she is not someone he is just going to score with.

David Harbour is awesome. Chief of Hawkins Police Department, and obviously the death of his family member has something to do with why he's lingering in pain. I liked him immediately. I love the actor too. He awesome in pretty much everything, and I'm already digging his character.

I've always loved Matthew Modine too and I assume we'll see more of him as one of the scientist/government guys.

What are the boys going to do with Eleven?!!! It's clear she has psychokinetic abilities which is really cool! I assume she escaped from Hawkins Laboratory.

Great start, loved the Pilot!

[secretk]

Originally Posted by The Apt (View Post) Stranger Things: 1.1: CHAPTER ONE: THE VANISHING OF WILL BYERS I am in love. Hooked after the first five minutes. How on earth have I not seen this before now? It's SO my cup of tea!

Glad that you enjoyed it!

I am an American who grew up in a suburb of Cleveland in the 80s/90s, Midwestern USA. Of course I am going to relate to the culture and setting! I seriously feel like I am experiencing my childhood again. Bikes, oh the bikes are brought back! Bikes = everything in the 80s/90s USA. Kids rode bikes everywhere and we felt powerful and damn special on our bikes too... it was our form of independence and it was everything.

Given my two left legs I never felt comfortable riding a bike . And in general unlike most people I have no nostalgia of my childhood time. I spent my childhood wishing being an adult and I still like being an adult.

As a result, I am digging the 80s Midwestern vibe and all the American trends and pop culture stuff (Dungeons & Dragons! ), the music ("The Rains of Africa!" Ha!), and overall feel to it. It reminds me of a combination of The Goonies and The X-Files (80s/90s). That recipe is a good thing in my mind. 80s tropes. Small town Midwest America, kids on BMXs, D&D and nerds and repulsive bullies. Perfection. I can see why this show has been nominated and won endless awards already. Putting the terrific acting aside, the setting, production, music, directing, everything fits together like peanut butter and jelly. Just perfect! Acting is incredible, both the children and adults, this cast all knows how to act.

I don't even know what Dungeons & Dragons is and as a result the whole first conversation of the kids was like WTF. I never liked X files nor the 80s tropes. This is my problem. I have never liked that type of movies.

I love seeing Winona Ryder back on my screen. I seriously adore her acting skills. She's outstanding and I can tell she's going to light it up in this role.

I am OK with the acting of the worried mother . Recognizing her son's breathing in the phone was a bit too dramatic to me though.

The reason why this show works for me immediately is because not only did I devour and relate to the American culture and setting... but the strength is the friendship and bond between the four kids... a monster story only works if we care about the characters the monster is chasing around... and I do care! Will and his dorky friends are the heart and soul of this show... they bicker, call each other names, fight, make up, have fun, but the biggest thing of all is the intense loyalty, love and caring they have for each other. Their bond is what will carry this show.

Lucky you. I could not care any less for the characters of this show. Except Benny who died and 11. All of the rest are like I so do not care for you. And I really don't. I even mix Will and that character in which house they were. I do not even remember the names of those kids. That is how much I do not care about them.

Speaking of... I loved seeing the kids get so excited about the ham radio! These little things make me love this group even more, while remembering how much simpler and awesome growing up in their time truly was. We didn't have to worry about all the new age technology and endless social media constantly tormenting. Life was so much more simple and awesome back then.

That was cool . Though I like the new life. I am part of that technology evolution with my work so I enjoy this a lot more. I know where to draw the line but yeah I like the world I am living in as far as technology progress.

I feel so sorry for Will's brother, Jonathan. He took an extra shift to help make some money and his brother is missing and he feels responsible. Poor guy. I love how his mother comforted him. It is not his fault, even if he thinks it is.

While the scene was good again I did not know them at all so I could not relate to that scene. I saw him like 15 minutes ago and then I have to relate to his emotional breakdown. It does not work like that for me. I watched the scene, but I could not relate to it.

Ted is the most annoying oblivious kind of dad. He can leave. Do. Not. Like. Him.

Is this the father of the kid in which house they were in the beginning? If yes I don't even know when they mentioned his name . Either way I could not care about him either.

Poor Benny! I immediately liked him but that was the point. He's too helpful and caring. The minute "social services" showed up and he commented on how quickly she arrived, I knew he was a goner.

That is definitely true . The moment he commented how quick they came and I knew that there was something fishy.

Nancy and Steve making out in the bathroom... I can't tell whether Steve is a player only or really likes her. Either way I appreciated how she put her foot down and let him know she is not someone he is just going to score with.

Yeah I do not care if Steve is a player or not to be honest, nor I do care about their romantic story. I wanted to fast forward those scenes. I want sci-fi, teen romantic story is not what I want.

David Harbour is awesome. Chief of Hawkins Police Department, and obviously the death of his family member has something to do with why he's lingering in pain. I liked him immediately. I love the actor too. He awesome in pretty much everything, and I'm already digging his character.

I did not like him to be honest, but this is true for most of the characters in the show. I do think that his daughter's death is related to the mystery of the show though. I might be wrong, but I doubt that they mentioned it only for the drama.

What are the boys going to do with Eleven?!!! It's clear she has psychokinetic abilities which is really cool! I assume she escaped from Hawkins Laboratory.

Now 11 is the most interesting one. And great acting. You have to be really good if you manage to convince the most by saying only one word.

[jediwands]

Originally Posted by secretk (View Post) I did watch it last night and I was about to post my thoughts on it. Strange things I will start with the things I did not like. First point is the fact that show is set in 1983. I was not prepared for that. Things like that distract me a lot so I spent most of the show thinking about this than anything else. I would have liked it more if it was set in our time. Second point is that the characters are weird. I watched a whole episode there was not one character that I could enjoy enough to say that they will be my favorite. All of them were out there. I could not even get their names and sometimes would even mix them with each other. And there were certain moments of the episode related to typical personal drama that I wanted to fast forward right away because I did not care about that. Like at all. The overall main mystery is good. I will wait for you to watch it before going into details so that I don't spoil it for you. I already have some ideas about some stuff and we will see if they are true or not. For now the sci fi aspect is the only one I enjoy in the show.

Sorry you didn't love it.

I put myself in your shoes for a second and imagined watching the episode. I can see why you are turned off by a lot of things. If the setting/American culture wasn't literally dead on for me personally, I could see myself not connecting at all and preferring a present time instead.

For me the setting/time period/American culture, even specific American culture (Midwest) is why this resonated so strongly for me. It's like bang on.

[jediwands]

Originally Posted by secretk (View Post) Glad that you enjoyed it!

Thanks! Sorry you didn't love it nearly as much.

Given my two left legs I never felt comfortable riding a bike . And in general unlike most people I have no nostalgia of my childhood time. I spent my childhood wishing being an adult and I still like being an adult.

I hear you. Childhood was special for me. I had my set of friends, I loved going on adventures with them, loved my sports, memories with family. It was all good. I seriously had those 4/5 best friends like that group has on this show. It resonates.

I don't even know what Dungeons & Dragons is and as a result the whole first conversation of the kids was like WTF. I never liked X files nor the 80s tropes. This is my problem. I have never liked that type of movies.

I hear you. Dungeons & Dragons is massive in American culture. I was almost jumping up and down watching them play it, lol. Yes, I can see why this doesn't resonate with you at all.

I am OK with the acting of the worried mother . Recognizing her son's breathing in the phone was a bit too dramatic to me though. Lucky you. I could not care any less for the characters of this show. Except Benny who died and 11. All of the rest are like I so do not care for you. And I really don't. I even mix Will and that character in which house they were. I do not even remember the names of those kids. That is how much I do not care about them. That was cool . Though I like the new life. I am part of that technology evolution with my work so I enjoy this a lot more. I know where to draw the line but yeah I like the world I am living in as far as technology progress. While the scene was good again I did not know them at all so I could not relate to that scene. I saw him like 15 minutes ago and then I have to relate to his emotional breakdown. It does not work like that for me. I watched the scene, but I could not relate to it. Is this the father of the kid in which house they were in the beginning? If yes I don't even know when they mentioned his name . Either way I could not care about him either.

You had to connect/have it resonate for this to mean anything.

That is definitely true . The moment he commented how quick they came and I knew that there was something fishy.

You could even tell based on her look. She looked really suspicious.

Yeah I do not care if Steve is a player or not to be honest, nor I do care about their romantic story. I wanted to fast forward those scenes. I want sci-fi, teen romantic story is not what I want. I did not like him to be honest, but this is true for most of the characters in the show. I do think that his daughter's death is related to the mystery of the show though. I might be wrong, but I doubt that they mentioned it only for the drama.

I follow the actor. I have a feeling the character will have great substance just based on the actor alone. We'll see.

Now 11 is the most interesting one. And great acting. You have to be really good if you manage to convince the most by saying only one word.

Definitely interesting.