my wife and i just finished 'Stranger Things' this weekend, and i'm happy to report that it more than fulfills on its early promise. what a fun and engrossing and unexpected journey to partake in! it's a very cinematic story, almost like a movie told in eight parts rather than a serialized television show. and yeah, i definitely caught sight of 'The Thing' poster in the basement; there are other Carpenter nods to watch out for as the season progresses.
speaking of those "nods," there tends to be a fine line between homage and rip-off when it comes to creative pursuits that are steeped in nostalgia, and 'Stranger Things' walks that line so delicately and so lovingly. i was deeply impressed by the way the creators held that balancing act in place, and as a viewer, i was so appreciative of the show's depiction of the tension between horror and wonder, while completely eschewing the cynicism of contemporary american culture. there's no sarcastic undertones, no ironic winking, no 4th-wall breaking, and no distracting meta-commentary. it's so earnest and sincere in its presentation, and so dependent on its time and place to tell its story and develop its characters without ever feeling "out of date" or like a "period piece." even occasional clumsiness in the scripting or moments that push the earnestness into overly-saccharine territory somehow made the show more endearing to me. i give it my highest recommendation.
also, i'm really looking forward to digging into 'The Night Of' before too long. i tend to wait awhile on week-to-week programming so that i can watch at my own pace.