durdencommatyler wrote:Episode 3 takes a giant leap forward. I enjoyed 1 & 2. They didn't totally blow me away. There were more than a few clunky moments. But #3 was really great. Tense. Gorgeous. Wonderfully shot. Dripping with atmosphere. I dig it.
It's too early for you to be drinking all this vodka, Joey.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 2:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
durdencommatyler wrote:Episode 3 takes a giant leap forward. I enjoyed 1 & 2. They didn't totally blow me away. There were more than a few clunky moments. But #3 was really great. Tense. Gorgeous. Wonderfully shot. Dripping with atmosphere. I dig it.
It's too early for you to be drinking all this vodka, Joey.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
durdencommatyler wrote:Okay, yeah, we're fairly close on our opinions here. I disagree with a few points you've made but mostly we feel about the same.
It's a slow day on RM. Can you itemize your disagreements for me?
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
tragabigzanda wrote:
-I think the cinematography, music, and casting (with the exceptions of Ryder and Caleb McLaughlin/"Lucas") are excellent [I'd add Modine].
-I don't agree with LV's "faux retro" comment, though I get what he's saying. But I think it's a very effective soundtrack.
-I enjoy the 80s throwback vibe of the whole production.
-I think the kids have real chemistry...
-I think the dialogue is atrocious. [I agree in general, but there are some decent moments, I think]
-I think Winona Ryder is AWFUL. Matthew Modine isn't much better, though I think that's more related to the writing for his character. Ryder's eldest son is also really over-the-top.
Disagree
tragabigzanda wrote:
-There are many moments like this, where the kids' natural chemistry is shattered by having them speak far more intelligently than any 12-year old I've ever known.
-I think everything with 11 is especially terrible. "Bad." "Good." "Promise." Vomit. [She's outstanding and probably my single favorite part of the show so far.]
-I agree with whoever posted that the story is held back by trying to appeal to kids. There are a lot of parts that are neither genuinely scary, nor terribly funny. It's like they're going for a Fratellis (from The Goonies) approach, but it's constantly missing the mark. [I think this comes down to expectations, though. I think people want it to be scarier or whatever but I'm not sure that was ever the point.]
-War of the Worlds is another recent example of something that managed to ride that fine line between frightening and family-friendly. This is so far off from that. [War of the Worlds is terrible]
tragabigzanda wrote:I hope season 2 focuses on Nancy's obvious eating disorder.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
dimejinky99 wrote:If you don't lim this show you're dead inside
*speaking as a child of the 80s
The scene in episode 3 where the kids are hunting for the perfect rock for the slingshot. Christ! That scene was fantastic. Damn near made me cry. I love these kids working together.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If its of any consequence I enjoyed it way way more the second go round. Picked up on a lot more of the hidden and not so hidden references to everything 80s
