Spoilers Stranger Things Season 5 - SPOILERS

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I felt like that telegraphed either Steve or Dustin, but not both. One watching helplessly, while the other dies.

Doing that to Dustin again feels excessive to me, but we'll see.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Just read about Surfer Boy Argyle getting cut from the show. They said he was part of the California side story and that they wanted to focus just on Hawkins.

I'd buy that if they narrowed the focus back to the main group of kids. However, we got Murray, Rockin Robin and her GF Vicki, Wheeler mom, Holly Mike's sister, Delightful Derek, Science teacher, etc.. Seems like a pretty weak reason to leave out a really fun character.

Yeah, I feel like there's more to him getting cut than we know. That said, Murray has had very little to do this season, so I'm not sure what Argyle would do except tear into junk food as it's delivered.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

One thing ill say is folks are being pretty hyper critical of this final season. Maybe thats just my perspective as I havent taken this show that seriously since season 2. Its morphed from a sort of supernatural horror story to a young adult scooby doo weekly Rube Goldberg device thing. Which is fun in its own right. Im not too worried about plot holes or getting D&D-isms right. Just enjoying the ride.

One thing I will be critical of though is the "dip@#$% Derek" joke that has been beaten to death. Its obvious he will have a role in the end of turning things, which im sure makes the writers feel it makes up for the barrage of name calling this kid receives. Feels like they are just overworking it to death.

Yeah, this is a 1980s Midwest where everyone's very cool about interracial friendships and romances -- which were a much bigger deal at the time than it is on Stranger Things -- but bullying is A-OK! I know they're emulating old Spielberg films here, but it is a little jarring how hard everyone goes on it with the little kids.

 

[payn]

Yeah, I feel like there's more to him getting cut than we know. That said, Murray has had very little to do this season, so I'm not sure what Argyle would do except tear into junk food as it's delivered.

If he had just a couple of well timed comedic relief moments, id have really enjoyed it. Its true, there might be more to the story behind Argyle's write out. I just dont think "too many characters trying to focus more" makes a lot of sense given what we have so far.

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

I think it's cool that Will came out. The timing was a bit odd, but it is important to his character arc, and representation is important.

Though, I do worry about how certain things were portrayed when looking at the season as a whole. I do not believe this was the intent, but some of the earlier scenes in the season could be construed as being Will being SAed by the villain and that being an influence on why he's "different." I worry that some of the anti-LGBTQ crowd might see that through a lens that has been historically used to paint the community negatively.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think it's cool that Will came out. The timing was a bit odd, but it is important to his character arc, and representation is important.

From a screenwriting standpoint, everyone tackling all their emotional baggage before the final bloodbath climax is pretty standard.

Though, I do worry about how certain things were portrayed when looking at the season as a whole. I do not believe this was the intent, but some of the earlier scenes in the season could be construed as being Will being SAed by the villain and that being an influence on why he's "different." I worry that some of the anti-LGBTQ crowd might see that through a lens that has been historically used to paint the community negatively.

I suspect the anti folks are more likely to write off the show for the scene than to see what happens to him as justified, since I don't think they're going to think that's what "Hollyweird" is intending.

 

[billd91]

I worry that some of the anti-LGBTQ crowd might see that through a lens that has been historically used to paint the community negatively.

There's never going to anything untwistable by the homo-/transphobe crowd because, for them, truth itself is subordinate to their agenda. So there's no point in accommodating them or their threat to any degree. Best to just lay out your story and stand by it.

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

From a screenwriting standpoint, everyone tackling all their emotional baggage before the final bloodbath climax is pretty standard.

I suspect the anti folks are more likely to write off the show for the scene than to see what happens to him as justified, since I don't think they're going to think that's what "Hollyweird" is intending.

I understand it from a screenwriting perspective. I wish it had been paced and placed better. Still, I'm glad to see the representation.

There's never going to anything untwistable by the homo-/transphobe crowd because, for them, truth itself is subordinate to their agenda. So there's no point in accommodating them or their threat to any degree. Best to just lay out your story and stand by it.

True.

My concern comes from a place of being someone who wants representation because it is important to me on a personal level, but seeing how, even as a person who wants to support Will's story, it could be seen in a different light. Even as someone not trying to see it that way, there are moments when the portrayal was questionable.

There are people who I expect to attack me for who I am. I don't feel the need to hand them the weapons.

 

[Umbran]

I'm betting we get at least a half-dozen deaths.

I think that's unlikely, if only because that'd be a pacing blunder. If you kill off a half-dozen protagonist-characters in two hours, you don't get a lot of emotional impact out of the deaths.

 

[payn]

I think that's unlikely, if only because that'd be a pacing blunder. If you kill off a half-dozen protagonist-characters in two hours, you don't get a lot of emotional impact out of the deaths.

Yeah, I dont see a dirty dozen/rogue one ending being set up here.