80’s Nostalgia & Stranger Things…

I love 80’s nostalgia! I mean honestly who doesn’t? I have loved Stranger Things since it started and Season 3 was the best so far! I know all these young kids are watching a completely different show than I am because the references go over their heads. Well let me reference all the great 80’s tributes in Season 3! This definitely contains spoilers so if you don’t want to know do not read!

It is so nice to see Winona Ryder again. I loved her in classics like Heathers, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. She had a rough time of it and it is nice to see her doing what she loves! I think she has played the part of a single mother just trying to take care of her kids perfectly and this season she seemed to have more screen time.

We have to talk about the budget for Season 3. It think it is obvious that they had a much larger budget this time around. I love the Duffer Brothers and their writing is excellent. I knew them from Wayward Pines which I used to love. It’s a shame that show didn’t get enough people watching. The monsters, the sets, that mall, the carnival, the underground Russian labyrinth, all of it was amazing looking! They used that budget quite well this season.

Have you been to the mall lately? In particular Hulen Mall? There is nothing cool or fun at the mall anymore, it is slowly dying. Also they had those 2 incidents where some guy threw a Malatov cocktail into a store? How messed up is that?! I would much rather go to Southlake. Stranger Things really brought back the 80’s mall in its prime! I saw an Orange Julius which my dad used to take me to for a treat and it was so delicious! Also there used to be book stores in the mall, Waldenbooks was awesome! Then you had your Sam Goody’s for music and movies, Claire’s for cheap jewelry, they even had a Jazzercise studio, which I remember but not at the mall. And, of course, Glamour Shots. Who didn’t get a cringe-inducing Glamour Shot done? They got you all dolled up, put some fake clouds around you and made you pose in dumb positions. Everyone has an embarrassing picture from them hidden away somewhere.

The makeover montage in Stranger Things was perfect as well. First of all the choice of Material Girl as the song was perfect. The bright colors and awful patterns of the clothes El picked were so 80’s along with the poses and sunglasses. They finally got El out of those flannel shirts and showed her girly side. The kids are growing up and I would say this was their awkward season where they are kind of gangly and look uncomfortable all the time and have discovered girls! Yes, I know, we are pretty awesome!

There are so many 80’s movie references in this season. At the very beginning they are watching George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead which I love! When they are hiding in the cineplex Back to the Future is playing. The Russian part of the story always makes me think of Red Dawn and the Wolverines! I swear I have seen that movie at least 50 times! Don’t forget War Games, another classic with Russians and the Cold War. When Billy saunters out to the pool and the moms are checking him out I swear he looked like Rob Lowe in St Elmo’s Fire! That scene was also very similar to Phoebe Cate’s in Fast Times at Ridgmont High when she saunters out of the pool. I know that caught the attention of all the teenage boys and probably some men too!

Later on in the movie Phoebe pops up again in the video store when Steve runs into her cutout and references Fast Times. I paused it during the video store scene because there were so many posters on the walls I wanted to see, The Jerk, Sixteen Candles, Firestarter, The Outsiders, etc. The Grigori character that is after El and Hopper the whole movie is strikingly similar to The Terminator in the way he talks and moves. When Nancy is being chased in the hospital by the monster there is a very classic Aliens moment. Gremlins, Nightmare on Elm Street, Karate Kid, Mangnum P.I., Goonies, the references go on and on.

However my favorite part was when Dustin and Suzie sang The Neverending Story song. Not only was it completely unexpected it was just a perfect moment. Some people thought it was ridiculous, I thought it was great comedic relief! I was obsessed with that movie when I was a kid! I know that song by heart and I loved that they sang the whole thing! You know Dustin knew he was gonna get it from his friends over that and they did not disappoint!

I think everyone I know has watched Stranger Things. If you haven’t, why not? We are in the golden age of television, don’t miss out! If you don’t watch television your excuse can be it’s on Netflix so technically it’s not on tv, think of it as a long movie. I have had a blog post floating around in my head about John Hughes movies I just haven’t written it yet. Stay tuned!

And don’t forget, American Horror Story:1984 starts September 18th!! More awesome 80’s nostalgia!