Ep. 48: Stranger Things

This week, the hosts discuss the widely popular 80’s supernatural show Stranger Things aka (our preferred title) Spooky Goonies. The hosts could help but gush over this show as they reminisce over the past episodes and provide un-spoilered details of the most recent season. 

 Summary
If you haven’t seen Spooky Goonies by now, then you’re missing out on America’s favorite horror/sci-fi adventure show. Netflix’s flagship show just released its fourth season and it’s a doozy. 

 Psychokinetic telepath (be sure not to read that as telekinetic psychopath because there are those too) Eleven and her three buddies repeatedly save the small town of Hawkins, Indiana from various alien life forms. 

 The show is an excellent example of weaving riveting storytelling with detailed character development, deeply exploring many of its side characters as well. 

Target Audience
TV14. It is one of the most popular shows as of late, so it’s hitting with all demos. 

The Positives
The show highlights the long-gone 80s phenomenon of outdoor and unsupervised play mixed with the growing realization of the vulnerability of unaccompanied children.  With cases of child abductions making their way onto the news, (see the Jacob Wetterling case ), parents, communities, and even Hollywood, began pointing fingers at what they believed were the cause of such horrific murders.  Thus, the birth of the “Satanic Panic"began.  This mass hysteria provided a backdrop for the plot of this show, welcoming newcomer Joseph Quinn to the cast as the beloved and wrongly accused Eddie Munson. 

 Speaking of actors, the casting for this show is flawless.  From the regulars, to the newcomers, to the one and done cameos (Toby from This is Us makes a crossover appearance as Benny Hammond.)

 Strong friendships make for messages of loyalty through the many challenges of puberty.

 Robert Englund (the original Freddie Kruger) shows up in the cast as a super creepy character.

 Great 80s music! TikTok has been relentless over its love for Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hilland we have Max to thank for it.

Potentially Problematic
Not problematic, but the girls couldn’t help but notice yet another show where the government builds a laboratory ¾ of a mile from a bustling town without anyone noticing. Reminds us of Superpupz. Check out our review of that episode here. 

 The show scared the hell out of Kara’s son (specifically the demodogs) and it might scare yours too. 

 Lots of graphic death and injury. 

 Drug use. 

 Grief. 

Some teenage sexuality, which varies by the season.  The hosts get distracted by discussing a particular scene with Billy. 

The costume choices are too much for Laura. 

Should They Watch It
Kara: No, and nothing has hurt her worse to say this. 

Laura: Yes to teens and tweens. 

Side Conversation
One of Kara’s son’s friends came

Transcript

Kara Edwards: 0:00

The views and opinions expressed by their should they watch a podcast are those of two moms who happen to be a registered play therapist and a voice actor for cartoons. So while they may feel their opinions come from a knowledgeable place, they are still in fact just opinions. Should they watch it? A podcast that takes the task of reviewing your kid's favorite shows up your to do list Hi there and welcome to the should they watch it Podcast. I'm Kara Edwards

Laura Orr: 0:25

and I'm more or

Unknown: 0:28

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo dddd dddd dddd Didi

Kara Edwards: 0:36

does anyone does anyone listening right now? They think we've just lost our minds. I hope anyone understand what we're about to review based off of that.

Laura Orr: 0:44

Thank goodness we title our episodes so they know that that was not a weak attempt. We really tried. Thank you for a week execution of Stranger Things stranger thing aka spooky Goonies. Goonies, which

Kara Edwards: 1:01

is my favorite ever description of Stranger Things exactly what it

Laura Orr: 1:05

is sponsored by Eggo waffles. And Jeff peanut butter and Coca Cola. If you've seen season four, I love how they have no shame about their product, please.

Kara Edwards: 1:15

Oh, I love product placement when it's done, right.

Laura Orr: 1:18

Yeah, they did good. They did good. How are you, Kara?

Kara Edwards: 1:22

I am doing good. I did want to update everybody on something that I knew. Laura, I'm sure this is something you've thought about. And I know our listeners who've been following along are probably very curious. So my my son had his little bestie from school. He's been missing him a lot. And so we had his little bestie come over over the weekend, and to play and his bestie has a twin sister, so they invited her as well. So I did just want to let everyone know, she did play with Gabby's dollhouse.

Laura Orr: 1:56

Why? The No.

Kara Edwards: 2:00

So for the first time ever, Gavin has a $200 Gabby's doll house, had someone super interested in it.

Laura Orr: 2:09

That is an update I needed. I knew it. So So Okay. What did Michael do with all the stuff he had stored in there?

Kara Edwards: 2:19

Well, so when I brought it in to review the show, I had removed all of the storage stuff. Okay. And it seems that that never made it back in. Okay, so So yeah, Michael and his little friend played with Hot Wheels the entire time. But the sister was like, you have a Gabby's dollhouse. And that was all she cared about. Man, it was so nice. In fact, it was so nice that I planned to talk to Michael at some point, we're like, can we just give it to her? Like, yeah, literally don't touch it.

Laura Orr: 2:50

I think that that would be something she would love. So was her did you watch her play on brand with the show?

Kara Edwards: 2:58

Honestly, I mean, I didn't get to see that close like what she was doing. But she like she played with that thing. That elevator was going up and down and she had all the characters and she was turning the house around and the characters were coming out and they did she was turning. She was into the doll house.

Laura Orr: 3:14

Okay, well, I

Kara Edwards: 3:16

know it is possible

Laura Orr: 3:17

that you know, another thing about that dollhouse though it's not very deep, like right. Not much that it's not a functional dollhouse? No,

Kara Edwards: 3:25

it's not. And that's what I was surprised because Remy wasn't here this weekend. And so Remy has an amazing dollhouse. That is like your old school deep dollhouse. It's got a horse stable. It's got everything a horse. It does. It's amazing. That is old school. Yeah. And I was expecting this sweet little girl to want to play with that one the whole time. And I'm gonna tell you it was Gabby's dalhausser bus that

Laura Orr: 3:49

is so so it can be done. Gabby's dollhouse has claimed another victim, apparently.

Kara Edwards: 3:54

So there you go.

Laura Orr: 3:56

There you go. That dollhouse is so not functional. I'm sorry. I know we talked about it last night

Kara Edwards: 4:00

Not at all. That's why it's been sitting there for so long and I was so excited to see someone actually take interests Yeah,

Laura Orr: 4:07

yeah, that's I'm very glad that it got some play time for sure.

Kara Edwards: 4:11

Yeah, it may actually be hers. Yeah. Because what are we doing in this life? So anyways, that's me. How are you? You know?

Laura Orr: 4:21

I'm bummed why Oh, okay. I know I wasn't a huge fan of raising Dion but I'm a little bummed because raising Dion and baby sitters Club was canceled.

Kara Edwards: 4:33

I am nega bummed actually about both shows, especially raising Dion and I saw some of the actors from the show had gone on Twitter and and we're basically saying like we we wanted to create a show that was all inclusive of, of a of everybody of all races and people with disabilities and we wanted something that everyone could see themselves in and we're just really sad that it See that? Like, that's it? And I'm really sad because we loved that show. Yeah. And

Laura Orr: 5:05

it's those are both shows that were written for the tween early teen audience. Yeah. And right now I just don't see those kinds of shows out there for for tweens and teens,

Kara Edwards: 5:21

no shows that you actually want your children watching.

Laura Orr: 5:23

Yeah, we'll also just that are available, because there are so many shows for elementary aged children, so many. But then once you get up to middle school, and then ninth grade that age, I just feel like there's just this, this slump, there's just not a lot of options out there. And it kind of reminded me of something I heard on a podcast recently about tween culture, how it's kind of disappearing, and how kids are jumping from being a young child straight into being a teenager. And I think some of that has to do with what their influences are, what they get to see and what they're exposed to, and there's just not a lot out there for them. And so with raising deonna baby sitters club being canceled that's what kind of sparked the disappointment in me is that they're the pool is already so bright, so shallow. That's right. Yeah, it's so shallow and, and, and now it's even more so. And

Kara Edwards: 6:29

that's sad, because it is true. We do do that to kids as we we expect them to grow up so fast now and, and know so much and learn so much and be ready to handle adult things so quickly. And and that's kind of the world we're in.

Laura Orr: 6:44

It's a bummer. And adults really don't. I think another problem is that adults don't, that are writing these shows. They don't know tweens as well, like you can there's so much research in developmental psychology around kids, young young kids that can inspire young TV shows. And then, you know, teen culture is is real prevalent. And there's a lot of stuff that can be written for them, even though I don't think there's as much being written for them lately. But I think that there's just this there, I read an article about baby sitters club being cancelled. And it kind of hinted at that, that there's just this lack of understanding around that age, and who they are and what they're going through. And so to write a show for them, I think is more difficult, right? That's a bummer. It's a bummer. They get overlooked. So I'm overall bummed. But I am glad to talk about Stranger Things because this is also a show at least the first season or two for for youngsters. And when I tell people we were talking about Stranger Things, they they all seemed

Kara Edwards: 7:55

surprised it was in

Laura Orr: 7:56

an all hallway of like, oh, yeah, like, I guess that could be for a certain age of child to watch. I never thought about that. Because so many adults are watching it. Right. And so to think that oh, yeah, maybe a younger kid. Yeah, no, can

Kara Edwards: 8:09

I share this when what age would be appropriate? And that's why I was glad that we decided to do this one because I am a parent who, like, again, you have to know your kids. And, you know, I have my stepdaughter who I can I know her well enough to know that we're not going to be showing her scary things. My son loves it. And we have we talk about things we talk about how things are created, how things are done. We have so much conversation. He has always been so fearless in the things that we watch together. Nothing has scared him until we sat down to watch season one of Stranger Oh,

Laura Orr: 8:52

I have been dying to ask you about this. And we should first start off by saying that Cara Kara's folk Cara. You haven't seen season?

Kara Edwards: 9:02

No, I have not. So what I really focused on Well, what my plan was, was that Michael and I were going to sit down and watch this together. I had already heard that like Season Four gets pretty dark. So I was not planning to dive into Season Four with him. But I my goal was for us to get through season one together. That did not happen. Okay. And I have so much I want to talk about that. Because it was fascinating for me it from a mom's perspective to see how he reacted to different things. And I've actually talked to other parents who have young children who've who've been watching Stranger Things from season one with their kids. And so because of all that I never had time to dive into season four but Laura thankfully has watched season four so for those of you wanting the review of the latest season, Laura is going to be able to provide that and I assure you I am going to be watching season four just as a huge fan of Stranger Things. This is a been one of my favorite shows for a really long time. But I will definitely not be doing that with children.

Laura Orr: 10:07

Yeah, yeah, I don't blame you at all. Well, so how about we get right into it? And we answer the question, Cara, should they watch it?

Kara Edwards: 10:15

Okay, this nothing has hurt me worse than to say to Stranger Things. My answer is no. Why? And now if you are asking should adults watch this ad so frequently? This is one of the best shows on television. But our question that we answer as moms is should our children watch this? And my answer is no. Okay. So Laura, should they watch it?

Laura Orr: 10:41

I am going to say teens and tweens can definitely watch okay things okay. Even sees them for? Yes. And I'm going to say yes. It. tween right. So that's 13. Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna say yes. I think teenagers shows like the

Kara Edwards: 11:04

tween. So I guess it's like 12 1314 Yeah, yeah. Okay.

Laura Orr: 11:07

Yeah, shows about teenagers usually have an edge to them. And so that this is no different. I grew up watching dazed and confused. I grew up watching Empire records. I'm pretty sure I watched dazed and confused in the fifth grade. Okay. But um, those shows both have an edge to them especially dazed and confused. I remember going to Blockbuster when I was 15, walking to the horror aisle and thinking to myself, I've seen all of these so by 15. Okay, I could tell you about so many horror movies, and many horror movies involve teens. So I'm glad personally that this is available for older, older kids to watch with their parents as well. Especially given what I just said earlier about, I feel like there's just not a lot out there. Yeah. This show does is not the norm right now a show like this, but it has been before. And so I think that kids can watch this to a certain age. And I've seen a lot of Stranger Things shirts this week by 12 year old niece watching it and she loves it. shirts on teenagers. So I know that teens are watching this and when I when I watched it, I had to think to myself what was I watching it? tween teenage Is this any worse than that? No, no. I was watching. Oh, way worse. So that's true. When I think about that, what I think about what kids can handle even season four, which is way scarier.

Kara Edwards: 12:37

Now, adults having a hard time getting through season four.

Laura Orr: 12:41

It's It's It's scary. I would say one through three. And you let me know because you you I watched it when it when they came out? Yes. Several years since I've seen one through three. But it felt way more sci fi. Yes, it had scary monsters, but it felt way more sci fi this has horror. Okay. So there's a definitely a difference. But I'll say one more thing. I think that the the kids who started watching that were probably around the same age as the actors. And so they've grown

Kara Edwards: 13:15

with the show has gotten progressively scary as they're growing. Yeah,

Laura Orr: 13:19

no, don't be nice to it and be okay with it. It's like the Harry Potter thing. Like, when you started watching season one, or when or Season One, when you watch the first ray, or you read the first book, it was very, it had a lot more playful elements a lot more and darker gets darker progressively. But that's because the audience is getting older and they can handle the scarier elements and darker elements. So that's, that's what I was thinking as I was watching him. Anyways. That's where I'm at. So how many seasons four seasons? Season? four episodes are about an hour and a half long. Do you remember how long one through three?

Kara Edwards: 13:52

They're about an hour? Okay.

Laura Orr: 13:53

Yeah, I thought they were longer this time. Yeah, that's a lot longer

Kara Edwards: 13:56

than what we were watching on season one.

Laura Orr: 13:58

Yeah. Okay. You can stream it on Netflix. So who's the audience? We were talking about that right now? I I'm seeing a mature 12 and up for 14 Plus for sure.

Kara Edwards: 14:08

Yeah. And for anyone I do have a little like synopsis of the show. I am for anyone I can't imagine. I can't imagine if you haven't, like seen the show. Floors. Like I forgot to tell everybody what the show

Laura Orr: 14:24

is we should definitely give a synopsis Kara.

Kara Edwards: 14:27

I mean, I think at this point, everyone knows what the show is about. But basically So way back in the 1980s We're gonna meet for kids. These are kids who like to play d&d, like before, it was a mega million dollar franchise that all the cool kids played. This was like back when it was still kind of like kitschy and nerdy and like you're playing what? Yeah, so we have these four kids. So anyway, one of those kids goes missing at the same time as another kid with a shaved head and this limited vocabulary shows up the kid with a shaved head Well, she's super hungry and think flea she hides out in a restaurant that's actually owned by Toby from this is us who apparently was a chef back in the 80s. Oh, yeah, I was like Toby. I got I totally forgot the Toby is the chef that she first runs into. I love a crossover, right? Yeah, don't get too excited because he gets shot dead because he cooked her a burger. Yeah. And then the three remaining d&d years they meet up with this mystery girl, and of course, like mysteries abound. There's horny teenage siblings. There's super stressed out parents the cops are. There's one cop that's good. Everyone else is like, something's wrong with these cops because they're not very with it. There is something that's called a demi Gorgon that is taking over the small town and it's dragging kids into what's called the upside down. But don't worry, because 11 We get to meet 11 Who is like the best character ever. l actually has the super powers. And she's able to go into this void to like start saving people. But okay, so but the most important thing the monsters actually aren't the things like they're they're actually not the scary things. In season one, at least. It's actually the kidnapping and child abusing scientists that somehow built this giant facility next to a really tiny town and nobody ever noticed anything. They're all like, where did this giant 70 year old factory come from? The laboratory with tunnels that go under our city. Where did this come from? Even though it's literally like three fourths of a mile from everybody's home?

Laura Orr: 16:45

Is this for Super pumps took place? I will always talk about Super PACs for the rest of my life, by the way, by the rest of my life. Pretty much pretty much same town.

Kara Edwards: 16:57

Same time. You know, on small budgets. Man, how do you

Laura Orr: 17:02

always turn up into small town? You see a little of these things in season four as well. The upside down is still a threat to the safety of this town and the people in it even more so in season four because more people are getting hurt, not just this small group of kids.

Kara Edwards: 17:22

So the upside down has expanded and it's it's more treacherous than ever before

Laura Orr: 17:27

the in a way I won't get too much away but I'm dying to see it's so good. We're introduced to a ton of new characters who are all very important to the show. i There's so much I could say but there's spoilers everywhere. Winona Ryder's character goes on a very important mission that everyone gets invested in. Everyone watching I mean,

Kara Edwards: 17:53

is Winona Ryder still just one owner writer? What do you like? Meaning like her character in this show is literally just Winona Ryder like look at look at any like award show that she's ever accepted an award on and I'm like, Oh, you're still the same. Just kind of like if I didn't your own little world.

Laura Orr: 18:12

Yes. It's hard to call her Joyce. It's like hi, Winona Ryder.

Kara Edwards: 18:16

Yeah, it's Winona. Welcome. Welcome back to I never see anything about Winona Ryder.

Laura Orr: 18:21

Yeah, I mean, it's it's she Exactly. That's a really good point. He's just so dry and Spacey. And then that does not change in this line. Okay, good. It's just another installment of Stranger Things that you have. If you liked one through three. It's a very similar format, but done differently. Considering that the kids are older, they've gone through a lot more in their, you know, previous because of the things that they've been through in the previous years. They're a lot, you know, and they're also older. Yeah. Is that makes sense? I don't know. Yeah. I can't say too much. Because there's so many spoils that could spoil things. Like, I can't talk about the lab because if I talk about the lab, then you're gonna find out things you may not want to know. So okay, um,

Kara Edwards: 19:01

but basically, Season Four is awesome. So

Laura Orr: 19:04

if you're a fan of Stranger Things, make sure you're I will say that some fans are disappointed in this season, but I have arguments as to why it's great. Okay, I can't wait to hear they like for example, they do several things really well in season four, if I may. Yeah, they that capture what it was like to grow up in the 80s. Okay, one thing I loved that they put into the storyline was, was that in the ad society put a spotlight on missing children.

Kara Edwards: 19:33

Right, that's when they started putting their pictures on. Yet as seen egg cartons for egg cartons

Laura Orr: 19:39

of milk milk cartons, yes, you know, refrigerators. They were edging their faces into dogs that they were grooming it was everywhere, everywhere, everywhere. And they they this was this was that time like when kids were going missing or a spotlight was being put on them and kids But kids were still spending hours outside unsupervised. Okay, but that idea started creeping into parents minds about my kid could actually go missing right and about

Kara Edwards: 20:10

the time that movie The I know my first name is Steven came out. Oh, what? Wait, what's that? Oh, y'all found that? Yeah, that's when we all found out that did yeah, it was like, oh, children go missing and this is terrible and now they can actually be like a four part series on

Laura Orr: 20:24

NBC. Oh, yeah. And the face on the milk curtain I think was was a yeah, really popular book or wanna say it or show or something anyways? Well, and obviously Hollywood responded to this back then. Right? Through movies. Like I think about the lost boys. Yeah, they kind of created this fantasy around what happens to kids when they go missing. So back then that was

Kara Edwards: 20:46

Wait, that's what that movie was about? Yeah. Oh, yeah. I gotta watch that again.

Laura Orr: 20:50

Well, it is definitely rewatchable if not just to watch. I forget his name. Pardon me for forgetting. But the saxophone player at the at the concert,

Kara Edwards: 21:03

where he is now had. I have not literally seen that movie. So I was

Laura Orr: 21:07

mad. I go head to toe glistening and baby oil and shaking his hips. Like his life depends on it. While blowing on a saxophone is something that will be one of the last things I think of before I die. Okay. life change. I in fact, my sister in law had him had a cameo from him sent to me. It's a big deal. Anyways, big deal. If anyone needs just stop what you're doing. Okay, and look that up on YouTube, because it'll change your life anyways. So Stranger Things. They also tap into that concept in this one what it's like for people whose kids go missing, they, you know, back then they would blame the outcasts Satanic Panic was huge. And people would blame music and games for corrupting the minds of children. Stories about satanic rituals were widespread, like these kids thinking that kids are being kidnapped to be sacrificed. This was all very big in the 80s there was a lot of mass hysteria around missing children. So if you lived through this in any capacity, there is a part of the storyline and Stranger Things season four that is going to be an interesting watch for you.

Kara Edwards: 22:22

Okay, yeah. And I mean, then the eight they do the ad so well throughout all of the seasons, especially season three where the mall becomes like the main character. And it's so much fun and that's what I think I was really excited to, like share this with Michael and be like, This is what things were like when I was a kid because I'm a child of the 80s and so we we hunkered down we actually were on vacation we took a little vacation just the two of us and in this was like special mom and Michael time and it was like we're gonna watch he's been asking to watch Stranger Things because because of season four coming out. There's been all of this advertisement and people are talking about it. He got wind of something called a demi Gorgon. And was like, I cannot live this life if I do not watch this show and hear about demo dogs and Demogorgon Yes, and all the scary things because he loves this stuff. So very comic book II, we are down I had my ad pad. We were watching Stranger Things. We made it all the way to episode three. Oh, that poor baby was so scared when the first demo dog came on screen. And he was done. Yeah, in fact, I didn't really he didn't know he was done yet. But we're of course he did point out he's like, Mom, we are in the middle of the woods, in a cabin by ourselves. And I'm like, Yeah, I probably should thought this through a little bit. That's

Laura Orr: 23:47

a pretty intense Saturday. Yeah, yeah. Yeah,

Kara Edwards: 23:50

he was so scared. He he immediately he couldn't go to the bathroom by himself. He thought demagogue ins and demagogues were all around us. I immediately shut off Stranger Things we did not go a step further. I what I did do is I brought up YouTube and I brought up all of the behind the scenes of how they filmed Stranger Things. So I did find out some really interesting facts. Oh, while we were watching these YouTube videos, like when they're in the upside down, you know how there's like spores, little white spores that are kind of floating around. Those are not CGI. They actually are blowing dandelions low or yeah, there's a whole bunch of like people on the side of the sets blowing dandelions at the people who are in the upside down to make because as the only way they could get those spores to properly float and hit the lights correctly, which I found fascinating.

Laura Orr: 24:47

I love when when they decide to go against CGI, I allow it

Kara Edwards: 24:54

and they do it are actually a surprising amount given the fact that clearly so much of this is CGI. When the Dimmick organs and the demo dogs and everything, those are actually real people. And if you go on YouTube, you can see the video of the people in their weird little suits with their weird little helmets, running through the sets and knocking over ladders. And it's really just some dude in a suit, doing it instead of the Demogorgon. Some other things did the Void is actually in a hockey rink. Oh, so they put water in there. They did blackout curtains all the way around the set, and she is actually in there. Cool. There was. So if you guys if you end up in the same situation as me and you show this to your kids, and you realize they're not ready to be seeing this yet. There's so many great YouTube videos that show behind the scenes. There's also for all three seasons, there's blooper reels. You can see the actors messing up than everything. So that made it a lot more real. I also told Michael, anytime he is fearing a demi Gorgon or he's thinking about it, and it feels scary that I want him to imagine the demagogues and Dimmick organs brushing their teeth. Oh, that they have all those teeth. That's been the biggest help for him. Like he's he's now we've turned it into something we laugh about. And we're like, could you imagine a Demogorgon like standing in front of the refrigerator trying to pick out what they want to eat for dinner. So we've turned it into something that I think is no longer scary for him. But we will be waiting years. Yeah, before we even consider revisiting this show.

Laura Orr: 26:27

Yeah, I don't blame you. He's Yeah. Is he scared of monsters in general?

Kara Edwards: 26:32

And in fact, he's a kid who has watched a lot of stuff and had no effect on him whatsoever i Something about and I honestly think it's because they do such a good job with this show who do those demo dogs especially because that's what got him was he didn't even make it to the Demogorgon. And so it was the demo dog and when it came around the corner, and of course the guy coming through the wall, like pushing on the wall seems really scary. Yeah, but when that dog opened its mouth like Michael was done. We there was no further we could go with the show. And in fact, I regretted ever having started it.

Laura Orr: 27:07

Oh, you know, I mean, they're the visuals in Stranger Things. Especially they do a really good job with the monsters so good. They introduce a new monster in this season named BACnet. And he's just as creepy and scary. Okay. And they also have the Demogorgon in there as well. So that doesn't and I mean, yeah, it's in there

Kara Edwards: 27:26

will come a time because Michael loves this. Yes. Like he likes that he likes the feeling of feeling kind of creeped out. And ooh, that's scary. And that's neat. He loves sci fi. I liked what I did really like about the show or the four kids and how they really like have each other's back and they really fight for each other and they care about each other and the relationship dynamics was great in there. We skipped over the the teenager the little horny teenagers we decided to skip over all that stuff. Michael was real clear the first time it was in the beginning when I can't even think of her name but the sister there's so many Yeah, Mike's sister. Well, Nancy, Nancy, thank you and Nancy and they they had just had their first kiss. And he was like I don't understand why there's love in this show because love isn't strange and it's called Stranger Things. He's like can we get to the green? So I just I fast forwarded through anything involving Nancy and their kind of budding relationship and and also the scene where I don't even know his name in the show but I only know him as Toby from this as us but he gets shot I fast forwarded through that too because it's graphics so yeah, there's a lot of death in this franchise I would be maybe fast forwarding through the rest of the series since you couldn't handle what we were already at.

Laura Orr: 28:45

Yeah, I think anything that is happened that is like of concern to parents happened in season four as well. Okay, except for horny teens is present but I would say out of all of the concerns that you might have that is the least of it. Okay, do not see it as much in season four.

Kara Edwards: 29:05

I think that was really just a season one thing because I don't remember it as much in season two and three a little bit

Laura Orr: 29:11

off when they and see in wills. Yeah, yeah, his brother kind

Kara Edwards: 29:15

of started but it's not as like the build up of the like, where they're going and the one guy that's a little too aggressive with his pushing of Nancy into doing things she may or may not want to do like Yeah, Steve thank you. Like I I waited like watching it that I was real fast to start fast forwarding,

Laura Orr: 29:36

okay. Yeah, yeah, I think six might be for sure. Too young in many ways. No question. Yeah. Um, so fluffier educational Kara?

Kara Edwards: 29:44

I mean, not there is not an ounce of education in this is a pure sci fi horror fun. Yep.

Laura Orr: 29:52

fluffier than a bunch of dandelions blown into your

Kara Edwards: 29:56

face. Trying to be an actor that too

Laura Orr: 29:59

fluffy In a room full of rainbows, for those of you who have watched season four,

Kara Edwards: 30:03

I can't wait. You're gonna love it.

Laura Orr: 30:05

Okay, well, you said you told me what you weren't really focusing on? Or what was the storyline between the four of them? Is that what you found yourself most invested in?

Kara Edwards: 30:13

I did. Um, I think that that's the most enjoyable part, especially season honestly, throughout the whole thing is just the relationship with these characters as they have to work together. And even the relationship between Winona Ryder whose character's name none of us will ever remember. And Hopper, like the police officer who's so great. I love him. So I'm so glad he didn't die in season three. But yeah, so just that I think it's the budding relationships. It's so enjoyable to watch.

Laura Orr: 30:41

I agree. I felt myself very, very invested and the children's relationships from one through four. I know a lot of people are disappointed and will storyline. Do you agree with that? I

Kara Edwards: 30:58

have been reading about this. And I want to make sure that you and I are thinking of the same thing. What I have been reading that people are disappointed about? Is it in season four, he does not come out as gay. I think he stays very ambiguous. He continues to hint at that quite a bit. But but he doesn't just outright state that he's in love with Mike's character, which they they definitely have spent three seasons building and it sounds like there isn't the resolution that that the fans were hoping for?

Laura Orr: 31:25

Well, you know, that we haven't gotten because this is only part one of season four. There's more. There's definitely two more episodes that are coming out in July.

Kara Edwards: 31:35

But there's still not like they still haven't come they have not no and honestly, there's been a lot of I was hoping I'd saved it. Because I would love to read her exact quote. But, uh, 11, Millie, Bobby Brown came out with a thoughts about this. And she basically said, like, why do we have to define it? Like, why is that something? You know, do we live in a day and age where you you have to at this age, because there's still teenagers in the show? And she says, you know, they're teenagers? Why is he having to define his sexuality as a teenager? Why can't he still be figuring that out? And I didn't disagree with her comment. No, at the same time, I can understand you know, for for gay, gay teenagers right now watching the show, you want that representation. So I can also understand from the fans perspective of like, I would love to see, you know, that happen. But yeah, I really can see both both perspectives on that. And like you said, there's more to come. So yeah, who knows? I mean, clearly, they are sending his character in that direction.

Laura Orr: 32:41

And yeah, and I that I've heard that I've also just heard people say that they just don't like his they feel like he's too whiny and that he's not growing up with his friends. And I really liked this character, if he chooses to come out, you know, awesome, too, for the people like you said, who are hoping for more representation? If that's not what happens with him, I still find his character superduper fascinating. Okay, just that I'm sitting there wondering the reason behind his him being behind his peers. Because there are a lot of people I think, who can relate to that type of child or who have seen this type of child in their school because there is one in every school who their girl where a girl is still playing with her dolls while her friends are wearing lipstick and having boyfriends and the boys who are still reading comic books while their guy friends are playing, you know, getting into sports and having girls sure so I love that and for me, I've been sitting there wondering is it because he was went through a trauma I think okay,

Kara Edwards: 33:55

I'm like literally bursting to be like, okay, for in all fairness, didn't he spend a year in the upside down and then a year possessed by yourself? Like, this poor child has had two years of his life literally overtaken by trauma? If he wants to go play with whatever doll he wants to play with? Let him Yeah, exactly. That's my

Laura Orr: 34:15

that's how that's what I think I'm like, Are you are you just that kid who biologically isn't there yet? Who exists in every single school? Or are you that? traumatized, right? Or is it or is it your sexuality, which I think would be very brilliant for his character? And there and if that is where they're going, I think they're doing a really good job setting him up for that. Because what is what it is like to be a gay male in the 80s Oh, I in your, in your developing an attraction towards men at a time where it's not as accepted. That would be terrifying in the 80s. So you might try to escape that through regression. Like, I'm not going to think about who I'm attracted to. I'm just gonna I do what I know is safe. And that is reading comics and playing d&d. I think that's also related

Kara Edwards: 35:07

that and very, and I mean, in what a great job that the writers have done then creating this character, because you're right. And it's a way to stay closeted. It's safe, right? Like you're watching this in in 2022. But this does take place in the 80s. I know in the 80s. It wasn't as easy to you know, it still is.

Laura Orr: 35:28

But especially during Satanic Panic, where what do people do? They go to church more they write, start reading the Bible more, they start subscribing to really toxic ideas around things like sexuality. And this is like when purity culture was really strong. And so I think though, some people are saying he should be coming out. He shouldn't he's so boring. He's so repressed, or he's like, so he just didn't know it's not growing. I actually think he's the one of the most fascinating characters on the show. I

Kara Edwards: 35:58

agree. And I haven't even seen season four, but just even knowing seasons one through three. I'm kind of like back off BuzzFeed and let this thing like,

Laura Orr: 36:06

Well, yeah, and he does give Mike a look. And he does say something that hints at him loving Mike. So I am not surprised if he comes out that way. And if so, I think that the pacing that they're doing for him is appropriate is appropriate, given given the time. And it's fascinating. I think they are opening they are making way for him to be an amazing character in the

Kara Edwards: 36:29

show. It's gonna be so interesting to see where this show go. Yeah, so for those who want him to come

Laura Orr: 36:33

out already, I say I think patience time. Time is is working in his in his favor, in my opinion. Okay. And for those of you who are saying that he's boring, really give it a second look, because there's a lot more going on and you that's interesting character development. It's so good. Okay, whereas some of the other characters I'm like, shut up, Mike. Okay. He has such a baby. Okay, and he gets worse in season four. There's a scene in a skate skating rink, where I'm like, You are the worst. Worst le could you betters? You know? And then when she dumped him was that last season? Yeah,

Kara Edwards: 37:08

it was it was in three. Yeah, it's Yeah. Season three like, because that was like the mall. It was so much mall drama.

Laura Orr: 37:15

Was that also the season with the

Kara Edwards: 37:18

with the pool? Or was that to know? Well, the pool the first pool where the pain

Laura Orr: 37:24

was an excellent setting, when what's his name? The brother there's so many characters. I'm sorry that we keep going that one guy. That one guy when Billy is the lifeguard and he's super.

Kara Edwards: 37:35

That's the best. That is so good. And I can't remember if that was two or three, but it's so good. So good.

Laura Orr: 37:42

Um, but anyway, so what else did we like? I the development like we said the characters, main characters has been fun. The only problem I have is that these kids are in really long term romantic relationships, which is totally not realistic, right? These kids in real life would have been together for like a week.

Kara Edwards: 37:58

Oh, no question. And we spent a whole month Toronto

Laura Orr: 38:03

married, they are only together because of their trauma

Kara Edwards: 38:05

if you've right, if this were real, right.

Laura Orr: 38:09

And I love it. Um, Dustin, like this is set in the 80s. But he has an internet girlfriend. I'm like, Okay, you were so ahead of your time Dustin go off, right. Oh, that's a lot of areas. And she plays a minor role in this one. And it's pretty funny. You learn like there's there's so many recurring characters that really shine in season four. Who would we who is your favorite character?

Kara Edwards: 38:36

You know what you said Dustin, I would actually say Dustin does because I just love this character I love again, I love when a show takes a child that might be considered like and I hate using the word different, but they just have like different abilities or there's something that makes them unique or special. And I love when that is highlighted because as someone raising a unique child, when I see characters that he can identify with it makes me really happy. Yeah. And and so like, I always worry, I'm going to gravitate towards the children that are just a little more unique. Yeah,

Laura Orr: 39:13

he's funny too. And

Kara Edwards: 39:14

he's flippin hilarious. Like his character is funny. He's always the comic relief.

Laura Orr: 39:19

Smart.

Kara Edwards: 39:20

He's Sue Holmes. Great friend he says it like it is I love his character who's your favorite?

Laura Orr: 39:28

Aside from Well, I think that one of the more entertaining recurring character swatches Erica with Lucas's sister Yeah girl who just like puts everyone in their place and it just great she doesn't get enough screen time in my opinion, okay, she gets a raw deal like she could she could be one of the main characters in my opinion and said she, she kind of gets put to the side. I also like Steve, I don't feel like they really know what they're doing with him in season four. So they kind of just throw him in a love triangle and and make him say funny things. But I feel like his development has been really fun to watch. Hopefully they'll do more for him in season five but but the new characters for people listening I just can I just do a rundown? Yeah, because the new characters are so smartly used girl. They have Robert England in here playing Victor Creel okay Robert England is the Freddy Krueger.

Kara Edwards: 40:23

Okay No I read something that said that he is so scary that when they were filming their scenes together that Millie Bobby Brown like kept really crying like he was really genuinely scaring her throughout direct maybe it could be the wrong character you're looking at I may be wrong. I just remember somebody who was really scary in season four actually made Millie Bobby Brown cry.

Laura Orr: 40:45

That is so interesting. I wonder if I don't think she I wonder which character they're talking about. Because it's not him. It's not him. Okay,

Kara Edwards: 40:51

I just I salsa little blurb.

Laura Orr: 40:53

I'm wondering because because there are amazing characters now I'm gonna have to go back and Google that because she does some she has a really interesting storyline. So I wonder who that that person or maybe she meets him in part two. Anyways, he his character is super creepy, so I wouldn't be surprised. And we have Peter Ballard. We have Eddie. We have Demetri who is my favorite character in Game of Thrones.

Kara Edwards: 41:18

Okay. You

Laura Orr: 41:19

remember the man without a face?

Kara Edwards: 41:20

I didn't watch Game of Thrones. I'm not I'm only I'm the last human on Earth that didn't watch Game of Thrones. Everybody can throw your throw your stones at me.

Laura Orr: 41:30

Well deserved Kara. I cannot believe you. Okay, now you've already heard somebody tell you that before he but the man without a face was such a. I just loved him. He did not get enough screen time in Game of Thrones, but he has plenty in this one. He is so good. We have Argyle Who is this funny stoner Dude, my favorite character in season four. That's a new one. We have URI who is hilarious. We have Eden who is giving me like Ally Sheedy from the Breakfast Club vibes. Ah, so that is somebody who I wanted to be as a kid Oh, we were all obsessed with her growing up you guys are if you haven't watched Season Four yet like the main characters are so it's something you never knew that you needed something else that they did that I feel like was a runaway hit was their music selection. So there's this one I've heard

Kara Edwards: 42:19

I've heard about this. This has been all over the like the socials is apparently like songs from the 80s are back. Well,

Laura Orr: 42:26

there's one song in particular that plays a crucial role in this season that hey, like, it is a character in itself. And it's called running up that hill by Kate Bush. Funnily enough, so randomly, I had never heard this song until two months ago, when it came up on our Spotify playlist, but it was being it was a remake by Meg Meyers. And Leila started loving it. And so we have been listening to this song for about two months now.

Kara Edwards: 42:53

Oh my gosh, now it's like the biggest thing ever because of the original one. Yeah, it's such a funny,

Laura Orr: 42:58

such a weird coincidence that that happened to happen in that way. So when I heard it, I was like, Oh my gosh, it was really anyways. So there's a lot to learn. Right now. I feel like I'm just fan girling

Kara Edwards: 43:13

Yeah, we all need to go watch. I mean, I No question. I'm gonna be watching this. I obviously not with Michael until he's much much older. Yeah. But yeah, we live Okay.

Laura Orr: 43:23

Should we get to the problematic? Yeah, I

Kara Edwards: 43:24

mean, I feel like I've already stated what's problematic for me watching this.

Laura Orr: 43:29

Okay. Yeah, so I'm just a continuation of that. The there's talk about boobs. They, there's marijuana use and yes, and for mentioned, there's a mention of Special K. There's cursing violence, some Gore, there's a lot of scary moments. There's hoppers backstory we get into and it involves grief related to childhood cancer. Oh, so if that's something that's triggering to you, in just one of the episodes, you might just want to skip over it. I would not say avoid altogether. This is just a personal thing. Some of the costume choices are getting really annoying to me like some of the way the wigs or some of the wigs are too much. Okay. Um, 11 Is this a spoiler?

Kara Edwards: 44:16

No, I've actually already I think I've already read this. So this is mostly out there that there's a lot of flashbacks with her.

Laura Orr: 44:21

Yes. So I Yes. Which I liked because Okay, and let her hair choice is making her look like Winona Ryder speaking of interest, okay, or in her face, and she's looking like Winona Ryder, which is freaking me out. Papa gets the Donald Trump treatment his skin is super orange. It's it's I don't understand it. And anyways, so some of that stuff got a little irritating, but that's just a personal preference.

Kara Edwards: 44:48

Their personal problems.

Laura Orr: 44:51

They just need to brush some of these people's hair. No, it just make it look much less wiggy Yeah, looks a little wiggy to me. Okay.

Kara Edwards: 44:58

Okay. Now I'd like I can't wait to watch this after hearing all of your thoughts on it to be. I agree or disagree.

Laura Orr: 45:06

I love it when we just got when I get on here and I just Gosh, I'm like, This is ridiculous. Yeah. Yeah. But that's that's all I had. Okay.

Kara Edwards: 45:13

Well, I mean, so basically, yeah. Is it a great show? It's a great show. Is it good for younger children? Absolutely not. I was gonna say my friend, my friend who is watching this with his younger children, and they are second grade and fourth grade. Okay. He's, yes. 10 I guess. Yeah. And so he was saying, because he is actually the reason that I was like, Yeah, let's do Stranger Things because he's watching it with his younger kids. Maybe I can watch it with Michael. Okay. And he said, his the older son was the daughter got a little scared. The younger one, but his older son was fine until they're the vine there's like a scene where the vines go like in down the throat and they're like pulling vines out. Apparently, that super geeked him out. He did not do well with that. There's

Laura Orr: 46:00

a lot of disturbing imagery,

Kara Edwards: 46:01

a lot of disturbing imagery. So yeah, even you know, again, know your children, the older ones, I would say definitely not under 12. For me, I will not revisit this until Michael is definitely in the tween age. And then we'll just see where he's at. This is actually I'm so glad I did this, because this has made me rethink Michael like, I thought he was able to handle so much more than you know, and that just may be that we're you know, this is just where he's at right now. We're things he's gotten old enough that things can see more real.

Laura Orr: 46:34

That's also a good point. That's a good point because his scope of the world has changed Yes, broadened. And with that can come more anxiety. Whereas if you've watched this at a younger age, it may not have even been as scary to have right like

Kara Edwards: 46:47

literally even a year ago, we might have been able to watch the whole thing. No problem. Yeah, but now no way. We're done.

Laura Orr: 46:53

So are you still a no overall though?

Kara Edwards: 46:55

Because you I mean, I know again, I'm an I am a no for the purpose of our podcast and should they watch it and as a mom, should children be watching this? No. As a as a grown adults, should you watch it? Heck, yeah. Okay. And I'm still I'm still iffy on that tween age. Okay, I would say you know, teens for sure. Teens, whatever. 15 and 1415 up Sure. But yeah, even on that like when I think about like 1112 13 I'm like, You got to know your kid like you got to know your kid got it's gonna be totally kid dependent at that point. Cool. So I stand by my answer.

Laura Orr: 47:35

Hey, man, I stand by you I

Kara Edwards: 47:37

stand by you. Thank you okay with your answer to we'll just

Laura Orr: 47:41

stand by each other. Just continue standing by each other then.

Kara Edwards: 47:46

That song is in my head. And by your

Laura Orr: 47:49

camera is that there's no I was definitely

Kara Edwards: 47:51

going just straight up stand by me. Oh, yeah, the one that is way more popular. Yeah, a little hoarse. So I would sing it right now but I'm gonna spare everybody that choice. All right, next week. Let's go to next week next week. We are going to be reviewing Jurassic Park we're just gonna stay with the violent imagery. We're just gonna go there because again the New Jurassic Park movie is out and so just came out and so we were gonna go old school. We're gonna go back to the original Jurassic Park. And is this something you should start with your children? We will let you know.

Laura Orr: 48:26

We will let you know Hello Jeff. Goldbloom just gonna say

Kara Edwards: 48:29

that right now. Oh, I mean for day I can day boy boy

Laura Orr: 48:33

just follow him on Instagram by the way he is just he's wearing the suits. Okay, you anyways but

Kara Edwards: 48:41

everyone Hi everyone. See you next week.

Unknown: 48:48

Scribe and follow us on Instagram.