Great analysis of a great show, Charles.

I would just disagree that this is the first instance of 80s nostalgia that features the suburbs. It could be seen in recent thriller/horror films like "It Follows" and "The Guest" and as far back as The Arcade Fire's album called "The Suburbs" (as well as earlier songs). But what "Stranger Things" has -- besides innumerable 80s references -- that those don't is *heart*, a je ne sais quoi quality suffusing the some of its parts. Kind of like its heartfelt 80s nostalgia predecessor "Freaks & Geeks."

Thank you so much for writing this. It's why I binged the show twice, other than the fact that it's so damn good. The 80's was the last decade of innocence before we lost it all.

Young people aren't feeling the suburbs for the city; it's only a few cities that are skewing your perspective.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/think…

"Indeed, for all the talk of the rebirth of American cities, the draw of the suburbs remains powerful. Across all ages, races, incomes and education groups, more Americans are still moving out of cities than in. (Urban populations are still growing, but because of births and immigration, not internal migration.)"

4) They start shooting the second season next month.

A suburb requires a nearby urban area. There does not appear to be a nearby urban area. When outside police get involved, it is the state police, not police from a larger city. Describing Hawkins as a "suburb" is incorrect.

Hmmm, Freaks and geeks, that 70s show, the wonder years, I m sure I am forgetting a lot. Even leave it to beaver. What on earth would posess someone to suggest that this is the fist time we have ever had any nostalgia for the suburban lifestyle of the mid to late 20th century. back to school for you, Charles.

@6, good point.

@7, I hadn't asked why about what was found in the lake, because I was so carried along by the amazing atmosphere of the show, but I'd say maybe the govt types were concerned the snoopers were getting too close to the truth (I know this was mid-season, but still) and they wanted to shut it all down quickly... What the sheriff discovered in the morgue & Will being able to use lights I'm sure will be delved into more next season. Maybe electricity can bleed through dimensions. I'd love some quasi-real physics references, like quantum entanglement. That was one of the biggest letdowns of "Lost," that they began to lay the foundation for that kind of explanation, then that was all dropped.

Good Morning Charles,
I had thought the Comments section closed.

Regarding your film review (I won't see it, TYVM), I had wondered how and why it slowly became a diatribe against Ronald Reagan. "the horror of Ronald Reagan's America." is a most absurd statement.

Ronald Reagan is the best President of my lifetime. He bests Obama by a mile. The 80s was my favorite decade. I am 56 y/o. I don't believe you arrived in America during the former's term. But even if you did, one wonders why you would enter a land that is horrible. Without a doubt, you left a land of horror that was and is the current Rhodesia or Zimbabwe of Robert Mugabe.
Seems very counterintuitive to leave one horror and enter another. This country, the USA is one of many immigrant countries and arguably the most popular during it's 240 year history. It is an appealing country whether it is Reagan, Obama or yes, should it come to pass Trump as President.

As I read your critique I thought about this billboard that I actually saw on the south side of Chicago circa 1984:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJpBkRFjkBM/V…

Appears Messrs. Ali, Frazier & Floyd Patterson (a heavyweight champ from the 50s) all voted for the man.