4/5
Strange Things In The Multiverse Of Madness.
7 Episodes. Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Mattarazo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Pria Ferguson, Joseph Quinn, Edurado Franco, Dmitri Antonov, Cara Buono, Rob Morgan, Brett Gelman, Matthew Modine & Paul Reiser. Created By: The Duffer Brothers.
'Running Up That Hill' with Kate Bush and the 'Hounds Of Love'. Away from a red room of foggy foreboding, that will have me burying our grandfather clock in the garden the next time I come home. The fourth and penultimate, before the fifth final season of 'Stranger Things' Volume 1 slaps the Star Lord headphones on you for the greatest soundtrack and nostalgia trip since James Gunn scored with all those 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' volumes for your tape deck. Spinning you right round, baby right round (and upside down) like a record, it's all "very exciting" as the Queen Kate Bush said it best. But make no mistake with this sudden chart resurgence. Kate Bush has always been cool and we could never get sick of her like Caleb McLaughlin says (himself rocking the number 8 in memory of King Kobe with a Hawkins basketball jersey we just have to have, forget the Hellfire Club tee (we have Scoops Ahoy for that, Robin)). Two years back I think I stopped talking to two friend for like two weeks, because they said "who the f### is Kate Bush?!" And best believe I'd do it again. Who the f### are they?! I'll never skip on Bush (yeah, I said it) like the iconic intro of 'Stranger Things' in synth and VT. Why do Netflix always ask? Do they want to lose more subscribers? Well there's no real sign of that as all around the world from the Empire State Building of New York City, USA and the scrambling Shibuya Crossing here of Tokyo, Japan. Turning the whole world upside down, but thankfully not the Hachiko statue into a demi-dog.
'Dear Billy' I may miss Dacre Montgomery. But that episode of 'Stranger Things' season 4 raises us up like Max by graves (I love that singer). Mad Max, Sadie Sink drains it with the performance of her life next to the love of McLaughlin (so good in Netflix's 'Concrete Cowboy' alongside Idris Elba) who also steps it up this season with a swish. The kids are more than alright. They're all grown up now. And you won't believe your eyes or how old you feel (yet?!) with the flashbacks from just what seemed like a season ago. They're all spread out now, from Hawkins to California and even Mother Russia. With new friends that rock and roll, not to mention "duuude." Joseph Quinn's hair-metal, spawn of Satan being your new favourite, new character, ready for his recurring role like the scene stealing Pria Ferguson, now we have no more Billy. That is when the 'Booksmart' Edurado Franco isn't chong charming his way on hazy screen. But we all know who the real stars of the show are. Millie Bobby Brown dialling it further than her character name. Finn Wolfhard going the second part of his second name. Sink, McLaughlin and the cult favourite kids icon Gaten Mattarazo. Not to mention the sweet soul of Noah Schnapp no longer lost like Doug from 'The Hangover' on a Las Vegas casino roof. And then of course there's the older teens. The long distance love of Natalie Dyer and Charlie Heaton dialling the same. The return of last seasons best Maya Hawke, making Uma and Ethan proud for the record (let her album make you 'Blush') and the best babysitter alive, representing for us with the hair chest (let alone the iconic 'do), Joe Keery's Steve Harrington. Even if we want to hear their ice cream truck and iconic outfits and best Halloween costumes in show, sing again.
And then there's the big kids. 80's superstar Winona Ryder takes top-billing and she really is the soul of this show with a mother's love. This time partnering up with the great Brett Gelman. His fingers are like arrows. His arms iron. His feet spears. How can we love one man in one show (this) and hate him so much in another (the fantastic 'Fleabag')? You know who we do love though? The 'Weird Science' dream come true of Cara Buono. Or Netflix regular Rob Morgan copping more of a role in Hopper's absence. Yeah, Hopper's absence. It's no spoiler to show that Netflix haven't been harbouring a secret when it comes to everyone's favourite Dad 'bod of David Harbour. But here he is bald and beautiful (showing us it's OK) in a Russian prison with an unlikely, but undeniable ally (the incredible Dmitri Antonov) and one hell of a moving monologue from Agent Orange to Chief of Police. All this and the return of the silver fox with cruel or compelling cunning, Matthew Modine and a big bad monster that looks like something straight out of a Carpenter classic as the chapter titles come straight for you. Just watch this with Max headphones on if you dare, because like the first season in fan service callback, 'Stranger Things' is straight scary again. Breaking your bones and turning you over, as it takes your eyes. This will make more than your nose bleed. The Duffer Brothers have done it again. Despite a Netflix game spoiler and official Twitter accounts, revealing just as much as spoilt fans. Failing to recognise that some fans want to savour each episode and their movie like runtime, in this pressurised microwavable, binge culture and the race to be "first". And as we get ready for July's Volume 2 conclusion to 'Stranger Things 4' like the fourth of July fireworks of the third and best season set in the very month I was born. Who better to raise the stakes than Paul Reiser? We could all do with his motivating monologue in the booth of a classic American roadside diner. Shave your head like those who really should accept going bald (*holds hand up in shame*) and get ready. Going forth didn't kill you. Now it's time to get stranger. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Ozark', 'Squid Game', 'IT'.
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