Stranger Things - Thanks for the Nostalgia

Hello & Welcome!

I suppose it would be a shame not to write a few words about Stranger Things. We had been watching the series since the early days and were waiting with eager anticipation for the series finale. 

I'm going to swerve entirely all of the countless posts about fan theories or inconsistencies and all of that. Things can be dissected and over analysed way too much and I think it can detract from just simply enjoying something for what it is. 

So instead, I basically just want to say Thanks to everyone involved with the show for great story telling and for helping to bring D&D into the mainstream. Just an honest thanks. It was absolutely enjoyable to watch each season and see it all come together and I am very happy with how it all ended in the end. Am I sad its over? Of course, but I think they did the right thing. Could or should there have been some more improvements? Sure, things can always be improved, but let's be honest, the same can be said for when we run our own game sessions - you just have to get it as best you can and not fall into the trap of not allowing yourself to enjoy the story telling as it comes together. 

But above all, I am most pleased with the strong feeling of Nostalgia I got at the very end. I'll not go into details to avoid any spoilers for anyone who has not seen it (I guess there are some out there still?) but it was the scene in the basement where they depicted one campaign ending and then another one starting.

To me, that was just a strong personal moment that struck a chord. It was especially poignant because I had grown up in the 80's as well so all of it was very familiar. 

That exchange between the characters really just summed up why I enjoy all of this - friends getting together, creating a story together, adventure and peril and everything in between, and building bonds and memories. 

And I am a bit old fashioned I suppose. Don't get me wrong, all of the online tools and VTT are great and allow friends to connect from all over the world. But to me, I much prefer in person games where we just use technology to look up stats and descriptions (they are lighter than carrying all the books around - but yes, we still of course have the books - and how many times we've rubbed through the hit points section on the character sheets - but that is all part of the fun). And I am fortunate to where we can run our games in person roughly once a week.

So that scene towards the end really managed to capture what its all about and it was done very well by the writers and the actors. And even just on its own without the rest of the context of how it tied into the series finale, it truly does send a powerful message. If you have seen it, then you would know all the different specific elements that really just tie it all together so sweetly and accurately and it really did take me back to the 80's in my friend's basement. I'm deliberately not going into detail - if you've seen it, then you'll know what I mean; if you've not seen it, then do yourself a favour and watch it (the whole series even). And if D&D is completely alien to you, then perhaps that ending will help you to better understand (but writing this makes me feel like I'll do another general Nostalgia post soon) what its all about.

I'll end this with a simple Thank You to everyone involved. The adventure was great, the story telling was great, and I'm grateful to have that big hit of Nostalgia - it was really appreciated.

Happy continued painting and gaming!

-Pete (& Mitz & Simz)

P.S. I'm thinking perhaps that scene may inspire me for what campaign to run after I finish running Rime of the Frostmaiden ... I'll discuss it with Adam ...