2016 represented many things, including a fear of the foreign — it was facing inconceivable monsters in the face and the sentiment of wanting to retreat to a simpler time of the past.
“Stranger Things,” created by Matt and Ross Duffer, encompasses all of the attitudes of 2016, which is exactly why it is the best TV drama of the year.
However, the series did not win because it helped us escape the news for eight hours. The Netflix original series did science fiction incredibly well.
It took what we all know and love from the science fiction films of the early 1980s and put them in a modern context we could binge watch for eight hours. The strong nostalgia we feel every time we watch “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” or “Poltergeist” was clearly present in the series.
But the series as a whole was four times the length of these movies. This was a huge draw for both lovers of the classic dramas and thrillers, as well as those who are looking for a new show to intrigue and spook.
One might feel peeved that a Netflix series won Best Drama TV of 2016, but the fact that it was on Netflix really is part of what made it the best television drama of the year. Not only has Netflix become one of the most widely watched content providers of our generation, but the suspense that builds up from a weekly run, drama television show is easily quenched with the ability to watch the whole series in one or two sittings if desired.
Season 2 of “Stranger Things” comes out July 2017, so you have plenty of time to catch up with the winners of season 1. We can only hope the second season will live up to the prodigious first.
Reach Opinion Editor Rebecca Gross at arts@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @becsgross
