Today, I woke up like it was any other day. Little did I know, it would be a day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
 
When I was informed that a trailer for Shrek 5 had been released, I could not have been filled with more joy and child-like excitement. After all, like many others, I grew up watching everyone’s favorite green ogre go on adventures with his nuisance-turned-best-friend… that just so happened to be a donkey.

Shrek practically raised me. The franchise took over the world from 2001 to 2010 and beyond, and it’s one of the only franchises that produced a sequel in Shrek 2 that very well could be considered better than the original.
 
That scene set to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for A Hero” in Shrek 2 is when cinema peaked, as far as I’m concerned.
 
So, when I clicked on the teaser for Shrek 5 today, I was appalled and disgusted by what I saw. Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and his daughter that’s all grown up looked like they were cheaply animated. They looked like The Croods were just repurposed. They looked lifeless and soulless.
 
Shrek having a soul is a critical to the success of the franchise.
 
People online flocked to the reply section below the video asking what had happened to the old Shrek, why DreamWorks would change the animation style and design, and how they could so badly mistreat fans of the beloved Shrek saga.
 
One other disgruntled social media user even said, “God, take me now.” It’s sad to see that someone who would consider themselves to be a Shrek fan would rather have their life extinguished than live in a world where Shrek’s animation style changed.
 
Consider this a warning, DreamWorks. The people of this country and the world at large rarely ever unite and agree on one thing. But it’s abundantly clear that a majority of the population are disgusted with this animation and style change.
 
I and many others would give you all the benefit of the doubt if this was a Shrek reboot. That would provide the built-in excuse to change things up. However, if you simply choose to label something as the 5th installment, you MUST remain within the same animation style. It’s a continuation of an existing story, and changing the look of the characters ultimately feels like a recasting.
 
And to the many people of that are reading this that agree with me and share my passion for how Shrek used to (and should still) look, may I point you towards a tiny sliver of light in this dark, dark time. In 2019, prior to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie being released, a trailer that showed a Sonic character that veered away from the original source material lit a fire underneath fans that passionately burned all the way to the top.
 
Paramount heard the noise online, and had no other choice but to respond to the backlash. They delayed the release of the movie by four months in order to rework their animation to more closely resemble the character that was already established in pop culture. I’d argue that if they would not have made that change, the movie – and the sequels that followed – would not have been as lucrative.
 
History can undoubtedly repeat itself, and now is our time.
 
It’s our duty as fans of Shrek to make sure that DreamWorks hears our voice. We must not sleep. We must not fret. We must not back down. Just as Mongo in Shrek 2 went into battle knowing he was fighting for something bigger than himself (which was saying something), we must all know that we’re fighting for a Shrek design that has persisted for decades before and should continue to thrive long after we’re all gone.
 
To quote Shrek, “Ogres are like onions,” and just as a good onion can enhance a meal, a bad and slightly different looking onion can be detrimental to the success of a dish. Shrek in the first four films was a good onion, and the Shrek we’ve all gotten a peek of in the Shrek 5 teaser is a dish-tarnishing ingredient.
 
Congratulations DreamWorks! You shattered our collective dream of what Shrek 5 would look like. Returning Shrek – and his loving family and trusted sidekick – to their former glory will be the only thing that works.

What a journey it has been. This started like a month ago when the boss told me I had to write an article every month. I did that for the first month, and I even did it for the second month. Now it’s been like 6 months later and I’m just dumping the rest in one day. Not really much of a journey if you really think about it. Guys, please, if you like this, get my name out there. Tell all your friends about Scooba Wang. Grab your children and tell them about Mr. Wang. I need this more than you know. It has been so rocky at home lately that I need a positive to lay down next to all these negatives. Lastly, If I’ve said it once I have said it a million times, go watch the Last Crusade. The Austrian chick that kind of ends up being bad is seriously hot. You won’t regret it.  Now for the conclusion of “ The Star Wars We Deserved.” Kathleen Kennedy you can suck it. ​

Forget my long intros, I just want to get on with this. I’ve realized now that I waste way too much time for only 5 people to read my articles. It’s not worth it and it does nothing for my depression. You know what does though? Star Wars!!! Let’s get started where we left off, which was the differences between Ben and Rey's teachings. Looks like you'll have to click on the "Read More" button to, you know, read more on this.​

​WW84 was a film I was pretty excited about earlier this year and was so glad it got moved back because of the pandemic. I was hoping to see it in the theaters when things were safe, but I had no idea HBO Max would be doing the things they are with new releases. 
 
The film starts off with somebody other than Gal Gadot in a flashback with a child actor playing a young Diana Prince. If you ask me, you can’t begin WW84 with anyone other than Gadot, and it needed to be memorable. It was none of those things and it really started this movie off looking like a video game. Gone are the days with fantastic opening sequences like the boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The runtime is entirely too long for what it is. There’s not a whole lot going on and it’s stretched out like there is a lot more to it. The plot elements drag out for way too long and it has caused many to lose interest. It’s also very messy and confused as to how the story should unfold and at what pace. Many plot elements don’t make any sense at all and feel just jammed in for the sake of having a Wonder Woman sequel (the way Chris Pine’s Steve character came back). The most disappointing thing here is that the (few) action scenes we get are very unmemorable. It’s really lackluster in that department. 
 
Gal Gadot is magnificent as Diana Prince. There is nobody more perfect to fit the idealism and look for Wonder Woman than her in my opinion. She’s perfect. There’s an action scene towards the beginning that has her stopping each time she thwarts a bad guy to say a really cheesy line. I get that it’s probably homage to older superhero movies and it’s meant to be cheesy, but I think Gadot works better when she doesn’t have to say anything verbally, but physically. Wiig and Pascal are cool additions except for some major flaws in their character departments and a lack of any kind of memorable conclusion to their stories. You’ll see how they end and probably be underwhelmed like I was. 
 
It was awesome to see this movie in my own home, and I even got a new sound bar for Christmas to make my film watching more theater like. This is the first movie I watched with it and it was a really fun experience. I can’t help but say that this is one of those movies where the marketing and poster is better than the actual film. Wonder Woman 1984 offers enjoyable portions, but for the most part you’ll really feel the long runtime as a bad thing and be criticizing each character and plot element that comes along the way.
 
I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas! 🎄 Here's to a Happy New Year!
 
Wonder Woman 1984 currently has a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.
My Rating for WW84: 60%

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Streaming now on Netflix is Charlie Kaufman’s new film i’m thinking of ending things (2020). Kaufman is a really incredible screenwriter who sometimes directs his own feature films. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is probably the film you know him from if you’re familiar with his work at all. His filmmaking and writing style are very abstract and surreal so the films will definitely not be for everyone.

​It’s taken Kaufman 5 years to release any new work and I’d say the wait was well worth it. I’m admittedly new to his work, but I’ve been doing a deep dive lately in preparation for this new film. The movie is about a young woman traveling with her new boyfriend to his parents’ secluded farm and upon arriving she comes to question everything she thought she knew about him, and herself. Of course, there is way more to the film than that. This is one of the most bizarre and experimental films you’ll probably ever see. It’s probably the most surreal film on Netflix for that matter. Surrealism is definitely fascinating to watch, but most writer/directors aren’t typically masters of the genre. In my opinion, Charlie Kaufman is definitely a master.

​Kaufman crafted a mesmerizing artistic experience and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since the credits rolled. He gets into a lot of existential themes and he loves to comment on inevitable death, sadness, loneliness, and basic human existence. This film is depressing, comedic, thrilling, and flat-out bizarre all at once. I would suggest getting a bunch of friends to watch it with to have discussions together trying to figure out what everything means. Its brilliance is in how bizarrely surreal it is, but once you figure out what Kaufman is trying to tell you it all makes sense. Also, art is subjective so whatever the film means to you is all that matters. I’ve been typing this whole time without even mentioning any actors. That’s how much credit I’m giving to its creator. Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemons are the stars of the film with a great supporting turn by Toni Collette. These performances are all pretty fantastic and they amplify all the tones Kaufman is trying to hit.
 
The movie feels like a thematic puzzle to solve and there is a certain other element in the film that is basically the core of the film. I won’t spoil it for you, but this is where almost every answer to your questions are. I do not think everything in this film is meant to be explained concretely, Kaufman doesn’t seem interested in giving too many concrete answers. Like I said earlier, this movie is more an experience than anything else. You’re going to need to pay attention to every little detail and conversation to get somewhat of a grasp at what the film is throwing at you. In all the confusion you will be witnessing such a beautiful film. The aspect ratio, snow falling, impeccable wallpaper, and interpretive dance are just a few incredibly great things to look at in this movie. The constant snowfall is just covering everything the whole time. It works as a metaphor for constant human sadness and depression I’d say.
 
I have fallen in love with this movie in the days since I’ve seen it. It hasn’t left my mind one bit. When a movie is this challenging and well-made, they have a tendency to stay with me for a while. I’m itching at the bone to go back and watch i’m thinking of ending things for a second time. Out of the three Charlie Kaufman films I have seen this one is the most challenging. If you understand it 100% the first time you watch it, you’re probably lying to yourself. I will say that with Kaufman films its more important to him as a filmmaker for audiences to feel something rather than understand it entirely.
 
Please. Gather your friends and turn this movie on. Then re-watch it over and over again. Discuss.
I know I will.
 
i’m thinking of ending things currently has an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
My Rating: 95% (Incredible)

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Let’s face it. It’s been an absolute depressing summer (and year) for movies. In normal times we would all be out there at the theater soaking in whatever big budget blockbuster Hollywood had in store for us. This summer has been absolute garbage considering theaters across the country are closed and the big-name movies have mostly been moved to next year. These circumstances have really let the streaming services shine a bit and there’s been a few really good releases this summer overall. The summer film I’d like to highlight today is Hulu’s Palm Springs.

​Palm Springs stars Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, and J.K. Simmons. It’s significant to know that this is the directorial debut of Max Barbakow. He should be really proud of the final product and I’m sure this project will lead to more opportunities for him to grow as a filmmaker. The movie follows these characters as they all meet at a wedding, and things grow complicated as they are unable to escape the venue or each other. The story is the classic time loop gimmick made famous by Groundhog Day in the 90’s. We’ve seen so many time loop movies where the character has to live the same day over and over again. You’d think by now this idea would grow tired, but this is where Palm Springs comes in.
​

This movie takes a familiar concept and makes it feel entirely unique. There are elements of sci-fi and some really creative ideas to bring out the comedy of the situation as well as the unpleasant. Max Barbakow balances this movie so well and it’s really impressive that it feels like a cohesive whole. The romantic comedy angle of this film feels truthful and it never overstays its welcome. It’s believable and actually pretty subtle. The black comedy of this film is right up my alley and is showcased very well. All of this works so perfectly because of the pairing of Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. They both get trapped in this time loop together and must rely on each other to stay sane. I’ll leave J.K. Simmons’ character for you to discover, but it’s a fun one! The standout of this film has got to be Cristin Milioti and she definitely deserves more work in Hollywood. She gives a very casual performance until sometime in the movie when details are revealed about her to the audience and that’s when her performance becomes so complex. Samberg and Milioti are just great together and it’s a pairing I never knew I needed. You’ll remember Milioti as Jordan Belfort’s first wife in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
 
Director Max Barbakow starts to slowly reveal secrets and information to the audience about the characters as the movie runs on and it’s a great way to keep us invested. You’re having such a great time and then the movie just keeps revealing more layers to it. I’ve never seen a romantic comedy quite like this and I definitely didn’t expect it to come from a streaming service. Most importantly, this movie is fun and entertaining from the very start.

Palm Springs also delves into the existential themes that I wouldn’t really expect from a movie like this. Pondering about the meaning of life can get serious and sometimes bring down the tone of the movie. It’s interesting to think about your life and it’s meaning if your actions don’t matter, because you wake up and relieve that same day. This comedy can get somber at times and it makes it more than just a one-layer laugh fest.
          
I loved Palm Springs and it was a total surprise to me. I really admire the talents involved and they elevated the material that was put on screen! If your movie watching this summer hasn’t been very good and you haven’t seen this movie, then you’re missing out on one of the top two films released this summer (check out my Da 5 Bloods review). There’s also some ambiguous stuff with dinosaurs that many people have different takes on. I won’t say my thoughts here, but feel free to message me about it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the dinosaurs and Palm Springs. Go to the Hulu app on your smart tv and turn this on before the summer ends. I really think it’ll at least make your quarantine summer a little brighter.
 
Palm Springs currently has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
My rating: 85% (Really good)

Photo Credit: imdb.com

Hello and welcome back to part 2 of, The Star Wars We Deserved. I am your host Scooba Wang. I was very honored to see all of the great responses that came about recently due to my article. It seems that Ms. Piggy herself Kathleen Kennedy has been taught her lesson and will hopefully never destroy another franchise again. It seems that Star Wars will be doing a lot of changing in the next few years. With all of these new shows and movies soon to be made, it is hard to tell where the franchise will go. OH WAIT I KNOW! IT WILL GO DOWN THE CRAPPER! Clearly the morons out there in charge of Star Wars like John Favreau ( not even gonna bother to look up if I spelled that right because it’d be a waste of my time) and Dave Filoni only read half my article. You may have cut down the bean stock you idiots but that giant can still come crashing down. Oh look at us we are going to fix the sequel trilogy and make another edition of it that will come out in like 4 more years. What the frick is that? Am i just supposed to sit in this filth that is Star Wars until then? ​

Director Spike Lee has been an important force in filmmaking since the late 1980’s. He’s the most famous filmmaker in African American cinema and arguably the greatest. In 2018, Spike released one of his greatest films, BlacKkKlansman. It garnered 6 Academy Award nominations and it won best screenplay. This period for Spike has really been a late career high. Fresh off the success of BlacKkKlansman comes his latest film: Da 5 Bloods.

​Da 5 Bloods follows four African American veterans as they later return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide. This is a "Spike Lee Joint" like I’ve never seen before. This film is a masterful genre blend of full throttle action, adventure, comedy, and hard-hitting drama. This sounds like a hard task to balance, but Spike does it exceptionally. If you’ve ever seen a “joint” before, you know he loves to blend real history in his films as well. Spike gives a voice to people that have always been denied in Vietnam war films. Try to think of some war films in your head and name some that feature African Americans. Truth is, you probably can’t, because Hollywood has denied them that outlet. Da 5 Bloods shines a light on the black experience of Vietnam and its effects it has on its soldiers. They were fighting an immoral war for a country that didn’t accept them. They deserve their story to be told and I’m thrilled Spike Lee has done that.

Chadwick Boseman brings his all-star charisma to the role of the fallen squad leader who we see only in flashbacks. The group refers to him as the greatest soldier who has ever lived. The flashback scenes to the war are powerful and shot in a different ratio than the rest of the film. It’s shot to look like old Vietnam war footage that the American people were watching on their televisions at the time. It’s an incredibly effective touch to have the older vets look like their old selves in the flashbacks. They can only see themselves in their memory as they are now, but Chadwick Boseman’s character is still his younger self. Boseman is frozen in time and in their memory, as the way he was. The rest of the group has changed tremendously in appearance but still are the same on the inside. Spike mentioned he hated when directors cast other younger actors to play younger versions as they never look the same. Netflix wasn’t going to give him the money to de-age like The Irishman, but I think the way he did it works in his favor.

The best performance in the film comes from Delroy Lindo. He should seriously be nominated for an Academy Award with his truthfully poignant performance. His character is much like a Shakespearean tragedy, and Lindo portrays it with ferociousness and vulnerability. I won’t spoil anything, but there is much more to his character than anybody else.
 
Da 5 Bloods is a riveting look at the African American experience of Vietnam. You’re going to learn a lot about the nation’s history while watching since Spike loves to plug real-life footage into his films. You’ll feel like you’re going on a grand adventure going to find some buried treasure. Along the way you’ll be reminded of how well Spike blends so many genres into one and it’ll have you riveted the whole way through. With the rising Black Lives Matter protests and everything going on in America right now, this movie couldn’t have come out at a better time. With that said, go immediately to Netflix and watch Da 5 Bloods. It’ll speak to you and I’m sure you’re going to love its unpredictability.
 
Da 5 Bloods currently has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes
My rating: 90% (Great)

Photo Credit: imdb.com

​If you don’t like Star Wars then stop reading this right now, go to your parents wherever they are, hand your father a belt with the buckle side facing up and tell him to teach you a lesson. If you love Star Wars or your Dad just gave you the whipping of a lifetime, welcome to an article that will leave you wanting more. I have been a Star Wars fan since I was born because my mom “ forced” me out. The only franchise that comes close or stands equal to that of Star Wars is the amazing work of J.R.R Tolkien with the Lord of the Rings films. But I’m not here to talk about him because his stuff was amazing and didn’t get screwed up like Star Wars did. Marvel, I’ve seen your movies, they are good, but lick my butt, you aren’t even close to these franchises. Throw in a brother and sister kissing and then we'll talk.

7.3/10
In 1994, Disney released an absolute masterpiece. The Lion King (1994) is one of the best films ever made. It’s a film that is admired and beloved all over the world. They really struck gold, and everything came into place to make such a great movie. It’s essentially Disney’s take on Hamlet, and the story feels very Shakespearean and just epic. That story element with award winning music, great hand drawn animation, and perfect voice acting makes for a masterwork. It’ll make you laugh, cry, cheer, and all of the above. It’s as close to perfection a film can get.

In 2019, Disney released a “live action” remake of their masterpiece. Is this Disney’s “Circle of Life?”. They create a classic film and 20 something years later they remake it? Yes, I think it is. Some argue about the live action aspect, since only one shot was actually filmed while the rest of it was made in a computer. Whether you want to call it animation or live action, it’s pretty damn impressive. Director Jon Favreau and his team have done some incredible CGI work starting with The Jungle Book (2016) and perfecting it with this new film. Every shot looks photorealistic and it’s simply stunning how real everything looks. The animals and backgrounds are all made from a computer and that’s absolutely mind blowing for how real this thing looks. The creative and technical crew behind this deserves countless awards and praise for what they’ve done here. So for the visuals, this film is a stunning achievement in technology.
 
The tall task is getting these beautifully realistic animals to sing and for the most part, it works. The animals don’t show any emotion while they talk or sing. It’s distracting at first, but you have to think about it. I’m mostly talking about the lions here. The director definitely went the more realistic approach and sometimes the emotional aspect of the story isn’t there. It’s different and hard to connect to characters that won’t show emotion. That seems to be everyone’s complaints all over Twitter and I agree to some extent. I also agree with the realistic approach the director took and I couldn’t imagine having to make those decisions. The thing that helps make it work are the wonderful performances by the cast. It’s really a great cast and after seeing the film I wouldn’t want anybody else voicing these characters in the new film. The stand outs were definitely Billy Eichner as Timon and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa. They were absolutely hilarious and added some really fun and new dialogue to the story.

The incomparable James Earl Jones came back to reprise his role as Mufasa. Jones has one of the most iconic voices in film history and it’s amazing to hear him take on this role again. JD McCrary plays young Simba and he was great! Donald Glover plays Simba when he’s older and he also does a very nice job. Let’s talk about the music. Childish Gambino and Beyoncé take on “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and it’s pretty good! I couldn’t help but notice that they sang that song during the day. Why? How? How does that make sense? The original was during the night and I don’t see how it makes sense to sing that song during the day. Also, Beyoncé’s new song “Spirit” for this film was added into a scene in the film and it felt forced and I didn’t like how it sounded. For me, it didn’t fit into this world or sound like any of the other music. It sticks out like a sore thumb and feels only placed into the film to try to get her an Oscar (which I highly doubt will happen). The iconic “Be Prepared” gets a facelift and becomes shorter and less singing with more angry yelling. I liked it and the performance of it was really good by Chiwetel Ejiofor. JD McCrary was amazing on his rendition of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”.

The music for this was really well done and I’m glad to say that! The incredible Hans Zimmer comes back to create the score for this film and it’s great as always. Zimmer is the man behind the scores for films such as Interstellar, Inception, Gladiator, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and The Lion King. The visuals and music in this are really great. The story however is the same one you remember from the first one. This new film is almost a shot for shot remake of the original. The emotional beats in this new film aren’t as good and the directing definitely isn’t as well done. I don’t know why they didn’t try to put a different spin on some scenes. It’s like watching the original animated one but with real life looking animals. It’s an impressive visual film, but at times the pacing of the film seems slower and combine that with the visually emotionless musical numbers  and it makes for a lesser film. What can I say though, it’s The freakin Lion King! I love this story and the music so much!
 
Overall this film was very well done, and it was visually breathtaking. The story is the same as the original and it’s almost a complete remake frame for frame. It didn’t feel as new or fresh as it could have been if they took different creative choice to make it somewhat different. This movie didn’t live up to the hype I had for it. I was expecting something to rip my pants off, but instead I got an enjoyable remake that didn’t take many risks but seems worthy of existing.
 
It’s hard to go too high with this, because it’s a lesser remake of a perfect film. It was almost a shot for shot remake and the real masterpiece and must-see film is the one from 1994! 

Rating: 7.3/10
Photo Credit: amazon.com

Toy Story 4 starts out with a flashback sequence providing you information for something that’s probably going to come back up later in the film. After that, the movie comes back to present time and it really starts moving. This is such a fast-paced film and it’s done really well. The animation is absolutely top notch and at times mind blowing. Animation has come a long way since the first Toy Story (1995). Seriously, go back and watch that first film and compare it to present day technology. It’s simply incredible how they make animated objects and environments such as muddy water look like the real thing. Everything is so photorealistic and detailed. Toy Story 4 showcases what Pixar can really do with animation and its worth seeing for the visuals alone! The only worry I had with this fourth installment was the story. How could you start this story back up again and if so, how is it going to add and build story to make it better? The story had to be worthy of telling and it had to have the same emotional pathos from the others.
 
Did the story earn itself to be told? The answer is, for the most part. This is probably the funniest Toy Story ever made and there’s so much fun to be had here. It certainly did have a message and there was an emotional backbone to the story that’s very important for fans of this franchise. The toys are with Bonnie now and they all go on a road trip with her and a few new friends. Forky is a new addition and I think he did his job well. I was worried he was going to annoy me and not be a character up to Pixar’s standards. All in all, Forky was just a side character and plot device to set this story in motion with the other characters. I do feel like original characters that have been there all these years took a backseat to other certain characters. There’s not much to see of Rex, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, or Hamm. The new characters are very fun to watch, such as Ducky and Bunny voiced by the comedic duo of “Key and Peele”. Keanu Reeves was also a welcome addition playing Duke Caboom, a Canadian stunt motorcyclist. Even with all these new toys, I would say Woody takes the front seat in this film and he stays in it all the way to the credits. His character has a lot of interesting arcs and choices that really drive the movie along. The one thing that I think will divide some audiences is the ending. Toy Story 3 was such a perfect ending and it would be near impossible to top that. The way they conclude this story hurts. It hurts me emotionally and logically. I can’t go into spoilers, but the ending really holds this film back for me. It feels out of place and just out of tone from the trilogy that came before.

Was this movie a “cash grab”? Yes, it was definitely a cash grab. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s a very good cash grab and I’m glad it exists. The story is worthy of being told (besides the conclusion) and the film feels fresh and exciting. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen’s voice work was amazing as always. I’m pretty sure this is the last Toy Story film, at least the last that follows the Woody/Buzz storyline. I don’t see how you can continue this story based on how the characters ended up. Honestly, with the way it ended I don’t want to see anymore from this story. It’s probably the end of a 24-year-old franchise and that’s a very sad thing. At least we have 4 films and “Toy Story Land” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or we’d all have lesser lives without these amazing films. 
 
Toy Story 4 was fresh and exciting with some very memorable moments. Pixar made a very funny and heartfelt cash grab that probably didn’t need to be made. I didn’t like how the story ended, but that may not be the case for you. Also, I’m not going to rate this film any lower just for the mixed ending because I enjoyed the movie thoroughly, thus it earned an 8.5 out of 10.

One last thing: Stay for the credits to hear Chris Stapleton’s new song for the film “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy”. 
Photo Credits: Wikepedia.com

It is common for a pop culture phenomenon TV show such as Stranger Things to hit a sophomore slump trying to follow up an original first season. Season 2 was extravagant.

It is even more customary for a visually electrifying and nostalgic show to simply run out of ideas heading into a third season. Season 3 was nothing short of miraculous and felt as unique as ever.

Stranger Things has been appealing to the masses because of its originality found both in its storytelling and its cast. As far as sci-fi goes, there has been nothing like it before, and though some may try to mimic the "get a bunch of kids to fight dimension shifting monsters" genre, there will be nothing like it ever again. The amalgamation of 80's aura and an adventurousness childhood draws an astronomically sized audience, as everyone can relate to getting into trouble in their younger days, though (hopefully) it was not life threatening like it tends to be in this show.

Season 3 brings us back to Hawkins, Indiana with the same kiddos and irresponsible adults that viewers have grown to love. If you were expecting for the small town to stay quiet and the storytelling to follow Mike battling acne or Eleven shopping at the mall, then you are sort of right, but not really. Probably about 18% correct actually. Hawkins is of course a source for pure chaos, and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the gang as well as Sheriff Hopper (David Harbour) are thrown right into the middle of it once again, whether they like it or not.

Season after season, this portal to the "upside down" is kind of a problem. Following the conclusion of Season 2, it seemed to finally be closed after Eleven exerted almost all of her powers trying to shut the thing. But guess what!? It actually wasn't, because that generally how shows work. Too bad this show is based in the 1980's and they don't have access to the revolutionary product known as Flex Seal, because they could just seal that bitch right up with "liquid rubber in a can!"

It isn't the gangs' fault that the portal has opened back up this time. The gateway to the upside down is opening up (and causing Will to feel the back of his neck a lot) because of those pesky Russians! How about that? I can only imagine the Duffer Brothers sitting there trying to figure out what to make season 3 about. 

"Well the first season we just made Will's mom bats%#t crazy, the second season we got more of a budget so we could make the monsters look more realistic and show them more, what do you think we make the big problem this season?"

"Russia seems like a pretty easy scapegoat."

"Sounds good, let's get to work."

There are primarily three story lines that are interweaving throughout the season, and they all satisfyingly come together in the epic conclusion. Hopper and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) are together for most of season three's episodes, and it seems the relationship that viewers have been "shipping" since the beginning is finally starting to materialize. The original gang, minus Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), is still biking around and playing tiddly winks for the most part.

The setting for most of the season is the new Starcourt Mall that has opened up in Hawkins and disgruntled most of the towns' older population. The mall OOZES 80's nostalgia and was an invigorating place to set the scene. Here we see characters Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin continue their blossoming bromance, as well as new addition Robin (Maya Hawke) blending seamlessly into the cast along with Lucas' little sister Erica (Priah Ferguson) stealing every scene that she is in.

This season was unbelievably brilliant, but I will now list two things that made me uncomfortable:

1) Characters Mike and Eleven have a couple of make out sessions, and though the whole "Papa Hopper" thing is entertaining, it could've been toned down.
2) It is a TV-14 rated show and THEY INCLUDED AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR between Billy (Dacre Montgomery) and Mrs. Wheeler (Cara Buono). Though nothing actually ever happens, the premeditation of it was there, and SHEWBUDDY was it cringey.

Alright, big spoiler/real reason I wanted to write this article coming up. Proceed with caution.

There has always been a dramatic death each season of Stranger Things (counting Barb in season 1 and Bob in season 2), and this year, there were three pretty gut wrenching fatalities. A Russian scientist that can best be described as "a pretty cool guy" doesn't make it, Billy sacrifices himself to save Eleven and the rest of the kids from the Mind Flayer, and the most tragic one of all that caused me to shed one singular tear (cause I am a man) was our beloved Sheriff Hopper. First two that I mentioned, definitely super dead. But Hopper? There might just be a little light at the end of the tunnel for the hot headed Hawkins police chief.

In classic TV show cliffhanger fashion, they don't actually show Hopper's death as Joyce is forced to close the portal to the "Upside Down" with Hopper in range of the explosion. Others that were in the vicinity of the massive combustion were vaporized into a pile of goo, but when Joyce rushes with hope to see if Hopper somehow survived, there is no trace of him, and there is no quote-unquote "Hopper Goo Pile." When a TV show does not actually present the visual scene of a character dying, germ-ex (99.9) percent of the time the death was fake. However, the 3 month time jump following these events where Eleven reads a letter that Hopper had written to her before his "passing" garnered some emotions that were DEFINITELY real, producing possibly the most emotional moment of the entire series. So if Hopper somehow survived, where is he?

The after credits scene which takes place in Russia shows two guards in a Russian compound about to sacrifice a prisoner to a demogorgan (aww shucks, one conveniently got out), the little rascal monster that the characters primarily faced in the first season. They walk past a closed prison door and the Russian guard says "not the American," and chooses to sacrifice a different guy (too bad he wasn't American). Fans immediately jumped to the conclusion that Hopper is that "American," and that the explosion of the Portal Opener 3000 (not the actual name of it but it'll work) somehow sucked Hopper into a wormhole and transported him to Russia. 

I believe that Hopper is very much alive, but he is definitely not the American in the cell. That is too easy. The Duffer Brothers love complexity, and that is basically putting a metaphorical bib on viewers and figuratively spoon feeding them "everything is okay." I am guessing the "not the American" is the classic bait and switch, and another American that is associated with the show is being held prisoner at the Russian base. If only Eleven hadn't lost her powers fighting the Mind Flayer, then she could just do that blindfold thing she does to find Hopper. Pretty convenient that she loses that ability.

My best guess is that Hopper was trying to get the hell out of dodge and jumped into the portal, getting himself trapped in the "Upside Down" and voila, you've got your story for Season 4: the guy that once went into the "Upside Down" to save everyone now needs someone to come rescue him from that exact same place.

You've got to love a full circle.

We'll have to wait and see what will become of Sheriff Hopper and the rest of the gang when season four comes out in a year or two. The Duffer Brothers have been open about not overstaying their welcome, so one or two seasons is most likely all they will take to wrap up the Stranger Things saga.
Photo Credits: Netflix.com