'Stranger Things' Is Better When You Don't Understand It

Low Key

#Pop Culture #Film #Comics #Race #Gender #Politics #Social Media #Cinema #Aaron Lanton #Society #News #Entertainment #Games

17:27

Why do so many of us get nervous when public speaking? Communication expert Lawrence Bernstein says the key to dealing with the pressure is as simple as having a casual chat. He introduces the "coffee shop test" as a way to help you overcome nerves, connect with your audience and deliver a message that truly resonates. After the talk, Modupe explains a similar approach in academia called the "Grandma test," and how public speaking can be as simple as a conversation with grandma. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey ! Become a TED Member today at https://ted.com/join Learn more about TED Next at ted.com/futureyou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

6 years ago 41:47

MP3•Episode home

For all the nostalgia of "Stranger Things" -- the New Coke, the mall, the music -- the most uncanny memory it conjures is the feeling of first seeing a scary movie you were too young to see.

With the very good Season 3 behind us, we still don't have resolution to some of the key mysteries unveiled in Season 1 and Season 2.

Is the show doing too much? Or does the continuing mystery add to the feeling of being 10 years old, sitting in a cold theater or watching a worn VHS tape, trying to understand the mysteries of "Gremlins" or "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" or countless other mid-80s movies that drew millions of young fans, but also flirted with very confusing horror.

We've never seen another show that reminds us of that childhood sense that we were learning about strange new things that frightened us, and that we might never understand. (And that maybe adults didn't understand, either. That was the most frightening part.) The Duffer Brothers do a very good job of capturing that uniquely unsettling feeling, and how it pierces our uncomplicated nostalgia for Slurpees, video games, and the other fun parts of being a kid.

Here are some of our other discussion points this episode, and where they come up:

1:15: Does "Stranger Things" Season 3 make any sense if you haven't seen Seasons 1 and 2?

9:02: What do the antagonists actually... want?

10:20: What happened to Billy being racist?

11: 30: "This is the only show where I think not understanding it actually helps it."

11:48: One of us calls "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" by the wrong name

15:01: Is the show introducing too many characters without fully exploring the existing ones?

20:10: Does "Stranger Things" actually care about the death of America's small towns?

30:45: What's going on with Will (or not going on with Will), and why we relate to him

38:30: Does it seem like people are more angry at Hopper than Billy?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

202 episodes

'Stranger Things' Is Better When You Don't Understand It

Low Key

57 subscribers

published 6 years ago

MP3•Episode home

For all the nostalgia of "Stranger Things" -- the New Coke, the mall, the music -- the most uncanny memory it conjures is the feeling of first seeing a scary movie you were too young to see.

With the very good Season 3 behind us, we still don't have resolution to some of the key mysteries unveiled in Season 1 and Season 2.

Here are some of our other discussion points this episode, and where they come up:

1:15: Does "Stranger Things" Season 3 make any sense if you haven't seen Seasons 1 and 2?

9:02: What do the antagonists actually... want?

10:20: What happened to Billy being racist?

11: 30: "This is the only show where I think not understanding it actually helps it."

11:48: One of us calls "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" by the wrong name

15:01: Is the show introducing too many characters without fully exploring the existing ones?

20:10: Does "Stranger Things" actually care about the death of America's small towns?

30:45: What's going on with Will (or not going on with Will), and why we relate to him

38:30: Does it seem like people are more angry at Hopper than Billy?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

202 episodes

#Pop Culture #Film #Comics #Race #Gender #Politics #Social Media #Cinema #Aaron Lanton #Society #News #Entertainment #Games

All episodes

1
The Edgelord Games of Mountainhead 38:42

4 days ago38:42

38:42

What is the message of Mountainhead ? Aaron and Tim talk about the film as a condemnation of the gamification of everything in Jesse Armstrong's Succession successor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
We Like Murderbot Well Enough 46:19

23 days ago46:19

46:19

Murderbot is a security droid who is happy to just watch his shows, and so are we. Without being security droids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Magazine Dreams and the Return of Jonathan Majors 53:49

5 weeks ago53:49

53:49

Sometimes we talk about movies that are a good hang. Elijah Bynum's Magazine Dreams is not one of them, but it is a fascinating watch with an astonishing performance by Jonathan Majors. At one point it looked like he could win an Oscar for the role — before legal troubles nearly ended his career. Now Magazine Dreams is part of a comeback attempt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Sinners Doesn't Have All the Answers 1:19:08

7 weeks ago1:19:08

1:19:08

We talk about the excellent of Sinners, the bad version of Sinners, and letting the right and wrong ones in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Common Side Effects! Righteous Gemstones! A 1979 Jack the Ripper Movie! 56:08

8 weeks ago56:08

56:08

Due to various calamities we couldn't find time to watch the same show or movie this week, so instead Aaron, Keith and Tim are just listing off a bunch of cool stuff they like and recommend. We also discuss great Disney sequels, the Righteous Gemstones, hip-hop Percocet era, and why Frozen 2 is, no kidding, the wokest movie ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Mickey 17 Review 32:28

13 weeks ago32:28

32:28

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
When Your Younger Self Attacks Your Older Self 1:14:12

14 weeks ago1:14:12

1:14:12

THE SUBSTANCE is almost a perfect partner to the last film we discussed, A DIFFERENT MAN. It's about aging and beauty standards, but also the kindnesses and harms we do to our future selves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
A Different Man 1:05:55

16 weeks ago1:05:55

1:05:55

A Different Man stars Sebastian Stan as Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis who, through a new procedure, gets the face he's always wanted. But then he meets a different man, Oswald (Adam Pearson) who thrives in a play based on Edward's previous life — and makes Edward question everything about himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Creature Commandos Controls the Future of the DC Universe 44:40

19 weeks ago44:40

44:40

We like Creature Commandos , and are endlessly amused that it is the first project under DC Studios leader James Gunn to be canon in the new DC Universe. We also have some thoughts on the weird relationship between Batman and Robin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
We're Off to See the Wicked 49:31

21 weeks ago49:31

49:31

We also plan to rewatch The Wiz sometime soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Triple CROSS 34:52

27 weeks ago34:52

34:52

Has James Patterson already used TRIPLE CROSS as the title of one of his dozens of Alex Cross novels? We don't know. If not, Mr. Patterson, it's all yours. On this episode of LOW KEY we talk about DC cop/psychologist Alex Cross, played in the new Amazon Prime series CROSS by the always good Aldis Hodge. We think it has crossover appeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Woman of the Hour: How to Not Be Like a Serial Killer 44:49

31 weeks ago44:49

44:49

Woman of the Hour starts out with a deliciously trash concept: a woman (Anna Kendrick) goes on a dating show where one of the three bachelors is a serial killer. But it takes a serious turn when almost every man in sight fails as a human being — except for George Elliott. We talk this episode about how to be a real man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
The Ruthless Storytelling of Rebel Ridge 44:18

39 weeks ago44:18

44:18

No cute hook here. This is just an awesome movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
City of God: The Fight Rages On Makes America Look Naive 54:39

40 weeks ago54:39

54:39

We discuss the new City of God: The Fight Rages On , a series sequel to the iconic 2002 film about violent kids growing up in the desperate slums of Rio De Janeiro. The kids are all grown up, and some are actually doing OK — at least in the pilot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Deadpool and Wolverine Review 30:23

45 weeks ago30:23

30:23

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
No Hard Feelings Is a Smart Bait and Switch 41:38

2 years ago41:38

41:38

Did people who got offended by No Hard Feelings actually see No Hard Feelings? We also talk about Hall & Oates, Nelly Furtado, ?uestlove and the youth of today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Loco Loki Low Key 24:31

2 years ago24:31

24:31

This episode, we talk about how Low Key Season 2 is the Wire Season 2 of Disney+ shows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
One Piece Is Determined to Win You Over 49:05

2 years ago49:05

49:05

We talk about Netflix's live-action pirate adventure series One Piece, and whether it bodes well for the future of live-action anime adaptations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
One of Us Did Not Enjoy Ahsoka Very Much 38:53

2 years ago38:53

38:53

We dig into the space procedural Ahsoka , the 400th Disney+ Star Wars series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review 35:40

2 years ago35:40

35:40

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
I'm a Virgo Review 49:14

2 years ago49:14

49:14

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
The Flash Review 56:31

2 years ago56:31

56:31

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 vs. The Best Superhero Movies of All Time 58:04

2 years ago58:04

58:04

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finally puts our favorite, Rocket Raccoon, at center stage, even if he spends most of the movie asleep. We're divided on the latest from the great James Gunn, but that leads to a discussion of our favorite superhero movies ever and which comic books we wish we could adapt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Love to All Writers Everywhere, But The White House Plumbers Just Isn't Our Thing 51:09

2 years ago51:09

51:09

We think Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux are very good in The White House Plumbers, and we realize the writers had a very difficult job to do, and we love and respect all writers everywhere. But this just wasn't our thing. Also, Aaron wonders why there are so many Nazis in our films and TV shows, because fuck those guys. Finally, Tim recommends the excellent 2004 mockumentary Confederate States of America by Kevin Willmott. And this is maybe Keith's least-favorite conversation ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Rye Lane is a Charmer 50:10

2 years ago50:10

50:10

Prepare to be delighted by Rye Lane, a film about two people who've recently broken up with others and make a quick connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Fired on Mars Review 30:48

2 years ago30:48

30:48

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Swarm, Beyonce and Michael Jackson 45:53

2 years ago45:53

45:53

Swarm, the new serial killer social satire from Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, stars Dominique Fishback in an astonishing performance. We're into it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Bruiser asks what makes a true father 1:09:46

2 years ago1:09:46

1:09:46

The new Hulu film Bruiser is about 14-year-old Darious (Jalyn Hall) who has a seemingly happy family. But when he begins hanging out with a mysterious local man named Porter (Trevante Rhodes), his parents (Shamier Anderson and Shinelle Azorah) warn him to stop, and things turn violent. The more we talked about the film, by director Miles Warren, the more we came to appreciate its subtle and nuanced characterizations, and the questions they raise. We ended up talking a lot about what it truly means to be a father. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Creed 3: It's Really Good 38:05

2 years ago38:05

38:05

We talk about how the latest installment in the Creed-verse pays homage to the Rocky-verse, even if Sylvester Stallone isn't on board. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Is Weightless and Unfun 56:02

2 years ago56:02