Stranger Things, a Netflix original TV show aired in July 2016, is a supernatural, science fiction thriller that had everyone watching on the edge of their seats.  

Set in the 1980’s in the made-up town of Hawkins, Indiana, the show is about the mysterious disappearance of 12 year-old Will Byers and his friends’ and family’s attempts to find him. His friends, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, search for him throughout the show, and Will’s mother, Joyce, is the first to discover that Will has been taken by a strange creature in an alternate dimension.

When a friend first recommended the show to me, I was almost reluctant to start watching. The supernatural genre normally does not appeal to me. When I started watching Stranger Things, however, I was so captivated that I finished the eight 45-minute episodes in a single night.

What I find really impressive about this show is the fact that the cast is made up almost entirely of children. To star in such a serious show, these children must be exceptionally talented, and they were perfectly chosen. Millie Bobby Brown played the particularly difficult role of Eleven, a young girl with telekinetic powers who assists Will’s friends in their search.

In addition to the many skilled actors, Stranger Things has a gripping plot that pulls viewers in. With cliffhangers popping up left and right, it is difficult not to click “Play next episode,” hence my finishing the show in less than 24 hours.

Stranger Things also manages to perfectly mix horror with humor, making the show all the more entertaining. Mike, Lucas, and Dustin are the sources of most of the comical banter, but all of the characters have their moments of wit. Despite this humorous aspect, the show also succeeds in terrifying, sickening, and surprising viewers.

These factors come together to form a truly enthralling TV show that has viewers itching for the second season.