Stranger Things is an extraordinary benchmark example of a streaming service producing a solely algorithm-generated series. Where AMC’s The Walking Dead derailed by killing off characters fans despised, Stranger Things takes a similar, yet seamless approach. Tapping into 1980s nostalgia, pop culture, tropes, and medias was originally a novel appeal and introduction to the series and helped secure the fan base. Following the first season, the series becomes a quick succession of scenarios and renderings that are meticulously crafted for such broad appeal, they are borderline sterile. The series’ show runners have ensured all plot and story is derived from the Netflix algorithm and it shows. Carefully organised set pieces maintain little to no independent storytelling narrative, and seem cold and disjointed. The authorship of this series is entirely corporate and uninspiring, and therefore subsequently non-existent. It’s success evident often in the performances of a often inexperienced, underwhelming young cast. Some are difficult to watch. The sickly Victorian child aka Will is .. definitely an afterthought throughout. Characters are either underwritten or non-existent (any POC), or confounding in behaviours from one episode/scene to the next (Millie Bobby Brown’s excruciatingly painful, absolutely baffling “El”). There are some decent performers (Maya Hawke particularly), but it’s frustrating seeing David Harbour or Winona Ryder languishing about with such idiocy. It really isn’t surprising that the series has hacked its way to a large viewership, it’s just disappointing than Netflix-led binge/stream viewing neuters our collective expectations of what quality story-telling is or could be.