Hating Stranger Things During the Death Rattle of Criticism

4 days ago

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The article critiques the decline of negative criticism in contemporary music and culture, highlighting how poptimism has led to an environment where criticism is often avoided.
It discusses the podcast conversation between Wesley Morris and Kelefa Sanneh, noting their reluctance to defend negative criticism outright.
The author laments the current state of cultural commentary, which increasingly resembles marketing copy due to societal pressures to avoid negativity.
The Ringer podcast 'The Watch' is used as an example of forced positivity in criticism, where hosts avoid genuine critique.
The author expresses strong disdain for 'Stranger Things,' criticizing its narrative flaws, overuse of references, and lack of character depth.
Key complaints about 'Stranger Things' include its unrealistic portrayal of nerds, convoluted plotlines, and excessive character roster.
The show's handling of LGBTQ representation, particularly Will Byers' coming-out arc, is criticized as cynical and drawn-out.
Visual and dialogue quality in later seasons is deemed inferior to the show's earlier, more distinct style.
The article concludes by reflecting on the broader cultural trend of avoiding criticism, linking it to the ease of ignoring disliked media in the digital age.

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