Stranger Things: Season 1 (2016) (Target Exclusive)

[Ray Jackson]

Never seen this show before, so I decided to start season 1 last night on Netflix.

Watched the first three episodes.

I think it's a good, entertaining show, but I'm not blown away by it so far. It borrows a lot from several classic shows of the past.

Am I the only one who finds Winona Ryder to be unbearable in this?

All she does is scream and cry and act hyper-emotional for three straight episodes.

I get that her kid is missing, but goddammit Winona...shut the hell up!

[TXMoviebuff77]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Never seen this show before, so I decided to start season 1 last night on Netflix.

Watched the first three episodes.

I think it's a good, entertaining show, but I'm not blown away by it so far. It borrows a lot from several classic shows of the past.

Am I the only one who finds Winona Ryder to be unbearable in this?

All she does is scream and cry and act hyper-emotional for three straight episodes.

I get that her kid is missing, but goddammit Winona...shut the hell up!

Just keep watching the rest & don’t worry she cares much better in Season 2.

[JurassicBD]

Originally Posted by jayman3

If Netflix has a 15 month wait until physical disc release (Stranger Things Season 1 came out July 2016. Disc came out in October 2017), then that means we might not get Stranger Things Season 2 Blu-ray until January 2019

That may be a little optimistic. The first season likely only came to BD because Target expected high demand. If it didn't sell as well as they expected, which seems probably considering the stockpiles still available after BF sales, who knows if they'll be interested again. Of course someone else might be interested in picking up where they left off, BUT its Netflix we're talking about, a company focused primarily on bringing in streaming customers. Releasing on physical is likely at least motivated in part by brining in new subscribers. They may not even consider licensing season 2 until interest has sufficiently fallen off online, unless physical sales of the first proved especially profitable.

[JurassicBD]

Loved this show. I also appreciate that Netflix encapsulated the season into a largely finished storyline. But, it's always great to see 80's horror done well, rather than come off as some unimaginative parody of the period, as if it were written by kids who not only weren't around yet, but also who don't respect any era before their own.

[CQD84]

Originally Posted by jayman3

If Netflix has a 15 month wait until physical disc release (Stranger Things Season 1 came out July 2016. Disc came out in October 2017), then that means we might not get Stranger Things Season 2 Blu-ray until January 2019

I wouldn't be surprised if we see season 2 released on Blu-ray/4K by Thanksgiving this year so it can sell during the holiday season.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by CQD84

I wouldn't be surprised if we see season 2 released on Blu-ray/4K by Thanksgiving this year so it can sell during the holiday season.

Same here. Did they overestimate how many people would shell out for Season One? Clearly. But was it still a monster powerhouse seller in this day and age of dying physical media? That seems a clear yes. So I foresee that there will be a physical release of Season Two, just with a more sensible, realistic release strategy.

[Alex82]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Same here. Did they overestimate how many people would shell out for Season One? Clearly. But was it still a monster powerhouse seller in this day and age of dying physical media? That seems a clear yes. So I foresee that there will be a physical release of Season Two, just with a more sensible, realistic release strategy.

I think they overestimated the exclusivity thing. There are a lot of us international fans that gladly will take those extra copies off their hands, but as long as they are stashed in Targets in the U.S... well.

This show is a worlwide hit, I hope the exclusivity expires soon.

[JurassicBD]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Same here. Did they overestimate how many people would shell out for Season One? Clearly. But was it still a monster powerhouse seller in this day and age of dying physical media? That seems a clear yes. So I foresee that there will be a physical release of Season Two, just with a more sensible, realistic release strategy.

Why does it seem a clear "powerhouse seller". Have there been any sells figures reported that I'm not aware of, comparing it with other series releases? Regardless, do you not see the contradiction there? Statements like that just perpetuate the studio line that they desperately want people to believe. To date, it's the rental industry that's most been affected by digital, FAR more than the collector market. If physical were as close to death as they say, do you think it more likely Target would have overestimated demand or underestimated it?

I'm not proclaiming there won't be a physical release. I VERY MUCH can't wait for such to happen. I'm just saying that counting on one is a bit presumptuous and forecasting when it might be is entirely foolhardy, all things considered. If this was owned by Warner Bros or Universal, that might be different. But Netflix is probably barely more dependable than ABC/Disney in terms of television support on the format, if that.

[Strapped4Cash]

Originally Posted by JurassicBD

Why does it seem a clear "powerhouse seller". Have there been any sells figures reported that I'm not aware of, comparing it with other series releases?

I don't know what they were referencing, of course, but it was a Top 10 seller for several weeks on the weekly "Blu-ray Sales" pages posted on the Home page here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=22403
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=22362
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=22329

I've seen some people who thought that was impressive, especially for a retailer-exclusive tv series.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by CQD84

I wouldn't be surprised if we see season 2 released on Blu-ray/4K by Thanksgiving this year so it can sell during the holiday season.

I agree. They would be fools to miss the 2018 holiday shopping season.

[Ray Jackson]

Also this photo is wildly disturbing:

[Show spoiler]

[Ray Jackson]

Can someone explain to me why anyone who has an active Netflix account would pay $25 for this?

Is the PQ that much better?

The special features are about as bare bones as it gets.

Is it just the irresistible allure of throwing money down the toilet in exchange for a cool case and a mini-poster?

...this is not a rhetorical question.

[jayman3]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Can someone explain to me why anyone who has an active Netflix account would pay $25 for this?

Is the PQ that much better?

The special features are about as bare bones as it gets.

Is it just the irresistible allure of throwing money down the toilet in exchange for a cool case and a mini-poster?

...this is not a rhetorical question.

$25?! Glad I got mine during Black Friday

And to answer your question, if you love the show to the point you think it's worth owning on disc, go for it.

All I know is one day I'm not going to have access to Netflix but will surely be happy knowing I have this on disc.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jayman3

$25?! Glad I got mine during Black Friday

And to answer your question, if you love the show to the point you think it's worth owning on disc, go for it.

All I know is one day I'm not going to have access to Netflix but will surely be happy knowing I have this on disc.

Is the blu-ray PQ better than the 4k streaming version?

...I'm talking about the regular HD blu-ray.

[WhiteTim]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is the blu-ray PQ better than the 4k streaming version?

...I'm talking about the regular HD blu-ray.

For me sometimes my internet speed is slow as shit and while Netflix will stream the PQ is horrible to where I won’t even bother trying so it’s nice to have em on disc where I know I don’t have to worry about the quality going in and out

[Leonidas King]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Can someone explain to me why anyone who has an active Netflix account would pay $25 for this?

Pretty simple.

Physical media will always be superior to digital streaming.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is the blu-ray PQ better than the 4k streaming version?

...I'm talking about the regular HD blu-ray.

That would be an affirmative, yes. Buried in this thread you'll be hard pressed to find a differing opinion if I recall. I'm sure others will chime in. Also, don't forget about the audio. The lossless audio track is a significant upgrade over what I heard when streaming this. Check out the below as well if you haven't taken the time.

Blu-ray.com review...
Stranger Things: Season 1 Blu-ray delivers stunning video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release.

And in the end, shouldn't it come down to whether one wants to "own" this title or not. Streaming it isn't owning it. If one is interested in making this title part of their collection they can't go wrong picking up the Blu-ray.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Can someone explain to me why anyone who has an active Netflix account would pay $25 for this?

Is the PQ that much better?

The special features are about as bare bones as it gets.

Is it just the irresistible allure of throwing money down the toilet in exchange for a cool case and a mini-poster?

...this is not a rhetorical question.

Quality (video AND audio) of bluray disk is MUCH better than streaming.

Also, as long as you stream, you are still at the mercy of a good online connection. Sometimes, my streaming goes down, delays, buffers, etc... Not everyone has the best speed internet available in their location.

Also, if Netflix ever decided to take it down, go out of business ,etc...we STILL OWN it on physical media.

So, for many of us, owning it on bluray disk has MANY advantages.

[MifuneFan]

Why does anyone feed Ray.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Why does anyone feed Ray.

For the benefit of others who might be listening in of course. :-P