Just started my rewatch of Stranger Things Season 1, this time with my daughter, and it has been a blast. Ep 1 “The Vanishing of Will Byers” proved to be just as gripping as the first time. This pilot episode remains a fantastic, moody piece of television that perfectly balances childhood innocence with emerging terror.
The art and animation (specifically, the period-accurate details and the atmosphere of 1983 Hawkins) are immediately engaging and really immerse you in the setting, right from the opening lab sequence. The episode quickly establishes that great blend of Spielbergian adventure with Stephen King-esque horror.
The D&D game is a fun, innocent start that quickly turns dark when Will disappears. I was, once again, immediately pulled into Joyce’s growing panic and Chief Hopper’s world-weary investigation.
Plus, the scene where the boys find the mysterious Eleven in the rain is such a classic, compelling moment… it perfectly sets up the show’s core mystery and Mike’s immediate connection with her.
This was a fantastic, moody pilot that definitely hooked me for the entire rewatch!