Stranger Things — Series 5: Chapter 1 — The Crawl — A Review

7th February, 2026.

“The Crawl”.

An Introduction.

I’ve officially been putting things off for a while.

Yes: I’ve officially been doing things!

Things that meant finding time to do other things was tricky.

You know, now I see that written down, it occurs to me that it’s not the most informative thing I’ve ever put to paper!

Let me put it this way: I’ve been busy … 

No, that doesn’t work, either … 

Let me put it like this: I’ve not watched a TV show, nor reviewed it, since Christmas.

So … ?

I’m going to remedy that, tonight: by starting on Stranger Things 5: the five and last series of Stranger Things.

Once I’ve had dinner, obviously!

~≈🐙≈~

Just as a thought for newcomers to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, or my @MrCuddy2977 YouTube channel?

I’ve been writing this blog since 2008: and in all that time … ?

Done written reviews of the whole series.

But only done video reviews of the fourth one.

When I first got a webcam.

I’m might add more Stranger Things content: but there seems little point doing so respectively.

At any rate, I’ve started this review of “The Crawl” on Saturday, 7th February: and should have it finished by Monday, 9th February.

I’ll hopefully see you then … 

~≈🐙≈~

Stranger Things — Series 4 Chapter 1 — The Hellfire Club — A Review

28th June, 2022.

Tuesday’s are unusual.

Or possibly usual.

Or possibly somewhere in between.

At any rate, and unusually for me?

I’ve got time to start watching another TV series: and will be watching The Hellfire Club, the first episode of Stranger Things’ fourth series.

Those of you who read my film and TV reviews will know I’m doing my usual thing.

I’m starting this review on the night I’m watching the episode: and will be finishing it off, tomorrow night.

Once I’ve had dinner!

Now, if you’ll excuse me?

I’ve got to put vegetables on!

~≈🧌≈~

Doctor Who Flux — Series 13 — Chapter One: The Halloween Apocalypse — A Review

31st October, 2021.

Right … it HAD to be said, my cunning plan for the evening … ?

Involved watching tonight’s episode of Doctor Who — The Apocalypse of Halloween — then doing a set of notes, then writing a review, and recording the associated video version, tomorrow night.

Hence the introduction video telling you about it!

But … ?

I’ve finished my notes on the episode earlier than I thought I would.

So, with that in mind … ?

~≈§≈~

The Mandalorian — Series 1 Chapter 1 — The Mandalorian — A Review

24th July, 2020.

OK … 

Is now a good time to mention the old Bucks Fizz song, Makin’ Your Mind Up?

Yes?

No … ?

Possibly not: no-one needs that amount of cheese at this time of the evening.

At any rate … ?

I can safely say I’ve had dinner.

And made my mind up about what to watch.

In case you hadn’t noticed the poster?

I felt sitting down with the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, would be an idea: episode one of Series 1, so you know.

And yes … I think I’m impressed … 

~≈†≈~

Stranger Things: Series 3 — Episode 1— Chapter 1: Suzie, Do You Copy? — A Review

19th July, 2019

.

Yes: you can tell I’ve been writing Teasers, today.

I’ve actually written one for early August.

About Yorkshire.

Somehow … ?



The fact it’s only now — at blah o’clock in the evening — that asking when Lancashire day is, seems like a good idea.

You know … I really need to get out, more.

~≈§≈~

At least possibly get out more … 

Or watch a film or two.

Not that there was anything catching my eye.

Which left me thinking I should raid my collection: to see what I could see.

You can tell that I have a copy of Stranger Things, series 3, sitting around, can’t you … ?

~≈§≈~

Episode 1 — Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy? — opens in 1984, in the Soviet Union: where a pair of scientist are demonstrating a new piece of equipment to a senior general.

Who immediately has the senior scientist killed … when the kit fails to open a portal to the Upside Down*.

A year later, in Hawkins?



The new Starcourt Mall has opened: and become a hang out for the romantically inclined Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and their friends sneaked into the mall’s cinema, to catch Day of the Dead: only for a power cut to happen at an inconvenient moment.

In other parts of Hawkins?

Hopper (David Harbour) talks to Joyce (Winona Ryder): he’s seriously concerned about Eleven and Mike … 

While Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is back home: after attending a science fair.

He’s got a home made radio tower he wants to show the gang: one that totally fails to work the way he intended.

But that — strangely or otherwise, for Hawkins — does pick up Russian radio transmissions.

The question, here?



Do those transmissions have anything to do with the exploding rats in the old steel mill … ?



We’ll have to find out … 

~≈§≈~

Now, I have to say, I loved the first two series of Stranger Things, I really did.

How have I felt about this opening episode of series three?


The challenge, for any series?

Is to make sure that each succeeding series stays fresh.

Stranger Things’s first two series have done that: by showing us the demons of the Upside Down: in the first series.

How hard — in series 2 — it is to defeat them: but that they can be defeated.

In this third series, though?

The Duffer brothers have refreshed the franchise … by introducing an old fashioned Cold War menace, to weaponise demons.



This?

Is going to keep me riveted, certainly.

A Cold War getting supernaturally nasty?

I want to see more of this … 

*        I originally wrote Dungeon Dimensions, there … 

Stranger Things: Episode 1 and 2 — Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers and Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street

9th March, 2017

You know, last night?

Last night I have to confess: I watched Nosferatu.

The old German silent film?

Generally considered a masterpiece: but one I felt unimpressed by.

I might have to give it another go, at some point.

When I’m a little less tired, perhaps.

On a night like tonight, in other words.

Well, I could’ve done.

I didn’t.

I thought I should maybe catch up with some of the TV shows I’ve had sitting around in my collection, and assorted wish lists.

Frankly?   I seriously fancied series 2 of Mr Robot: as I was impressed by the first series.

I’ve ALSO got the first five series of American Horror Story.

But really didn’t fancy running a (metaphorical) marathon.

Even thought at last one old friend tells me it’s worth watching.

No … I fancied going lightweight: after the Sturm und Drang of Mr Robot.

I fancied … Winona Ryder … an 1980s setting … kids on bicycles … Netflix … !

I fancied … 

Stranger Things … !

~≈♜≈~