Stranger Things: Brilliant and Dark

Note: this content was originally published on Podcast Wasteland (www.podcastwasteland.com)

I had the great privilege to finally sit down and watch "Stranger Things" last night. I must say that most of the night, I couldn't sleep because once again, I was seeing the future of content on the net.

Stranger Things is the creation of Earl Newton. He diligently put out update after update on the web. This set up expectations in my mind. I figured that the acting and the sets were all going to be second rate. I believed (and I think that I mistakenly wrote) that the sets were going to be green screen. I pretty much thought that Newton was trying to put up a second rate "Twilight Zone".

That stereotype was shattered last night with the first episode "Sacred Cow". Not only was the feature shot in beautiful high definition, but everything from the acting to the sets were first class. I'm a big fan of Scott Sigler as well. Finding out that he actually wrote this story really added to my enjoyment of it.

"Sacred Cow" tells the story of a Catholic priest and his orphaned savant ward who come up with a way to "see" people's prayers. An investigation by another priest leads to an examination of the true nature of religion. I'm not going to go into much more, less I spoil the plot. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES.

If the stories, acting, and brilliant cinematography stay at this level, "Stranger Things" is sure to be one of the first true episodic hits on the web.

There is only a few more weeks until the next episode. My advice to you is to subscribe on iTunes or go to the website right away. It is my firm belief that we are seeing the equivalent of groundbreaking 50's TV on the net. It's only going to get better as people such as Newton obtain more funding and a way to monetize their creations.

With content like this on the net, I might as well throw out my TV.