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By Keely Glendenning, reporter; Dec. 18, 2025

     A final season of “Stranger Things” hit Netflix last month just in time for binge watching during the holidays. While the familiar cast and 80s nostalgia continue on, "Stranger Things” has nearly lost the plot, and some of the audience that initially sprung it into popularity. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

     “Stranger Things” started out as a very specific genre of thriller-drama show. Heavy with everything 80s, even down to the soundtrack and font used in the title. It was very grounded in its horror elements, yet so very outlandish at the same time, and it struck that balance perfectly. In the earlier seasons of the show, the ominous and incomprehensible sci-fi horror was balanced out well by the relatability of the setting and cast.

     The plot follows a struggling single mother and her kids, two outcast young boys as our main protagonists. Accompanying them is a high-school girl dealing with the usual yet no less stressful throws of teenage life, and the young middle school members of the DnD club, Hellfire. All of these elements balanced with a government conspiracy, child experimentation, a faceless monster living in the walls and a flipped dimension of unknown origin.

     Season 5 of “Stranger Things” does not encapsulate the same narrative style and overall tone or vibe that the show’s earlier seasons did. It was very grounded, which made the horror of the upside down and its unexplainable nature all the more palpable. Season 5 is the newest link on a chain of one-ups. Bigger budget, further story, crazier villains, more twists to come after ones that have already been explained. The borderline apocalyptic feel and increasingly outlandish plots of the newer seasons of Stranger Things take the show further and further away from its original premise. We went from one of the biggest moments of the season being the discovery that Will's body was a

fake to going “yeah, I called that,” when that very same character awakens psychic powers to mutilate interdimensional creatures.

     The creatures in question? Fully CGI and crammed by the boatload on screen. In season one we had a single Demogorgon played by a man in a suit and amped by a little computer tech; it was a silhouetted figure in the road, a stalking creature in the woods. Now there are twelve of them mauling the U.S army and audiences don't find it shocking at all.

     From the budget to the tone to the further use of CGI and the constant expansion of plot lines for the increasingly big-name actors to play out, “Stranger Things” has elevated the show a little past its original charm, but again, this isn't inherently bad; it opened the show up to those who like a little more grand, action-packed elements in their shows, those who value a cool flashy moment almost as much as a well written character interaction or realistic feeling dialog. Old viewers can still watch and enjoy the show, while occasionally rolling an eye or scoffing at the ridiculousness, and alongside them, others can sit and watch who wouldn't really have enjoyed the initial seasons of the show as much. “Stranger Things,” in its superstar expansion, has sort of dipped out of its original niche and into a bit of a different genre of story, but that isn't really so bad

By Sophia Campbell, reporter; 

Dec. 12, 2025

     The Running Man (2025) is a new action-thriller movie based on the Stephen King novel, released in 1982. It takes place in a bleak future where a deadly TV show forces contestants to run from killers while cameras watch every moment. The main character must

fight not only for money but for his own beliefs and survival.

     The movie is directed by Edgar Wright, known for his energetic filmmaking style. It stars Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate man who joins the deadly game to help his sick daughter. Other actors include William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Micheal Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel

Ezra, and Jayme Lawson.

     The plot follows Ben as he fights to survive the brutal competition, hunted by professional killers and broadcast on the most popular network. The film mixes fast action with a critique of TV obsession and society’s hunger for violence.

     The movie has a big budget of about $110 million dollars, but according to Box Office Mojo, has only made around $66 million dollars worldwide so far, a mixed result compared to

costs.

     The Running Man (2025) is exciting and full of action. While critics gave mixed reviews, many viewers find it entertaining and thought-provoking.

By Sophia Campbell, reporter;

Dec. 3, 2025

     Wicked: For Good is the emotional conclusion to the two-part movie series based on the hit Broadway musical. This film continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as their friendship is tested by fear, politics, and the battle for the future of Oz. The movie focuses more on deep feelings, tough decisions, and the meaning of doing what is right.

     The film brings back Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. Both actresses deliver strong performances, especially in the final songs. Jonathan Bailey returns as Fiyero, and Michelle Yeoh appears again as Madame Morrible. The director, Jon M. Chu continues his bright and musical style, mixing big emotional moments with strong visuals to create a dramatic ending to the story.

     The movie shows the downfall of the Wizard’s rule and Elphaba’s struggle to protect the people she cares about. The costumes, sets, and special effects are bold and dramatic. The song “For Good” serves as the heart of the movie and ties together the themes of friendship and change.

     The film performed very well, earning approximately $226 million globally on its opening weekend, according to NBC Universal Media. That greatly beats Wicked’s opening weekend numbers, with the first film, according to People.com, making only $112.5 million in its opening weekend.