Now that we are heading into the last season of Stranger Things, it is hard to not remember the good times. Much like any goodbye, it feels too soon and is giving us a case of the nostalgia glasses. We all know that not all seasons were created equally. Yet, the wildly popular series managed to keep enough of us invested these last 10 years. It is an undeniable pop culture sensation that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It is also honestly one of the few shows that makes it hard to break up with Netflix. So, I decided to look back and highlight the best parts of each season. Grab a “Justice for Barb” t-shirt and take this walk down memory lane with me.

Our Favorite Moments From Stranger Things

Season 1: Eleven

Season one of Stranger Things brought us many memorable moments that reshaped pop culture. Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) makeshift Ouija board on the wall, used to communicate with her missing son, was a major one. However, this was also the only season that allowed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to be a badass. Which is why she is the best part of Stranger Things’ first season. Watching her showcase her powers as she sought out waffles was a mood. A relatable queen if there was one, right? From using her telekinetic powers to stop annoying diner fans to flipping vans chasing after her and the crew, this season set Eleven up to be a powerful badass. That is even before we get into her mind tricks, which we still have some questions about. Sadly, subsequent seasons have yet to follow through on the promise this one gave us. I could write a whole series about how Eleven is a reservoir of untapped potential in the next three seasons.

Season 2: Steve and Dustin

I think Max (Sadie Sink) is one of the best additions to the show, and I felt Bob (Sean Astin) deserved a better arc. However, only one arc warms my cold little heart when I think about this second season. Few things bring as much joy to Stranger Things fans as the unshakable bond between Steve and Dustin. Season 2 is where this unlikely duo found each other, and that is why they are the best part of this season for me. Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) bring out the best in each other. Interestingly enough, the actors seem to have also found themselves formidable scene partners. Whether Dustin is bringing Steve up to speed or Steve is giving Dustin tips on how to handle girls, these two stole our hearts at multiple points this season. My personal favorite is when Steve steps in to save Lucas from Billy the Racist, and Dustin cheers him on (while he has the upper hand). Dare I say, this relationship has become the heart of the show.

Season 3: Robin Coming Out to Steve 

This season of Stranger Things introduced quite a few new characters to kill, like all the other seasons. However, Robin (Maya Hawke) seemed cooler than most, and we were silently rooting for her to make it. While her easy dynamic with Steve made us worry that she would become another part of the Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan saga, we had nothing to worry about. When Steve professed his feelings to Robin, she surprised us all and came out. This led to Steve surprising us by picking up a more age-appropriate best friend in what is one of the sweetest moments of the show. Aside from becoming Steve’s platonic girlfriend, Robin also went on to become the first openly gay character in the ridiculously large main cast. So, while this season isn’t my favorite, I’m very grateful it brought us this scene and this pairing.

Season 4: Eddie Munson Meets Erica Sinclair

Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is probably part of everyone’s favorite moments from the fourth season of Stranger Things. While many people will probably cite his cafeteria entrance, his moment in the woods with Chrissy (Grace Van Dien), or the infamous “Chrissy, wake up,” those aren’t my favorite moments. Because this show taught us that Quinn is a scene thief, and he turned this season’s throwaway character into a pop culture moment, there is plenty to choose from. However, my nerdy ass’s favorite scene is when my two favorites faced off in Dungeons & Dragons. 

Resident scene thief Erica (Priah Ferguson) finally found someone who could keep up with her when she showed up to this game. Watching her and Eddie match wits before getting down to an epic game of DnD that spawned numerous fan theories about how Eddie could come back for season 5 is priceless. He forced Dustin and Steve’s duo to become a trio, played Metallica’s Master of Puppets in The Upsidedown, and broke our hearts with his death. However, I choose to remember him alive and becoming begrudgingly impressed with the little girl who takes no prisoners. I would have watched them play this game for hours and lived my best nerdy life.

We’re Looking Forward to Season 5 of Stranger Things

So, those are my fondest memories from each season of Stranger Things. Feel free to let us know your favorite moments and your predictions for the fifth and final season on social media!

The first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season 5 hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 26. Let us know if you plan to watch as they air. Or if you are going to wait until the end of the year to binge the whole season.

As genre fans, we see a lot of streamers vying for our dollars and promising to give us the gory goods. In addition to the usual suspects, we usually get a handful, geared specifically towards genre fans, that pop up every once in a while. While some deliver and stick around, like Shudder, others end up leaving us nothing but fond memories, like Chiller. With streamers like Arrow Video, Midnight Pulp, Screambox, Scream TV, etc., it’s hard to know which apps are worth the time and money anymore. Which is why, after learning about Night Flight Plus at Brooklyn Horror Film Fest, I decided to take this streamer for a test drive. I ran through the library and took notes to help you figure out if this site deserves a slot in your streaming app lineup. Let us dive in.

What Even Is Night Flight Plus?

First things first, Night Flight Plus is not just a horror app. It launched in 2016 and is built around the 1980s USA Network series Night Flight. So, they have episodes of that show and walk a fine line between genre and music documentaries. The site celebrates counterculture. Meaning there is a ton of cool stuff for film and music nerds alike. While a lot of their horror movies can be found on other apps (look right at Shudder and Kanopy), they have a robust animated film section and a ridiculous amount of short films. So, it is setting itself apart from most other streamers simply by having a decent-sized smorgasbord of random cool stuff. I personally have my eye on New York Dolls – Lookin’ Fine On Television if I have time to step outside of the horror space while playing on the app.

What Movies Are Streaming This Month?

This month’s categories of note include: Black Phone 2: Curated by Director Scott Derrickson. Derrickson proves he has a taste and has assembled a lineup which includes Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Opera, a 1988 video profile of John Carpenter, and a handful of documentaries about film and music.  

In keeping with the Black Phone 2 theme, Night Flight Plus also has:  Black Phone 2: Late-Nite Faves 1980-82. This section includes The Boogeyman (1980), Fade to Black, Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. It also has the movie that introduced me to the world of Frank Henenlotter, Basket Case.

However, it’s the Japanese Horror section that pulled me in. Evil Dead Trap, Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell, Dead Sushi, and Madame O. While some can be found in other corners of the internet, a few are movies that have eluded me for years. So, I will definitely be making time to cross these off my list while I have access to this app.

But Wait! There’s More!

Night Flight Plus also offers label showcases for companies like Yellow Veil, Severin Films, Blue Underground, and Arrow Video. The eclectic categories also include sections of work directed by Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento, and Antonio Margheriti. I also appreciate the thought to add “Blaxploitation, Mob Action and Rough Street Justice” and include Black films off the beaten path. Action fans might want to check out the Bruceploitation Collection, featuring 11 Bruce Lee films at the moment. Overall, the streamer feels like one of those restaurants that dabbles in various kinds of cuisine, and you have to figure out where it excels. 

Because memberships are as low as $6.99 per month (or $59.99 for an annual unlimited access), I think it is worth checking out for a month or two. If things get serious, you can definitely think about making a long-term commitment. To sweeten the deal, Night Flight Plus is available on Roku, Apple TV, iPhone, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, Google Play, and Sony. You can also view their library on a web browser if none of those options work for you.

Night Flight Plus is currently offering seven-day trials for people who want to try it before they buy it. They also allow you to have the service on as many devices as you please, unlike Netflix. So, if you’re looking to get into some fringe, cult, and punk cinema, you might want to give it a whirl. However, if none of these deep cuts and nearly forgotten gems get you excited, then this isn’t the streamer for you.

You can check out Night Flight Plus here.