Stranger Things

 All good things must come to an end.

I started watching Stranger Things in 2020/2021, when Covid hit and I started piggy-backing my sister's Netflix account during the lockdown. I was sceptical about the show. How good can a kids show about the 1980s be? But critics review had been near universally positive and the pitch was insane, so I thought I should give it a try. After all, I'm into mystery. So I gave it a try.

Boy, did I not regret my decision.

Season 1 itself was already a solid show. The kids searched around for their friend who vanished one night and never returned and evidence pointed towards the presence of another dimension where the answer held. And there's a mysterious girl who materialised out of nowhere with unimaginable powers that unlock secrets upon secrets that eventually are traced back to a government's programme.

Then Will was found.

But season 2 descended into a darker tone with Will playing a bigger role. And we now had a better glimpse of what Will had been led into.

Then season 3 came and we had a much sinister evil with a more malicious intent. 

Oh, and the kids grew up. That's quick.

Then it hit a hiatus for about 3 years before Season 4 came. I was already hooked and very excited for season 4.

Boy, what a good season it was.

We now know the evil behind everything - Vecna/One/Henry. Season 4 was different in the sense that it was a lot darker, a lot more mature, and a lot more....graphic, and gory. But when the evil has risen a notch, I guess it makes sense that the expectations should tilt the same direction.

Season 4 came in two batches. But the finale was a little....underwhelming. If you ask me.

And since then I've waited for so long for season 5.

And finally, december 2025, season 5 has arrived.

Boy.

It came in 3 volumes. I hated Netflix for doing this.

Volume 1 was slow but good. 

Volume 2 was okay.

Volume 3, the finale, was the high point.

I won't drone on the summary but I would say it was a good finale.

Plenty of criticisms online about the underwhelming end of the show centres on their expectations of Avengers level battle. It's a kids show. You won't see the kids battling the demogorgons and the Mind Flayers with superpowers like how Thor summons the lightning. But it does strike me as odd that not a single demogorgon was shown in the finale.

Anyway, every character contributes a little to the demise of Vecna. Naturally, Eleven played the biggest role, but so does Will. The rest of the kids crippled the Mind Flayer, Max and Kali helped rescued the kids.

And perhaps the most satisfying for me, is the fact that Joyce was the one to blow the final kill.

She. Deserved. To. Wield. Every. Single. Swing. Of. That. F8cking. Axe.

For what Vecna has done for all of them.

And when she wielded the axe, we had a playback of how every character was hurt by him. I think it was also worth mentioning that we did not see a flashback of what Steve and Robin went through - because they had never been a victim of Vecna. They stayed and helped to fight because they loved the kids.

The series had ended. It does feel like a void has formed.

Just like how it feels when Supernatural ended for me after 15 years.

But Stranger Things had been a hell of a ride, and every episodes had been a massive entertainment.

We'll never have a second Stranger Things, and that's okay.

I will miss the show. For its suspense. For its action. For all the actor's breathtaking performance.

And most of all, for having being with me for so many years.

Yes, Steve, including you. You were a jerk but like many people, I grew dear to you, for being a big brother to everyone.

And Joyce, for being such a loving mother. 

Till next time.

2025

 How ya'll doing?

I haven't been updating, I know. Don't feel like doing so anymore.

This blog represents a huge chunk of my life. But now I've found a different purpose. Technically I am still who I am, but I'm shifting away from the digital life.

I still go online - but for Netflix and Disney+, both of which I'm a subscriber, and I'll be on social media less. A lot less. That includes blogger.

But this is where memories stay. I'll keep it alive, but likely dormant for a while.

Lady Gaga - Vanish Into You

This song is just powerful and great.

See you in May, Lady Gaga. Still can't believe I got a ticket.

Lady Gaga - Zombieboy

 After five years, I was really looking forward to Mayhem. I've always been a Little Monster. I remembered the moment Chromatica was released. In the midst of a pandemic and when everybody was confined to the walls of our home (or room), Chromatica gave me warm and solace that I didn't even realise I needed. Chromatica was an awesome album, I listened to the songs at midnight on Spotify, immediately when it was released. I love the album. A few songs were so good, I can't fathom why they didn't become a single (Replay, for example).

So when Lady Gaga announced that she is releasing a new album, I was hooked. I've listened to her songs enough to know that I wouldn't like her song on first hear. I'm not sure why. I've tried listening to many of her songs and I almost never really like any of her songs on the first listening. It took me a while to like a few songs I absolutely love right now (Do What U Want - but screw R. Kelly, Stupid Love, or even Disease). 

But Zombieboy was different. It clicked immediately when I first heard it. I thought it would be something dark, but it turned out to be a charismatic, lively song with a hint of sadness, which turns out to be because it was written and sung in tribute to an actual model nicknamed Zombie Boy that Lady Gaga collaborated before and committed suicide a few years ago.

My inner empath is right - I often detect subtle emotions accurately.

At the moment I'm still more fond of Chromatica. A few songs in Mayhem is great but I probably need some time to grow some liking.

Speaking of Lady Gaga, she's coming to Singapore for a 4-day concert. I've never attended one and have never wanted to go to one, but you can bet that I will try with every fibre of my being to snatch a ticket!

Lady Gaga - Abracadabra

As a Gaga fan, I must said, I'm extremely thrilled for Mayhem!

Lady Gaga never disappoints. After 15 years, she's back to her root.

2024 End

It feels surreal that, in two hours, as I am typing this, we'll enter 2025. A new year.

Plenty has happened in 2024.

I've had a tough period at my job. But I've felt loved and appreciated, so it's a good thing.

I'm currently living in a place I enjoy. With friends. That's great.

I've travelled too much this year.....to attend weddings, not for leisure. It's getting very tiring.

I've just travelled to KL after many years. The public transport isn't great but is good enough for me to travel around. Quite a nice place to visit, but definitely not a desirable place to settle down.

Plus, I got sick on the last day. Quite miserable.

I visited Seletar Airport for the first time, took the ATR-72 flight for the first time. Not very comfortable, but tolerable and is alright. Can repeat in future.

I've visited Kuching after leaving that place since 2018. Many has changed. Food stalls have changed. Renovations were made. It has become an unfamiliar familiar place.

I travelled back to Penang a lot less frequently. Feel bad for my parents, but then I didn't do much even if I go back either.

2025, I hope is better. I pray for that every year, but it seldom transpires.

A new year, new hope? Maybe.

New reality? We shall see.

Lady Gaga - Disease

Lady Gaga has had an awesome year.

Joker 2 gave her a starring role. I wanted to watch it, but I didn't watch the first and rumour swirl (and later confirms) that the movie is a disappointment, so I forewent it.

But she dropped Die With A Smile with Bruno Mars, which I found to be kind of a random collaboration (btw, a great year for Bruno Mars it seems). I didn't quite enjoy it.

Some of her songs for Joker 2 were good though. Happy Mistake was a critically successful song that truly showcased her vocals.

Then she dropped the news that she'd be releasing Disease, a new single on 25th of Oct, at noon. It was a Friday, and it was a working hour.

OMG

I have been a Lady Gaga fan (but not a diehard one) since she released Bad Romance. She has truly influenced my life.

Needless to say, I immediately listened to it once it was released. Thank God for Spotify and internet.

Like all her usual songs, it didn't click on first hearing. But after giving it a few more tries, I must admit, it's one hell of a song.

Can't wait for her full album!