Stranger Things 1x1: The Vanishing of Will Byers | First Time Reaction

Get Early Access on Patreon: / diegesischad
Join Maple and Arianna for a captivating journey into the heart of '80s nostalgia with their first-time reaction to "Stranger Things" Season 1, Episode 1. Witness their excitement and intrigue as they delve into the mysterious town of Hawkins, Indiana, where the disappearance of young Will Byers unfolds a series of supernatural events. Experience their reactions to the enigmatic characters, including Eleven, a girl with extraordinary powers, and a group of friends determined to unravel the truth. This episode beautifully sets up a world filled with suspense, hidden government experiments, and the eerie realm of the Upside Down. Maple and Arianna share their thoughts on the show's captivating blend of science fiction, horror, and drama, all wrapped in a nostalgic 1980s setting. Stay tuned for their insightful review after the reaction, exploring the storyline's depth, character dynamics, and the cultural impact of "Stranger Things" as a standout series in modern television.
Follow Arianna on Instagram for more insights: / _aerii44
Explore more with Maple: msha.ke/mapledivine
Subscribe to our channel for full series reactions: / @diegesis
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Reaction
26:42 - Review

[@CandleLight129]

Whoever told you this was a "feel good" show is an evil mastermind. They wanted your guards down for maximum impact.

[@davidholaday2817]

It is a feel good show. Just maybe not so much a feel good show as it is full of heart.

[@himenyx153]

I wanna personally thank that person

[@Cassxowary]

and is possibly a demogorgon, which explains that

[@tarinpaskalis3832]

Whoever said it was a 'feel-good' series was a genius! 😂

[@massdriverone7583]

I mean it is It's just... a feel VERY bad show also lol

[@tarinpaskalis3832]

@@massdriverone7583 very true! lol

[@gawddayum1565]

what? how @@massdriverone7583

[@emmaearthling444]

It is a feel good show

[@Cassxowary]

and/or a demogorgon😂

[@Griexxt]

Winona Ryder is perfect for her role in this.

[@smitty7326]

absolutely my favorite character of the series, and it's mostly because of the performance

[@carriesmith742]

Agreed, and I first saw her in a movie theater movie in Beetlejuice when I myself was 11, lol.

[@brettcloud8550]

Tbh everyone is perfect in their roles in this show!

[@BirdBrain0815]

Her performance in season 1 blew my mind

[@jxchamb]

She steals every scene.

[@penguin50279]

i’ve never heard this show described as feel good 😂

[@ianburns1167]

Indeed. Nostalgic? Awesome? Clever? All definitely true. But not 'Feel Good.' It's very Steven King, in that it's the Kids On Bikes adventure genre meets straight Horror.

[@haruiz3256]

It has heartwarming moments, but I'd never call it feel good 😂

[@JustAMagicDuck]

@@ianburns1167right. It’s at this intersection of movies like Firestarter, Goonies, Poltergeist, and E.T. Strong nostalgia vibes and it really has some heartwarming moments but it’s a full horror story.

[@Dinotk421]

I get it. I'd call it a feel good, with the asterisk that to get to the feel good part, you really have to go through a journey...a journey that's no so feel good.

[@huhjanus]

the first few episodes of Season 3 is definitely feel good though!

[@peach-panther]

“Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.” Hopper is by far my favorite character.

[@TrentRidley]

Everyone dislikes him for about half an episode, haha.

[@peach-panther]

@@TrentRidley I think a lot of people don’t like him for a period of time.

[@katievfx567]

I always loved that he wasn’t a stupid police officer like the other two. He cared because he knew what it was like to lose a daughter.

[@Quzga]

I haven't re-watched season 1 since it aired so it was almost shocking seeing how young all the kids looked. I totally forgot they were that young back then, time flies..

[@LeLNascimento]

8 years passed already. Crazy... (I know it released mid 2016, but probably recorded late 2015)

[@Quzga]

@@LeLNascimento I feel like the last decade has gone by insanely fast, the last 4 years even more so.

[@LeLNascimento]

@@Quzga true. When it came out I was at High School. Now I've already finished college

[@rodanhibiki5980]

Season 1 was just pure magic

[@DustinHawke]

@@Quzga That's how it works. Just going to feel like it's moving faster and faster.

[@TampaCEO]

The reason they based this in the early 1980s is because scary movies only work in an era before cell phones, social media, etc. I grew up during this era. Phones didn't belong to PEOPLE... they belonged to BUILDINGS. So you could only call a home, office, etc. and ask for a person. There were no instant cameras, no way to "post" on social media, etc. That's why this show works so well.

[@Cassxowary]

ok but polaroids existed, getting popular from almost a decade earlier and cell phones had just started that year lol

[@one_and_a_half_braincell]

between stranger things, fullmetal alchemist and arcane you guys really are fully on the tragedy/heartfelt-horror train. not that I'm complaining

[@bhelliom3]

That’s what I said when I saw this pop up 😂 they really want to see three amazing show at the same time, I’m not upset about it but they’re gonna be 😅

[@sletrent]

The most exciting part of this will be the inevitable Steve arc.

[@rachels9776]

ah yes, Stranger Things, my favourite feel good show

[@cyantraveller1]

hahahah this is great.

[@emmaearthling444]

Same. It is a feel good show

[@thestokes91]

Man i love Hopper, what a great intro to the character, where you instantly judge him and then start changing your perception of him

[@TrentRidley]

I just realised for the first time that Ted saying, "I think you should listen to your mother," at 2:04 is the single best piece of parenting he has done in this entire series till date..... and whilst it is important for parents to be on the same page, it's still kinda just him passing the buck, hahahaha!!!

[@sirmoonslosthismind]

he's definitely of the "make the money, let the wife run the house" school.

[@TrentRidley]

@@sirmoonslosthismind Haha, most definitely.

[@Cassxowary]

ah yes, listening to his mother who believes the government is on their side…

[@crigarsha]

18:11 "We're ATN...we hear you" LOL!!!!!!!! I'm so proud of y'all that you're actually quoting "Succession"!!! I fell like a proud parent!!! hahahaha!!!! In 6 months you'll be quoting "Stranger Things"!!!

[@ApacoTaco22]

“I almost just regurgitated my fucking chick-fil-a “ holy shit, that was so funny

[@JesseShadows37]

They’re So baby faced. Dustin is so adorable.

[@monsoon1234567890]

It's fun to rewatch and see how the seasons tie together.

[@jimchabai3163]

Whoever described it as such was probably describing how they feel when they watch it because it's a retro-style of 80s films. There are direct references to movies like E.T. That will bring back cinema memories for generation x especially. I'm 55 and aged between the younger kids and the older kids so this brings back a lot for me.

[@animusnocturnus7131]

Believe me, the best part of this show are all the characters.

[@gabedavis3294]

Whoa. You guys are only just starting this? Awesome. It's a great series.

[@wavehellhole]

for a few seasons, at least.

[@Leobedwars216]

⁠@@wavehellholeseason 1 was perfect season 2 was alright and season 3 was good but season 4 was perfect

[@allisonslocum6948]

@@wavehellholeseason 4was great! What you on?

[@Darkstar_Dayne]

​@@Leobedwars216Season 3 was the worst

[@plaplaks]

@@Darkstar_Dayneno it wasn’t lmao. Season 3 was the best other than season 4

[@carriesmith742]

This show is FANTASTIC! A friend at work thankfully recommended it to me about 6 years ago and Ive been hooked ever since! I'm a child of the 80's, having been born in 1977 - year of the OG Star Wars, and LOVE the nostalgia! Definitely some "E.T." inspiration. You nailed that one! The tattoo on her arm says 011, which is why she simply said, "Eleven." 😊

[@BB13131313]

This first episode does an incredible job of establishing the characters and story..

[@noobishmacgaming]

I hadn’t seen it in a long bit and it’s a nearly perfect pilot

[@zissoulander]

This show wasn't even that long ago but the first season got me feeling nostalgic seeing the kiddos so young.

[@james101089]

Oh my, Season 1 Steve. I love how negatively they responded to him. I can’t wait to see how that develops.

[@sirjohnmara]

You two will LOVE this show! And the music - the Duffer Brothers have really good taste in music. Everything just gets better and better as the series goes on. Perfect choice!

[@jlilley73]

Chad: "Oh my mistake, I was thinking Ted Lasso." 😆

[@yourcrookedface]

24:50 maple and arianna getting stunned when nancy and steve kissed but then went back to studying instead of hoeing down ... 😂😂😂

[@scrptar129]

It definitely has its feel good moments. Give it time. There’s a reason people adore this show.

[@emmaearthling444]

Ummm this IS ABSOLUTELY a feel good show… that doesn’t mean it’s not also terrifying at some points

[@Oloviye]

Yess , this show is amazing , can't wait for season 5

[@veeceey1073]

Omg it’s been years since I watched season 1. Looking forward to rewatching with you guys!

[@JeffKelly03]

Oh, nice. Been wondering what was going to replace Succession. Looking forward to this.

[@D4mnis]

Damn... I completely forgot Will literally said "The demogorgon got me" - and then it got him for real :o

[@vvalentine8956]

“It’s a feel good show” I mean….in some ways, but it’s a bit of a sci fi thriller with some horror aspects thrown in. Lmfao with that being said, it’s fantastic, especially with all the 80’s references

[@rachelundercoffer7120]

SO glad to see you reacting to this show after I followed all your Succession reactions! This show just gets better and better. Looking forward to this journey with you!

[@willbyrn5920]

One of my favorite shows and episodes of television of all time. Have fun!

[@Sorin96]

Love this show, you guys are in for a treat!

[@zelgkopitar8799]

So glad you guys started this show, it's so damn good. It's like Goonies mixed with sci-fi horror but blended so well.

[@EchanteDante]

THIS SHOW IS ONE OF THEE BEST EXPERIENCES IVE HAD WATCHING A SHOW BLIND WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING. It fully checked all the boxes for me. It felt like my brother and I were in our rooms when I was 10 and he was 16 talking about making our own scary movie. And making up our own stories. The clothing, the music, the hair, all of the nerdy references, the cinematography, and the nerdy movie inspirations that inspired the script and cinematography…truly gave me the feeling of watching one of the iconic great movies from the 80’s.

[@anontay916]

The way I gasped! 🤣 Can’t wait for you guys to fall in love with this show.

[@jfwalden2105]

Great reacts as always, thanks for sharing. This is gonna be a fun journey. Happy to be there. 😃

[@aesir112]

Oh man, I'm excited to watch along with y'all!

[@brentpnw9091]

This is going to be a great show for you all. You might not feel good, but we do!

[@alexalvarez1843]

This show is amazing, so glad you guys picked it up. Its a mixture of Goonies and ET (80s child here, there are some scary parts but like PG13 stuff). Winona Ryder kills her role as a worried mother.. She won the SAG award for outstanding performance in a drama series.

[@puppetmaster8551]

This show has some of the best music ever, it’s fuckin incredible, Kyle Dixon and Michael stein are geniuses

[@CompleteUpload]

My absolute favorite series! I got to meet the cast not too long ago and they were all really cool and down to earth.

[@TorchySmurf]

at the start, "What they need is an electrician" 😂

[@giet2.046]

I am so excited to see the progress of y'all over this show. It was hype for a reason and that scream was valid af. When I first watched this I was like HOLY ****! xD lol

[@Mikeyw9119]

Benny Hammonds death is so wrong, what a kind man

[@jerodast]

RIP Benny. I forgot he didn't survive the first episode, he made a big impression as a generous do the right thing guy I guess.

[@midnightfield]

Oh, exciting!! Looking forward to your Stranger Things reactions (and season five) :)

[@bhelliom3]

Watching this with headphones is *exactly* what you should be doing, the sound design in this show is so phenomenal. I think the soundtrack suites it so well.

[@crispy_338]

The Dept of Energy is funnily enough associated with the CIA and is researching some pretty insanely dark shit.

[@doopdu1237]

You pick the best shows! Can't wait to watch you go on this journey

[@maxducoudray]

I don’t normally like TV shows, but I’m excited for this series. I bet Arianna and Maple will love it.

[@pisceanbeauty8360]

Definitely subscribed after this great reaction !! Love Stranger Things downnn 🥰

[@majorbunyan]

im excited you are starting this show!!

[@aikozutigana8465]

i am so glad you're doing this show! I'm loving Breaking Bad and Barry, and this is gonna be a fun watchalong

[@Etticos.]

Your hair looks siiiiiick. This show is so good. Stoked for this one!

[@mich94762]

Yeessssss!!🙌🙌 Literally forgot this show existed (as we wait forever for season 5 lmao). Such a great show. Maybe they were referring to the "feel good" element as the 80s vibe? So excited to rewatch this with you guys😂 Also, just going to bookmark: "He doesn't like that"

[@andrewstephens5885]

Season one is a classic. Enjoy it while it lasts

[@Drforrester31]

I've loved the whole run of Stranger Things, but it's always fun to get a reminder of how insanley good the first season is

[@kokkolintu3528]

What a great reaction! I'll be waiting for more episodes from you 😄🍿

[@vodengc520]

I had to go back to rewatch Maple's scream after Arianna described it, rofl.

[@JoeBo1202]

Omg I am in heaven! Another reactor I love started watching this and now you guys?! You guys are gonna love this one!

[@najtrows]

When I first watched this I got addicted to the show. I think I watched it through like 5 times in 2 weeks. It's so good. The first season is especially perfect but I feel like all the latter seasons still keep the quality up!

[@najtrows]

And it is totally feelgood. One of the most feelgood things I know of, it includes sorrow too ofc.

[@itsjoshyoufool]

Just found your channel. Looking forward to your reaction to this series, it’s incredible.

[@akbarshabazz-jenkins7847]

"Bye, Steve. You're not...getting laid." Lol

[@englandsensation]

I love that you are reacting to this!

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

I was born in 1983 and this show is soooo so cool, cute and emotional

[@springday707]

oh my gosh i can’t wait yall are gonna love it

[@karlmoles6530]

The first and fourth seasons are basically perfect.

[@TampaCEO]

I absolutely couldn't breathe when I first watched this show. It's meant for kids - yet kid shows tend to be the scariest types of shows for some reason. Stick with it - it's an amazing story.

[@leehernandez1091]

My two favorite things. Stranger Things and Arianna! Ive rewatched all the seasons to this show almost as many times Ive done it with Sons Of Anarchy and Sopranos.

[@MetastaticMaladies]

Oh this is going to be great. Im excited for this!

[@angeloalvarez5520]

I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it

[@shep4life]

One of my favorite shows. Enjoy the journey

[@dcmslife3772]

PLEASE WATCH THIS WHOLE SERIES, LADIES!!!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT AND I WANT ALL EPISODES UP HERE ON KZbin ASAP!!!!!!!! Sorry. I got excited there.

[@beeasyian1950]

I’m excited for this one!

[@neonoires]

OMG yay!!! You guys are watching Stranger Things. This was one of my favorite shows of all time.

[@Mark_E_M]

The jump scares have ONLY...JUST...BEGUN!!! LOL

[@laffenthecat]

nice going chad telling them it's a feel good show. Which it is but it has scary things too 😂

[@laurakali6522]

Ah to have Stranger Things amnesia so I could experience it for the first time.

[@beautybysaranwrap]

Season 1 is a masterpiece!!

[@magicbrownie1357]

This show is a trip. Enjoy it.

[@Digivolution3]

Damn yall are pumping out so many of the best series! I only recently found yall from Korra and it's been just bomb series after series haha

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

Omg we gona have sooo much fun watching your reactions of Strangers Things, Arcane and The Bear 🙌

[@gjits5307]

I love that they went with Department of Energy. For those not in the know, it sounds like an innocent "cover" organization. For those in the know, cold war era DoE were top tier shadowy government spooks (think modern day NSA) Either way it works with the plot/framing!

[@antonytjp]

That elongated scream though 😂😂😂

[@ToneLone69]

She did the wiggle dance😂 welcome to stranger things

[@hartjohnson2975]

I loved your reaction. Very real. I am rewatching leading up to the final season. I think I will do this track with you.

[@rubixqoob8601]

They're gonna love this show!

[@leeswhimsy]

Can't wait to watch this with you guys!!!! It is sooooooo good!

[@alexnault3499]

I haven't wacthed this show since airing, i have 2 kids now, this episode hits so much harder now...damn

[@kjacob35]

When you have to take a second breath mid-scream...

[@LukeIsyourfasha]

It’s the nostalgia that is feel good.

[@arodz21]

This is a horror show for sure. But now, to quote Obi Wan, "You've taken your first step into larger world." Ain't' no going back now.

[@1OP3Z]

Nice i like that every reactor is starting to watch this show👌🏽

[@Ulmaramlu]

You got got. "feel good" lol

[@andromidius]

Yeah, bullies did kind of act like that even in the early-mid 90's. The only difference in my case was I didn't put up with them if they ever decided to touch me. Bullies tend not to be too smart - picking on the weird softly spoken nerdy kid who's a full foot taller then them is not the best idea. I got a reputation for bullying bullies. I never really hurt them - but I shamed them.

[@marcsoren7]

I have such hair envy right now. I wish I still had enough to warrant dying it. Looks cool!

[@borntogazeintonightskies]

Man, I haven't watched the first season in forever. These kids look young af here. They're all so grown up now.