Abigail Nussbaum

One thing that #FarFromHome makes clear is that Spider-Man belongs in New York. The whole gimmick of taking him on a European tour makes the film a generic superhero story that has more in common with the Iron Man films than with the core of the character.

#FarFromHome is a pleasant but not-great reiteration of ideas done better in Homecoming, but I do appreciate the commitment to the idea that every adult trying to mentor Peter is actually a manipulative, abusive fuck who is messing with his head.

#SpiderManFarFromHome, or: Don't Trust Anyone Over 30.

It's interesting to compare #StrangerThings with Dark, which has been described as ST methadone (though it has a lot of Twin Peaks in its DNA too). Dark is far from flawless, but it clearly knows what it wants to be about in a way that ST has never approached.

I'm in favor of all of these developments, but what I don't like is the sense that there's nobody behind the wheel. Because when it comes to the important stuff - like how to grow your story over multiples chapters - fans can't tell you how to do it. #StrangerThings

You see this in how responsive #StrangerThings is to fan reactions. People got mad that El resented Max in S2, so now they're best friends. People ship Joyce and Hopper, so now that's happening. Even the handling of Billy splits the difference between his haters and his stans.

But for the most part, #StrangerThings's greatest strength is still the same as it always was, which is also its greatest weakness - the fact that despite being allegedly an auteur project, it feels about as close as you can get to a show made by an algorithm.

Stuff that doesn't work: * The Russian villains * Hopper behaving like an ass most of the time * Brett Gelman playing a Joyce/Hopper shipper * Still no idea what to do with Nancy and Jonathan #StrangerThings

Stuff that works: * Eleven and Max as friends * Everything with Steve, Dustin, Robin, and Erica * Max and Lucas as a couple * The few moments when Hopper and Eleven act like family #StrangerThings

#StrangerThings S3 is not without its charms, but for a season that ends on a message about the necessity of change and growth, it demonstrates few of those qualities in itself.

What I loved best about his relationship with Eleven in S2 were the moments where they were on the same wavelength, because they're actually quite similar people. So of course the show opts for tired overprotective dad shit. #StrangerThings

Dear #StrangerThings: this thing where Hopper is bad at being a father is a lot less charming than you seem to think.

Neighbors have apparently transferred their cat's kittens to the garden - because why shouldn't the consequences of their bad pet ownership be shared by the whole building? But it does mean the kittens greet you in the morning, expecting to be fed but willing to cuddle.

#ToyStory4: the cutest film you could imagine on the topic of existential ennui and the drive towards self-annihilation.

It might be interesting if Marvel tried to get film & TV audiences used to the idea of different actors playing the same characters concurrently, but I don't think it's going to happen, and certainly not with the X-Men before they've joined the MCU proper.