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When it was announced thatThe Shawshank Redemption‘s director, Frank Darabont, is coming out of retirement to direct an episode ofStranger Things,it is safe to say that the world was surprised. Considering how the series has gained a lot of acclaim over the years, it is not surprising that its final season will have a lot of eyes on it.
However, one cannot help but be surprised that an Oscar-nominated director would come out of retirement to make an episode of a Netflix series. During a recent interview, the director revealed his reason for coming back, and many may not be happy.
Why did Frank Darabont Come Out of Retirement forStranger Things?
After it was announced thatFrank Darabontwas coming out of retirement, to say that his fans had questions would be an understatement. Thankfully, the director gave an interview withThe Daily Beast, where he answered all of the main questions that fans had about him. He started by revealing that he and his wife were very big fans of the series.
He confessed that he loved the series because of one very important factor; it was good. Meaning it quite literally, he mentioned that there are a lot of projects out there that are showcasing the worst of humanity. They have dark characters doing dark things, which can often be unsettling for the viewers. With this in mind, he appreciates the sense of light thatStranger Thingsbrings to him.
What really dragged me out of retirement was that my wife and I really love this show. Our content now is so filled with horrible people doing horrible things for greedy reasons butStranger Thingshas so much heart. That positivity is something I really responded to.
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While his words may seem innocent, they could be criticizing some of the most successful and beloved projects to date.
Breaking Badvs.Stranger Things
There has been an evident shift in the narratives used for storytelling. Looking back, one can find a common formula in movies, shows, and books; having the protagonist display actions that are considered good by society and the antagonist display actions that are bad. This made the stories simple in a good way.
However, there has been an evident rise in complex characters with conflicting emotions. Where villains have started to get humanized, heroes are showcasing the flaws in their person. Shows likeBreaking Bad, Mad Men,andThe Sopranosare excellent examples of this wave, presenting deeply conflicting, at times evil protagonists that force the audiences to rethink who the true villain in their story is.
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While this is a very good thing as it does not spoon-feed morality to its audience and instead reflects realistic conflicts, it has also caused a dip in stories with simple morals. Although shows likeBreaking BadandMad Menget a lot more critical acclaim, they can also leave their viewers with a heavy mind by the time they are done watching.
Stranger Things has a reputation for doing the opposite for its viewers. Rather than leaving them with a hole in their hearts due to the complexity of the characters they are watching, the series showcases evidently good characters fighting a supernatural force targeting humanity as a whole. While the concept may seem simple, it manages to deliver it in a way that shows the heart that the show possesses.
Stranger Thingsis available for streaming on Netflix.
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
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Frank Darabont
