The Reel Rejects - STRANGER THINGS FINALE !! Tara & Andrew Review

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Starting point is 00:00:45 All right, guys. So we just got done watching the season finale of Stranger Things. Oh, so I'm sad. If you're listening to us on Apple or Spotify, please give us a five-star rating. If you're on YouTube, Like, comment, subscribe when you do. Ring the bell. Ring the bell. Also, thank you to Preper for helping edit down these highlights. Super. I appreciate them. If you're not already on Patreon, head over there.

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Starting point is 00:01:33 Yes. Thank you for that. Andrew. Please follow the Rage Pod if you can. Anywhere you find your podcast, would love that. Okay. Since we have a lot of questions, if you could give just one minute of your thoughts, keep it short and brief on this.

Starting point is 00:01:48 For sure. I know this was a very divisive season. And now that it's over, I still enjoyed it. I need a little time to ruminate, but I still enjoyed it. I still think season four is my favorite. favorite having said all that i thought this was a was a pretty good finale i think it wrapped everything up pretty well with uh within two hours and uh it got me in the emotional feels and uh just i think the the thing that brought it home for me is just the characters just they all just uh the camaraderie

Starting point is 00:02:19 between them uh the interactions it just it works so well and the the the teamwork uh that they all uh just instill in one another the inspiration that that they uh get out of one another And I just think the chemistry that the cast has, that's what really got me from the start of the show was, yeah, all the horror stuff, all the synthesizers when it comes to the music and the cool moments, that's all great. But the characters is what got me from the beginning.

Starting point is 00:02:44 And it has never strayed off from me from the first episode all the way to this final episode. And that's why I love the show so much. And I still think I really enjoyed this final episode. What about you? Yeah, I did too. I am sad that it's over

Starting point is 00:03:01 I think the way that they wrapped it up each character I love that I love that we still got to live with them for a second and sort of know where their stories are headed because there's some TV shows, some movies they just end it and they let your imagination follow I like that Stuffer Brothers didn't do that

Starting point is 00:03:19 that they're setting it up where we do have quite a nice outlook for each of the characters which is really nice. And I thought it was really, really sweet where it's like, how do we know that that's true about L? We don't, but we choose to believe. I really like that.

Starting point is 00:03:37 Anyhow, let's get to our questions. Our first one is from Hustini. We're finally here. I loved going through the series with you too, and I'm so happy you guys love the show so much. My question is, if you could change how one character's ending turned out, who's ending?

Starting point is 00:03:51 Would you change and how so? That's a good question. so many to pick from right you know what I'm gonna go with Susie we didn't get to see her at all in season 5 I would have loved to just have gotten a glimpse something

Starting point is 00:04:06 maybe they mentioned her and I just didn't hear it did you ever hear her mentioned at all in season 5 or did they break up I'm just gonna imagine there was an assumption that they broke up because he got invited to that party at the graduation and he was very interested in that girl so I just I really

Starting point is 00:04:22 adored that relationship between Dustin and susy and they had the never was it the never uh what never ending story or the song the yeah the song that they had that was such a wholesome moment just that relationship was so fun to explore and i really adored it so to just see it abruptly end and not really get any kind of explanation or anything i get it it's a young relationship these things just seem to sometimes just end and it happens but that relationship i was so invested in i was invested in susy as a character so So if I had to choose one character's ending, that would have turned out different.

Starting point is 00:04:58 I would have at least just liked an explanation, whether it be exposition or just have the character be in there. So I'm going to pick Susie. What about you? That's a tough question for me. Because honestly, they wrapped up in a really good way. A lot of the characters that I truly love and really care about, that I'm just so glad that they were still here on the screen.

Starting point is 00:05:21 So I don't know. I have to get back to you. Hustini. I'm sort of still in like, uh, dead inside because it's over. Um, next question. All right. From Seth, Seth, thank you so much for being a royal reject and for asking us a question. We appreciate you so much. Hey, Tara and Andrew, just wanted to ask, if you think that the ending would have been better if one of the characters didn't make it personally, I think it would have been a bit better. I feel you, Seth. I think that, um, the way that they wrapped it where it's like L could still be out there we choose to believe.

Starting point is 00:05:57 I think in regards to that, Seth, is that people would just feel a lot more and it would leave a bigger imprint on them. Overall, it's still left quite a big imprint on me, but I think it was wrapped up. They did a lot of reminiscing throughout this last episode with a lot of older shots and whatnot. So it still got to me,

Starting point is 00:06:23 but I do slightly agree with you that, yeah, if we had lost like a really big one and how would they write that and wrap that up and how would it affect all of the characters moving forward? I agree with you, but I'm still okay with how they did it. Yeah, I'm still okay with how they did it too. You can make an argument too, like story-wise and stakes-wise. It just would have ramped it up.

Starting point is 00:06:48 But I think throughout the seasons, we did lose some really important characters, albeit we didn't lose, one of the main characters right we lost like a bob in season two we lost an eddie in season four but these are characters that were so important to us and characters we were so invested in so that's why you know it didn't it didn't hinder me or like really get on my nerves if it would have happened i mean at least for like 20 or 30 minutes before there was the reveal that there's a possibility or we choose to believe that oh i mean i was dying inside but i'm also like terra just said

Starting point is 00:07:22 I'm dying inside for the fact that this show is over with. So, like, I'm, it's like we are losing these characters, like, forever in that sense, even though we can come back to the show whenever we want seasons one through five. So it possibly could have made it a bit better, but I'm still very satisfied with how the episode was dealt with and just how it was handled. So I was still okay with it. Yeah. Diane, what did you think about Henry, Vecna, one ending?

Starting point is 00:07:50 I feel like a lot of people expected him to talk. turn good towards the end, but I like that he didn't. I'm glad they didn't go that route. I was worried for a moment when they were showing us that he was really a victim in this whole thing of the mind flare. And I did actually like that reveal that was fascinating because the whole

Starting point is 00:08:06 time in season four, which again, season four, my favorite season, by far. Seasons one through four like master classes in television. But you know, once we realize that episode where we got the whole reveal about Vecna, 1, Henry, all that, like

Starting point is 00:08:22 in one episode that was just like holy crap holy tamale but this episode was really a fascinating look into the backstory of like how it all happened how the mind flare attached itself to him in that cave and I'm glad they kind of subverted my expectations because I was worried that they were going to go

Starting point is 00:08:38 the route of oh he's just like going to realize that he's just a victim in all this which he was and I would have understood if they did go that route but I'm glad that they didn't and chose to just have him stick into the darkness of it and that he latched on to that And I get that too, but also at the same point, having perspective for my, for my, for me is having the understanding that, you know, he's, he's a victim in all this. And I really, I'd never thought I'd say this about Vecna or even Henry. I am sympathetic towards him that he was literally like in the wrong place at the wrong time when he went into that cave. If he wouldn't have explored that cave, first of all, obviously no show happens and all that. But just him as a human being, he got latched into a.

Starting point is 00:09:22 into a universe that he didn't even understand with the mind flare and all that and I just, I feel so bad for him and that sucks that that happened. So, and he just did, he didn't have the support system around him like a will or an L to get him out of that darkness like they did.

Starting point is 00:09:37 So I think that's what pulled him into the darkness, but I'm glad that they didn't. What about you? Yeah. I'm with you, Diane. When we really think about how you set up a character, he has lived this way for a long, long time. And he was also, you know, he was sort of the birthing of 11 and 8 and everyone that came after him.

Starting point is 00:09:59 He's the start of it all. And I feel like living with that for so long and having one moment where you go in a cave and you have one memory, is that really going to take away all the years of everything you've been fighting for with as Vecna, with the bad side of yourself? I don't think so. So even though they kept us on that sort of a type, rope thinking like maybe is he going to flip to that side. I'm glad that he didn't. Of course, there's going to be a moment where yeah, you can get that childhood memory and you're like,

Starting point is 00:10:33 wow, I'm remembering all of this and this is why I am how I am. But I don't think that one moment would change anybody completely from stopping them from fighting for what they fought for most of their entire lives, which means Henry as Vecna, they are one. Um, So I like also that they didn't. Totally agree. All right, from Rennie, Rennie, thank you so much for being a royal reject and for asking a question.

Starting point is 00:11:00 We appreciate you. Hi, Taryn Andrew. We did it. Your reactions to Stranger Things is what made me join Patreon. I'm so happy to hear that. And to know we took this final journey together has been such a blast.

Starting point is 00:11:11 What are you going to miss most about the series and which character made the biggest impact on you? Love you both. Happy New Year. Rennie, we love you too. Happy New Year. Is there a character out of the whole, entire bunch that made an impact

Starting point is 00:11:24 the most. I don't know. Do you have if you have one, go ahead. Oh, so many to choose. I feel like I'm going to pick one and I'm going to regret the one that I've missed. I'm going to miss everything about this. No, everyone, Bob was a big one and I know I'm choosing characters like that.

Starting point is 00:11:40 Eddie was a big one, honestly. He really had such an impact because I didn't expect it at first. You know, I thought he was kind of a, even though I love the actor, I think Joseph Quinn, right? He's such a great actor, but I just thought he was kind of a throwaway character at first, like just a fun, new eccentric character that we were getting, that the boys joined this club, but they're growing up, they joined

Starting point is 00:12:00 different factions of groups that they're going with. And it's like, as we got, as we learn more about this character, and then the sacrifice that he made, it was like, oh, my God, my heart shattered into a million pieces. So I know we only spent one season with him, but Eddie made quite an impact on me. So right now I might go with Eddie, but I will also say to Dustin and And Steve, that pairing also. I know it's one character, but the pairing of those two, that was my, that might have been my favorite in the whole series. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:12:30 But what about you? Honestly, Rennie, this question makes me sad because I think what I will miss the most is thinking back about like stranger things like is literally like a game changer. It is like the world comes together to watch this show and then you like talk about it. You get like, I have a back. pack that's like stranger things you wear the t-shirts i think it's almost become like a culture and so knowing that that's like it's done it really it hits me like in a weird spot and i i told you guys in the last episode that like during the pandemic i went to this like drive through stranger things

Starting point is 00:13:13 i went like three times it was so much fun i think mainly what i'll miss the most is like the the culture of what this show is and what it brought to the, just honestly, the history of television. It was a different story that pulls back that now, if you look, when Stranger Things started, years and years after that, there was a lot of people dipping back into the 80s. Let's do the 80s. Let's make it like E.T. Let's dive back into vintage stuff.

Starting point is 00:13:46 And I think it was the start of Stranger Things that brought that, that Duffer Brothers had the idea and it's now become such a worldwide thing that I just, I think I'll just miss all of it. And I'm, I'm sad right now. And that's all I have to say about that one. And also happy new year. No. I think we all know who got you your, but they're your favorite birthday card ever now. It's true. Andrew did. You guys could look at it on the last episode. Yeah. Season five, episode five and six, I believe that was. Yes. All right, from Curtis Okerman, Curtis, thank you so much for being a royal reject. We appreciate you for asking a question.

Starting point is 00:14:26 Hi, Taryn, Andrew. You probably heard a couple cities' names dropped, most specifically Montauk and Philadelphia. Both were inspirations for the show for their alleged events, the Philadelphia experiment in 1943 and Montauk Project in 1980s. The Duffer brothers actually had the Montauk project in mind when pitching the show, but then decided to make an original story in the Midwest. with the potential Stranger Things Chapter 2 Teased by the Duffers What would you pitch for a spin-off?

Starting point is 00:14:57 Do you have any ideas for a spin-off? You're like, let me contemplate how I'm feeling right now about this possibly ending, right? Yeah. Just while you're thinking about that, we were talking about this, I think a few episodes back. I know they have like a theatrical play

Starting point is 00:15:13 or whatever it is right now, but I would love if they did, you know, with Vecnar, with Henry, rather. I know he went to high school with Joyce and with Hopper and all of them. If they want to explore that and really go more deeper into the backstory, I would be totally cool with that. And, you know, I know that explores a different area of the Stranger Things universe,

Starting point is 00:15:33 but I think that would be fun to do. And if the Duffer brothers worked on that, I'd be totally game for that. So I think that'd be, you know, it just gives us a little more depth just into Henry's character, you know, just giving us, you know, from my perspective, just because I'm a very empathetic, compassionate person.

Starting point is 00:15:52 Just, like I said, I felt emotionally invested in terms of like I felt bad for him. So just to get that feel like what did this guy go through? Like, what's going on with Brenner? Like, is he in control of him here? Is he with a foster family? What's going on? I just, I'd love to learn just like, and the experiments and all that. I mean, there's so many different applications you could apply.

Starting point is 00:16:15 So if they want to go that route, I'd be totally for it. But whatever route they end up going. for on a potential spinoff i'm in i'm down yeah but is there anything you can think of i feel like curtis you know if they're pulling me into the room they're like what are you going to pitch for this spin off they already have set it up with a new generation coming in that we're seeing at the end we have gotten slightly attached more so to holly delightful derrick um and some of the rest of them so that would be an easy uh an easy push but we would have to go with a completely different plot, right?

Starting point is 00:16:53 So how do we live that out where we're filling in with the next generation, but carrying out a story that might still be in Hawkins, but how do we travel outside of a regular everyday plot that's like, we're not going to just follow these kids around going to school and like, oh, they fell in love. Do you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, right? The whole point of stranger things is that it's stranger things. so I'm not sure what that aspect of the stranger things would be the strange stuff

Starting point is 00:17:26 I'll leave that up to the duffers or if I had more time I'm sure I could come up with something but we'll see came up with one of the craziest stories remember like you're like one of the the stories here like at the real rejects remember that whole thing oh yeah that was a murder that was during knives out that was the craziest thing I've ever seen anyone just come up with the spot so if we gave you a little bit of time you could probably come up with something if i wasn't sad in my sad feelings i think i could do it i'm sure if the duffer brothers heard your pitch they'd be like all right we're doing this tara you're in you're one of our writers let's do it yeah no seriously you were that good that was a knives out one or knives out too i think it was knives out one

Starting point is 00:18:06 but when i was listening it was during the reaction i was like terry did you really just come up with this or you like planted ahead i was like even if you planned it ahead that was really No, no, no. Incredible stuff, dude. Yeah, I was on my game then. It was good. It was good. All right, from O.

Starting point is 00:18:25 What ending do you choose for L? You know, I mean, I'm the glass half full type of person, so I'm going to believe that L is okay, and she escaped. And also, too, just the way everything was filmed and shot, I was like, wait, where is Elle? How did she jump off granted? We know she's got powers, and she. could have been able to and she could have maybe sensed that Linda Hamilton and the army was waiting for her and she somehow did jump off but it's just the way everything was filmed I

Starting point is 00:18:56 felt like something was off and so I think she escaped but what about you which ending do you think happened I I think oh that I I chooseably it's a little bit of both here's a thing when you see her there and she knows that it is going to end for her she closes her eyes, she takes a deep breath. If we go back to the monologue with Hopper, that is sort of like what we're feeling, at least for me, that she was like abused and tortured and her life was very unfair. And while in the midst of it, yes, she found love with Hopper and a family and Mike and friends. And they taught her how life is, right? Being a human when you're not put in this terrible position.

Starting point is 00:19:44 And I think when it ends for her, it's a sense of relief. And the other story is also relief and peace. I feel like they're both the same thing. It's sort of like in my brain what we were looking at when they're like, she sees the waterfalls and she finally finds peace in this little town. I think that's like it's probably also her heaven. Like it's like she's released. from what this how how tragic this life has been to her even though a lot of it was still good

Starting point is 00:20:20 fair enough i could also see it too i mean her protecting them by leaving them and not keeping them in danger by being around them so yeah but i could see what you're saying too and that being it as well all right bill are we on bill tarry sorry sorry uh ter sans uh thank you so much apologies if i accidentally mispronounced your name hello terran andrew here's my question to you, did the final episode give you emotional closure with the characters or did it leave you grieving who they used to be more than celebrating who they became, Tara? I am grieving over the fact that I won't get to see them on my screen, not grieving over the fact about who they have become because I really like that Nancy and Jonathan are not together,

Starting point is 00:21:10 that Steve has found someone else that Robin is, you know, has found her way that everybody sort of found their way and their way of living without each other because that's what real life is. That's why it's like so sad when you see them when they're like, no matter what happens, we will choose to like choose each other, see each other, even through all the life changes, kids, whatever. And I kind of laugh at that and I go like, yeah, good luck. Or like when you grow up, it's tough to keep those relationships intact. But I still have that, where I still think of like, OG4 is what we call us. And I do still see them. And I'm like, in that moment for me,

Starting point is 00:22:03 it like, it rips at my heart because I'm like, that's real. So I do celebrate who they became and I don't wish that they were how they used to be because that's not real life. A true character and when the world is turned back to the regular old Hawkins, they have to now go about their lives without all of these monsters that they're going to fight, right? They have to live their normal lives and find love or buy a house and teach kids baseball. And I like that aspect of how they wrote it, and it's realistic to me, and I like that. Yeah, and I'm with you. I feel like it felt grounded as well.

Starting point is 00:22:46 And there were some arcs in the season, especially, that I really enjoyed. I think Dustin's really stood out to me. You really felt how hardened he was from what happened to Eddie was the first time. I'd really, because he is such a glass-half-type-a-guy. He's very positive and always hopeful. and to see him, especially at the beginning of the season, like the way everyone is reacting towards and ostracizing still Eddie after the sacrifice that, you know,

Starting point is 00:23:12 he did at the end of season four. No one was really there to witness that, but they all still, like, think of him as a pariah in the town, and this has really affected Dustin and to see, like, where he is at the beginning and how divisive he is towards everyone. And now, just again, it just really roots into the issue of how important it is to have that support system

Starting point is 00:23:34 when you're getting lost in the darkness and you come back into the light, but that support system around you. So I wouldn't say, I would say this season and this episode really did give me that emotional closure with these characters who they grew up to become. But I think Tara makes a great point, though, too,

Starting point is 00:23:52 as well that I'm just more sad that I just don't get to spend more time with them. Although, you know, the finer line you have to find when you are a writing team like the Duff Brothers and the rest of the team that's working on this, you don't want to overstay your welcome to when it comes to finding storylines you want to keep doing. You have to justify your reasoning for having another season. So I'm sure that once they came up with season four, season five, they're like, okay, this is

Starting point is 00:24:20 probably going to be it for us. There's no more story we need to tell. So I understand. But I do like the way they wrapped up the, excuse me, I do like the way they wrapped up the storyline and the characters for the most part. Like I said, there was just a few things here and there, like a Susie or something like that, where I just would have liked a little more closure here and there. But overall, I think it was done really well, was handled in a way that I felt was grounded where the characters, it's like real life. You move on, you grow up. Sometimes

Starting point is 00:24:47 you don't get to remain friends with people. Other times you like make a concerted effort to say, hey, even if it's one time a month, we'll meet up at a cabin in Philadelphia, even though we're miles and miles and miles apart. So I appreciate that. And it just felt so wholesome. I really enjoyed it. Yeah, it was nice. All right, Billy Butcher.

Starting point is 00:25:08 He says, hi from the UK. It's been a wild ride. We're watching this show with you folks. And now this brand speaking new season, which I actually quite like, to me, a final can never satisfy everyone and they did a good job. My question is, especially targeted at Andrews.

Starting point is 00:25:22 My gym playlist also contains songs from all sorts of shows and soundtracks. How did you both enjoy the new disrupted vibe to the soundtrack this season and how they mixed in the iconic emotional tunes throughout compared to the other seasons. Personally, I thought the music this season slapped and really helped build tension while making some badass moments even cooler like John Wick Hopper. Happy new year. Well, thank you, Billy. I appreciate it. And yes, go check out Danny Elfman's soundtrack if you are listening at the gym. That music just really pumps you up.

Starting point is 00:25:53 Yeah, I think this was a very emotional, but very, uh, what's the word? I'm looking for just it had a lot of growth in it this season I mean we still heard a lot of the themes that we heard from the first four seasons but a lot of times too it really built up suspense really built up tension like we heard from the first four seasons

Starting point is 00:26:11 but it added that level of depth as well but I really enjoyed it there were different times too that it really slapped for me so I thought it was great excuse me I thought it was great and like I said the first time I ever heard

Starting point is 00:26:27 this soundtrack was at the gym and I had never watched Stranger Things but I heard the synthesizers just pump just go into my ear earbuds earbuds whatever they're called and I was like what is this music? It is so good but this season five definitely had some really good music

Starting point is 00:26:46 I forgot I think it's Kyle Nixon I forgot his name but he did I really hope he gets the credit he deserves because the music in all five seasons really slaps I just it was just it was emotional It was bombastic. It was chaotic. It was just it had all the feels. I think the point of music I've pointed this out before is to not only elevate what you're watching on screen, but it's to hit you in the fields. And it's to express a feeling and what you are watching. So and I think every time, at least for me, when I'm watching a scene, that the composer really understood the assignment and really made me feel a certain way. But what about you? Yeah. What I think, Billy, is it's season five. They have the mullah to get a, to get a Prince song on here. And I did enjoy it. I do agree with you. John Wickhopper that did give off some Wick fives, which I thought was very cool. So I didn't mind that they weren't sticking to the OG stuff that they have. I like that they chose some popular stuff. I didn't mind it. All right. So I was kind of pre-reading these. I just wanted to.

Starting point is 00:27:56 do them like quickly there's way too many but master tea um was just saying that he loves andrews trivia at the end and he was wondering what we think about killing off about bringing cali back just to kill her off and i'm like well she was back for longer than just a couple episodes she was back for i'm glad they at least brought her back in and uh and they gave her some emotional payoff and it was done i i Like Bob, I made the mistake of not trusting her. So I'm glad that they actually gave her a good storyline right there. And they gave her some emotional stakes.

Starting point is 00:28:34 And they also gave her a sacrificial ending as well. So there was a merit. And she gave her. It was a noble ending, I'll say, for her. But I can understand where you're coming from. And J. Del says, like, he didn't feel like the fact that L and Will, it didn't feel like it delivered on this. the season's buildup, even the mind flair battle felt rushed.

Starting point is 00:29:02 I don't, I don't know. I mean, we just, we've spent so much, we've spent so much time with it that I, I don't, I didn't feel like the buildup was, maybe it was a little short and how we, how we fought it off, but I really liked it. Like, I understand that it could, maybe it could have been more like Game of Thrones where It's like, freaking 20 minutes of battling this thing. But I'm like, I don't think we needed it. That's the thing.

Starting point is 00:29:31 I mean, look, I personally enjoyed it, but how many times can you have them throwing each other around the room before it might feel a little tedious, right? So I thought it went on long enough to where I felt it was satisfying. And I thought there was enough exposition and interaction to where I'm like, okay, this is good. So I thought it was fine. But if it didn't hit you in what you felt, I totally get that, too.

Starting point is 00:29:58 There's no, there's no wrong answer. It's just, it's about how it makes you feel. Yeah. Jay Rushden says that the animated Stranger Things comes out in 2026. Oh, shit. I didn't even know. And he said, Netflix bought WB because Pennywise was better than Vecna. He says, see you in 2026.

Starting point is 00:30:15 I didn't know anything about that. So cool. I'm down to watch that show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And also, R.C. Flores. Or no way, it was Janelle that said you've been watching this in the theater. You watched it in the theater with your daughter and you thought it was fantastic. You laugh, you cried.

Starting point is 00:30:35 I think we talked about, like, you asked us what's the most surprising part. I don't, I think it, there wasn't anything that was like too, too surprising. I would say really quick, I would say surprising. I thought there was going to be a little more, I thought just in general, I thought Linda Hamilton's character was kind of a little bigger of a part. to play throughout the season. And I thought she was going to have a little more of a different ending. I didn't think it would just, oh, L is dead. I'm just, I'm gone.

Starting point is 00:31:03 I'm out of here. Right. That was kind of a surprise to me. So I don't know if it was as satisfying as I thought it was going to be. But other than that, I don't know. Yeah, I feel on that. R.C. Flores says the underlying theme of the show's production was nostalgia, right? Taking us back to the 80s was front and center.

Starting point is 00:31:18 And she's wondering if the immersion and taking the audience back, you know, a decade. if it was successful or if we felt like it was lacking. You didn't really, I'm assuming that you're maybe asking just about this specific season. Maybe not the entire show, because the entire show definitely highly, highly successful, pop culture references and the 80s. Even now in this season, I mean,

Starting point is 00:31:46 you just look at the costume design and the set deck, boom, done. Yeah, for sure. Even the wallpaper to like the flooring. like all of it done 80s you can always feel the the TLC in every single scene when it comes to the aesthetics the makeup when it comes to the hair just everything they put so much care into everything it's so meticulous i would even give them even if all else failed just putting indiana jones in the last crusade on the theater i was like okay you know where we were you got me there he was like 89 it's 89 immediately i yeah i knew right away yes yes exactly so So, no, I personally always was immersed in the 80s. That's my, I was born in 88, but that's a decade, as a lucky as I was to be a 90s kid, even though I was born in 88, and I would not have traded that for anything. I always would have loved to to have grown up in the 80s.

Starting point is 00:32:40 I heard and watched videos and saw that was one of the most incredible decades ever, and it's my favorite music ever as well. That's not movie music. I just getting to watch the show, it's like I got to vicariously live through these characters, and it's so much fun. That's why I love watching anything with the 80s. So this was like a dream come true to me. So that's why I know for years Greg said to me,

Starting point is 00:33:01 why are you not watching this show? And I'm so glad I got to experience it. Now our little encyclopedia has done it. He's made his way all the way through Stranger Things along with me. I'm glad I got to do it with you, too. Yes, it's been quite a journey. It will be very sorely missed. We love you guys.

Starting point is 00:33:20 If you're going to leave a comment, tell us how cool we are. send us nice, awesome thoughts to keep our spirits alive because I am so sad that this journey is ending right now. I do hope that there are more stranger things stuff to come. But for now, we are with you. You don't have to feel alone. We're all sad about it. We have loved you guys joining us for this. And we hope to see you on the next thing that we watch.

Starting point is 00:33:50 We love you guys to the moon and back. and we'll see you. Running up the hill on the next one. Happy New Year Royal Rejects, especially those who have pledged for some shout-out time. Well, you guys are fortunate because we're going to reveal to the world what your New Year's resolutions are. Sorry with Jared Thompson. Jared, he's resolving to finally listen to the voices in his head instead of pretending they're just intrusive thoughts. Excellent. You got to embrace yourself, you know. And Dropkick Reaper is resolving to channel anger productively in 2026 and starting with people who deserve it. And then once he runs out, he's probably going to just kind of, you know, spill it wherever. Love to hear it. Handsome Ransom, he's coming into self-love, vanity, and emotional manipulation with consent. My kind of guy.

Starting point is 00:34:49 My kind of guy is Xander Rogers, all right, because Xander Rogers plans to sever all toxic ties, you know, start a healthy 2026, burn all the symbolic bridges and is going to keep the literal ashes. You're probably going to burn at least a couple of things literally so you can keep the ashes for motivation. Love to hear it. Well, Tavia Shields, they're resolving to weaponize silence and watch people spiral. Absolutely. We love to hear that. And Tara Mack, Tara Mac is resolving to master the art of patience so that when he finally enacts, or when they, she, Tara Mac, when you enact your master plan, no one's going to see it coming. That's how patient you are. Oh, my God. So patient. Well, Joe is here. Hey, Joe. And they're aiming to confront their fears head on, mostly by daring them to try something.

Starting point is 00:35:42 Absolutely. Yes, man. I will try it. And Janus B. C. C-P-H-T, all the letters. Janice is resolving this year to stay calm under pressure while quietly preparing antidotes to diseases that haven't even found their way into nature yet, you know? Planning ahead for the apocalypse. And Julian Audino is planning to create diseases before we're aware that that was even a possibility

Starting point is 00:36:13 because COVID really inspired on him. Absolutely. Absolutely. And after that, Christopher LaPlante is here committing to growth, personal transformation, and literal shedding of the skin, which is cool. You know, we support you just try to, you know, tidy that stuff up and don't just leave it in the middle of the party. Oh. Well, Alan Smithy is resolving to leave no trace, no credit, and no witnesses. No arguments for me. Ron Beek, the third, wants legacy. You want to want to. just a power and is going to give us a reason. I don't know what he's going to do yet, but it's going to be something that allows him to go down, not in fame, but in infamy.

Starting point is 00:36:56 So, you know, get ready. Maybe it's going to be like, you know, Max Shrek and the Penguin, Ron Beek style. What a pervert. Lever-Hawkins, they're choosing chaos selectively and joy irresponsibly. This is a very cerebral party that we're having. I like it.

Starting point is 00:37:14 I like these resolutions. Scott Schley, check this out. Okay, because Scott Schley is here and Scott Schley is going to finish everything Scott sets his mind to. Even if it's unethical, even if it's just a whim, it's already done. Yes, man, to the extreme. Well, D'Andre is resolving to trust his instincts and always give in to his instincts no matter good or bad. Okay. Dan, Victoria has been talking a lot this year about creating more discipline.

Starting point is 00:37:46 adding more structure and, you know, really taking control over, you know, the serenity prayer. It's the opposite of that. It's really like learning to control everything, even the things it doesn't seem like you can until finally, you know, life is all your whim in imagination. Whoa. Well, Fly Pan Am, they're aiming high this year. Very high. And they're prepared to fall after aiming very high. And I'm concerned with the collateral damage that'll come from Flying Pan Am, very high. excellent wonderful and uh you know we got morgan cobb here who is dedicated to observing and striking when least expected so expect uh morgan up a treat expect morgan operating a drone you never know

Starting point is 00:38:30 where to expect morgan well alice a good one is committed to kindness until it stops being effective that's that's the reasonable actually that's the world we'll be living now i can't really argue with you there Heather Petrullo, Petrillo, wants peace, but also understands that violence is just passion that is being mismanaged and thus, you know, rage rooms for everyone. Well, Boeing 84, they're resolving to stop fighting aging and start outsmarting it. I say, share your tips. Danny Rivera as well, inspiring us with the plan to follow intuition into 2026, even when that intuition takes you to

Starting point is 00:39:13 illegal and dubious places. Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. This is a real dark party. Ashton Collins, they're committed to ambition, escalation, and plausible deniability. Excellent. Some stuff went down at this party.

Starting point is 00:39:28 Well, yeah, yeah. I mean, that's the thing. It's like it's inevitably going to be a crime scene, but it's okay because Khadija Sims, Kadija Sims, is choosing dominance through composure because if you're the strongest, if you're the calmest person in the room,

Starting point is 00:39:41 you have the control at that point and then we're all listening to you so i hope you have a good idea of what to do that's why my introverted non-social friends are the most powerful people in every room when they're in that corner sulking the room Shannon darbone they're resolving to speak their truth and let the fallout sort itself out that's actually a good idea thanks Shannon it's not bad try and live up to that's positive one so far requimstismd uh he wants answers and i frankly agree even if the answers don't want rescumd. I feel like

Starting point is 00:40:17 a lot of these guys are lacking specificity and their goals. These are very vague goals guys. They're very broad and you can't attain the goals until you have a really good specific about getting a six pack. What happened to getting a six pack? Elaine DeLollis. They're going to embrace elegance

Starting point is 00:40:33 while plotting ruin politely. I like this gentleman crime. syndicate that we have here. Robert Payla is next to the New Year's party. Is

Starting point is 00:40:47 resolving to trust fewer people and is going to be recording everything. So the second you step out of line, play the tape, I knew I shouldn't have trusted anyone in this life. That's hilarious.

Starting point is 00:41:03 Cyrus Soka, they want long games, deeper pockets, and longer memories. How they attain it is all up to them. You know, it's okay because Aaron's here to help and Aaron is keeping expectations low

Starting point is 00:41:18 and contingency plans violent. So if Aaron falls off the New Year's resolutions, you know, expect chaos and blood. Well, Dylan Jagger is resolving to burn brighter, louder, and without regret, as they, you know, spontaneously combust. Absolutely. That's, that's inspiring. And Jackson Ryan, uh once uh jackson ryan is going to be here just self-flageulating you know just kind of disciplining

Starting point is 00:41:47 themselves constantly so is to keep you know on the righteous path the more miserable you are the more pious you can become yeah discipline without a thing to be disciplined in yes exactly just just just keeping your art of discipline without with no goal yeah with no end game just being disciplined somehow flying scotsman 4072 is is committed to resilience forged through spite. Hmm.

Starting point is 00:42:18 Hmm. Yeah, I mean, that's a good motivator. And, hey, spitefully, Lauren Cardinal is here, but Lauren Cardinal is resolving to, you know, strike quietly to secure victory

Starting point is 00:42:31 and then celebrate afterwards, you know? It's like, don't count your chickens before they've hatched is what Lauren's learned this year. And I think that's a good thing. Luke Schnur

Starting point is 00:42:40 plans to be patient, observant, and lethal with timing. Sounds like an assassin ninja convention. Everyone's plotting. We're all saying the code words. Yes, yes, yes. We're trying to activate you all as we speak. Oh, goodness.

Starting point is 00:42:57 Anthony Donato's here. Anthony Donato with a Donato's pizza from Ohio, a good chain, and is committed to success at any cost, but, you know, preferably not any cost to himself. You know, we hope that Anthony, you know, some of the success, but either way, we're going to be paying for it. Adrian wants to conquer peace by getting into conflicts every single day. Get comfortable being uncomfortable is what they say.

Starting point is 00:43:24 That's actually very smart. Whitney Hampson, speaking as smart is here, resolving to disappear when it's least convenient, always at every function. Which is a great way to live with peace of mind. I agree. We'll start us in madness. They're going to get more creative. They're going to start hallucinating.

Starting point is 00:43:41 and create a thin veil between them. Good. Them and the rest of us. Them, yeah. Yeah, well, you know, I guess that's... If you could self-induce a hallucination and then we're all part of it, I think that'd be pretty sick.

Starting point is 00:43:56 And who else is pretty sick? Matthew Arms, love your arms. And Matthew Arms plans to carry the weight in his arms without asking whose weight it is or how much they weigh because that's rude. That's courteous. arms needs to learn not to ask that question well rebecca row is going to trust their intuition especially when it says don't look back yes when we open the ark of the covenant to ring in the new

Starting point is 00:44:24 year don't look back don't look back don't look back at it and kevin meek you too you know is kevin meeks here resolving to say less and to mean more which is actually a beautiful thing to want this year make every word count well then science is committed to Observation without empathy. Greg Alba style. Excellent. You're like that guy from Elysium. Hey, but don't worry, because Light My Path, Star is here,

Starting point is 00:44:54 and Light My Path is lighting our path with omens, dreams, and cryptic cyphers. What do they mean? I don't know. I don't know. Well, Lennon Miller is resolving to commit to the grind until exhaustion feels like mercy. Andrew Tate. Yes.

Starting point is 00:45:13 You fit right in in the modern times. Just keep at it, man. And Chase Wagner wants to leverage the silence in the room against all of us for making this party awkward.

Starting point is 00:45:24 Well, Ricardo Martinez is committed to precision and restraint until restraint becomes optional. And what is that precision going to be in? Only time we'll tell. Murder.

Starting point is 00:45:35 Juan Longoria is here in resolving to remember favors and debts equally which is excellent and a good way to not get walked all over, a good way to advocate for yourself while also still being generous. Cliff Rodriguez

Starting point is 00:45:51 is committed to always living into truth, even if it hurts someone else first, even if it requires him to hurt someone else physically or emotionally. I was almost on board with you, Cliff. I'm like, you got to rip that Band-Aid, I'm terrible at that. But hey, Matt is also here to make me feel a little better

Starting point is 00:46:08 by keeping their goals intentionally very unclear. So we don't know what Matt wants. I don't know why you're here, but thank you for at least being clear about the lack of clarity. Well, Lorenzo Baxter is getting off the grid, living in the woods, because they're committed to survival as an art form.

Starting point is 00:46:26 Oh, that's really cool. Yeah, you should set up a live stream of that, and Marco Tunstill can run the camera because Marco Tunstall wants influence without any sort of personal acknowledgement, and that's how you guys can team up to get it. But Marco Tunstil production company. Well, Riley Peterson is resolving to open doors that were best left closed and step through anyway.

Starting point is 00:46:49 You know what? Why not? Experiences the spice of life. Open those doors. That's what we say. And we also say that you should live in the past. You should live in the past with those faded memories like simply faded, who is embracing the detachment, delusion and selective views. on reality, really live in their truth.

Starting point is 00:47:10 They fit in with today's society. SJ94, they plan to just stop asking permission. Make of that what you will. Yeah. It's good times to stop asking permission. Yeah, ask for forgiveness

Starting point is 00:47:26 rather than permission. And speaking of forgiveness, Chris Wamoff, we pray to you for forgiveness, obviously. Thank you for showing up with your resolution to endure you know, until you're breaking point and then at that point

Starting point is 00:47:41 you will die and become a martyr and we will all worship you. You'll be sainted for reels, finally. And we'll forget about it the next day. Philip J. Smith Jr., they want legacy, permanence, and a footprint

Starting point is 00:47:55 that doesn't wash away. Again, they want the reward without actually doing the activity. Yeah, that's the AI generation. You'll fit right in. And, hey, Marjorie is here as Well, Marjorie, cultivating, you know, a really all-encompassing piece as she sits sharpening her machete. You know, so I feel like we can all learn a little bit from that dance of bloodthirst, but also Zen.

Starting point is 00:48:23 Jen Smith is committed to committing to the red flags as if they're white flags. Good. Surrender. But don't give yourself away. Eric Horstman is here finally committing to. being patient, abstinent, not swearing this year,

Starting point is 00:48:42 and really just going back to church and, you know, devoting his life to the Lord. Omni Media is committed to hitting me up for screeners every single week. Just like he did. The very attainable resolution.

Starting point is 00:49:01 Shouts out. And it will never end, even when I'm done with YouTube. That's good. That's good. And hey, Ronson S. following up Omni Media. Ronson is here and is dressed like Mark Ronson

Starting point is 00:49:14 and is taking control of the music in the room because Ronson wants to, you know, take over the world with his AI-generated slop tunes. Tyler Haig is committed to raising his grandfather from the dead. Good. Yeah. He really put a... That's what all this has been for.

Starting point is 00:49:32 A new turn to the party, I'm just going to say. Yes. Yeah. 100%. Mikhail Linden is. Committing is committing to the resolution in 2026 of only drinking vodka martini's shaken and not stirred for every drink experience so that he can fully commit to his bond dedication. Well, check out David Gannie. He's committed to a temporary sex change. Good. Just for a couple days.

Starting point is 00:49:58 A couple. Only on weekends. Only on the weekends. Yeah. Yeah. She cheat. She days. No, it doesn't work. Well, thanks, David, for leading and inspiring. It's Eeliot Chamberlain. Thank you for coming in, for being resolute and embracing elegance, embracing your cunning in the coming year, and, you know, adding just a little bit more cruelty to your repertoire. I feel like you should be out here roasting people like it's Kill Tony or something like that. Speaking of Kill, Naraj Krishnan is committed to the assassination of the entire group of Sinepals.

Starting point is 00:50:34 Oh. Yep. death by eating sushi that is expired oh that way it's untraceable yeah that's a smart plan too it is smart never know it is smart that's how i got away with it i won't tell you who i killed oh but it's definitely someone you guys care about comment below who you think it is and if you get it right you know free subscription to the channel for here well thanks guys thanks guys got really weird there at the end when it was normal before. Yes, only at the end to get weird.

Starting point is 00:51:07 But we appreciate you, you know, inspiring us to be cunning and deceitful and angry and, you know, all sorts of other strange qualities in the new year. To patience and discipline and very vague. Well, yeah, that's where you get it. This is Greg and John at the end of the end of a working year. The fumes at the end of a very, very, very long drive across a year's worth of time.

Starting point is 00:51:32 And it doesn't stop. Nope. Don't worry. We'll be fresh in January. It will be fresh in one day. Fresh in January 1st, all of a sudden I'll be like, oh my God. Next set of shout is going to be normal. Next set of content coming you're away. See you guys.

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