‘Stranger Things’ Creator Warns Fans About Season 5 ‘Garbage’ Viewing Issue
With the return of the Netflix hit series Stranger Things for its fifth and final season, there are no shortage of questions, anticipation and excitement. However, it's following the release of the first four episodes of Season 5, co-creator Ross Duffer had a message for longtime fans. Specifically, he wants to make sure viewers are maximizing their experience for the highly anticipated final episodes of Stranger Things, and to do so, it may require a few tweaks to your television.
While the warning from Duffer may seem a bit random, he's adament that fans should watch the homestretch in the fashion they were intended to be viewed.
Ross Duffer Wants You to Turn off Specific 'Garbage' Settings for 'Stranger Things'
Duffer took to Instagram to offer a "PSA" about what Stranger Things fans should do while watching the show. He highlighted four settings that to switch off while referring to them as "crap" and "garbage."
"A little PSA before you watch tonight. I just want to make sure that your TVs are set up properly," Duffer said.
"You're going to have to go into settings...you're going to go into picture mode settings. [Mine is] expert controls, but it could be different depending on the TV. They have a bunch of crap in here that you're gonna want to make sure is off. Dynamic contrast? Garbage, off. Super resolution? Garbage, off. Edge enhancer? Garbage, off. Color filter? Garbage, off."
He then says under another section to turn off "noise reduction," and highlights the "worst offender of all TruMotion, also known as smooth motion, or the dreaded soap opera effect." Stating that you're "definitely going to want to make sure that is off." For good measure, Duffer also adds that viewers should avoid "anything called vivid" while watching Stranger Things.
How to Fix Your TV Settings While Watching 'Stranger Things 5'
Duffer laid out a pretty significant step-by-step breakdown of recommendations. He explains that the "vivid" aspect turns on all the "worst offenders" and is "not the filmmakers intent" due to the impact on the show's colors.
Here's a quick look at the step-by-step rundown of what to turn off while watching Stranger Things Season 5:
- Dynamic contrast
- Super resolution
- Edge enhancer
- Color filter
- Noise reduction
- TruMotion or smooth motion (aka soap opera effect)
- Avoid and turn off "vivid" settings
For those who have already watched the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, which were released on Netflix on Wednesday, Nov. 26, you can get those settings squared away for the final stretch. The next three episodes, or "Volume 2" will be released on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, followed by the Stranger Things finale on New Years Eve, Dec. 31.
Season 5 of the series debuted to strong reviews from critics and fans alike on the popular site Rotten Tomatoes. It currently boasts a "certified fresh" label, with a critics' score of 93 percent. The fan score was almost as high, with 1,000-plus ratings giving the start of the new season an 88 percent mark.
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