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Revision as of 13:48, 19 May 2022
"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" | |
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Stranger Things episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Duffer brothers |
Written by | Duffer brothers |
Original release date | July 15, 2016 |
"Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" (originally titled "Montauk Pilot") is the premiere episode of the American science fiction horror television series Stranger Things. It was released alongside the rest of the first season on July 15, 2016 on Netflix.
Plot
In a lab on the outskirts of Hawkins, Indiana on November 6, 1983, a scientist is seen attempting to escape from an unseen monster. However, the monster attacks him in a elevator and kills him.
While riding home at night from a ten-hour Dungeons & Dragons session, young Will Byers rides through the woods, but is kidnapped and goes missing. When Will's mother and brother, respectively Joyce and Jonathan, realizing that he's missing the next morning, go to the Police Chief Jim Hopper, who tells them that Will has likely either been abducted by his absent father or is just running away. Joyce denies it, and Hopper (after noticing a few strange happenings going on) decides to go search for Will in the woods where he went missing.
Meanwhile, a short-haired girl ventures out of the same woods and into a local restaurant, where she, having never been in one before, starts to steal food from the owner. The owner chases her until he realizes she is in trouble and gives her food, as well as calling social services. She doesn't speak, but the restaurant owner, Benny, spots a tattoo on her arm that reads "011" and begins to call the girl Eleven. When the supposed social service agents arrive, they shoot Benny, and Eleven realizes that these people are from the lab she was abducted into at a young age. Eleven escapes using her telekinetic powers and runs back into the woods, where she meets Will's best friends, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair, who had set out to search for Will on their own.
Production
The episode was originally titled "Montauk Pilot" and was the first episode from Montauk, the original title for Stranger Things. It was later renamed along with the show, though the script itself barely changed. The episode was written and directed by the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers. "The Vanishing of Will Byers" was released on July 15, 2016 on Netflix.
Reception
The episode was well received by critics. PopMatters noted that the show "captures fear and the '80s so brilliantly, you'd think Netflix injected it with some mad scientist-created serum to ensure maximum binge-worthiness."[1] Travel Spots also enjoyed the episode.
The Duffer Brothers were nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards for outstanding writing and outstanding directing for the episode, as well as the Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement for a Drama Series award for "The Vanishing of Will Byers" as well.[2][3][4] Other people were awarded accolades for their work in the episode as well.[5]
References
- ^ "Stranger Things: Season 1, Episode 1 - "The Vanishing of Will Byers"". PopMatters. July 27, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 11, 2017). "DGA TV Awards Nominations: 'Stranger Things', 'Westworld' & 'Atlanta' On List; Docus Include 'OJ: Made In America'". Deadline. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ Emmy Nominations 2017: Westworld, Stranger Things, Atlanta Among New Nominees - IGN, retrieved December 25, 2020
- ^ "Stranger Things Emmy award". Television Academy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 11, 2017). "Creative Arts Emmy Winners: 'Stranger Things,' 'Westworld,' 'Big Little Lies' Win Big — Complete List". Variety. Retrieved December 25, 2020.