The “Mystery Box” is a technique (if it can really be considered such) I believe coined by JJ Abrams where, instead of having a clear plan for a story and working from that, they instead pepper in mysterious and intriguing tidbits with little-to-no explanation, and a lure that it will all be explained “eventually”, stringing the audience along indefinitely. JJ has done this for every single property he’s helmed, and never once has he provided a satisfactory resolution.
Stranger Things could be said to have had this in season 1, with lots of spooky, intriguing unknowns, but I think the creators at least had a decent idea of where they were headed by season 2. Unfortunately, being the finale, season 5 suffered from the breadcrumb practice of the prior seasons and had to shove all the unresolved lore in at once, which has put off a good number of viewers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_box_show
The “Mystery Box” is a technique (if it can really be considered such) I believe coined by JJ Abrams where, instead of having a clear plan for a story and working from that, they instead pepper in mysterious and intriguing tidbits with little-to-no explanation, and a lure that it will all be explained “eventually”, stringing the audience along indefinitely. JJ has done this for every single property he’s helmed, and never once has he provided a satisfactory resolution.
Stranger Things could be said to have had this in season 1, with lots of spooky, intriguing unknowns, but I think the creators at least had a decent idea of where they were headed by season 2. Unfortunately, being the finale, season 5 suffered from the breadcrumb practice of the prior seasons and had to shove all the unresolved lore in at once, which has put off a good number of viewers.
Ah interesting thanks. Never heard the term before but know exactly what you’re talking about 👍