# Scenes that were serious back then but risible now

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-that-were-serious-back-then-but-risible-now/972223>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 25, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-that-were-serious-back-then-but-risible-now/972223 "2022-09-25T21:57:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-that-were-serious-back-then-but-risible-now/972223/81 "2022-10-03T16:51:53Z")

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I finally got around to starting the most recent season of Stranger Things last night night and was already familiar with the "[Chrissy, Wake Up"](https://youtu.be/noYBV61kh7s) scene because of the song.

It’s not supposed to be the most deadly serious scene ever. It’s Stranger Things, not Othello. But it’s not supposed to be a joke. It’s a pretty traumatic moment, both for Eddie and for Chrissy.

It is still effective, but when you’ve heard the song and you know what’s coming, it’s kind of distracting. Instead of just watching the scene, I was waiting for the “Chrissy, wake UU-uuuup! I don’t like this!”

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**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scenes-that-were-serious-back-then-but-risible-now/972223/82 "2022-10-24T01:09:36Z")

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I thought Jon Voight in “Coming Home” was absolutely risable _at the time._ Being an outlier, with everyone thinking I was a grump, (not to mention the film reaping in awards), I just couldn’t stand his character’s sanctimonious solemnity, with deep, penetrating “I know what you’re really thinking” douchery, replete with wieghty line pauses pregnant enough to bursting, meaningful scowls, condescending bromides, and just overall being a Beacon of Integrity and Fortitude. 🤢 My seemingly sole dissent was thankfully vindicated not even three or so years later with SCTV’s Dave Thomas doing the awesomest riff on the pretentious asshat, who, in this iteration, occasionally smacks himself in the head, a la Strangelove’s self-strangling, along with deep debates with his obsequious love interest Andrea Martin over the pronunciation of “harass”.

Not sure what ratio of seriousness to camp Star Trek was regarded back then, (other than Tribble wackiness), so I’m not 100% sure if “He’s dead, Jim” would be the most viable offing, here.

> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Damnation Alley: The town’s infested with killer cockroaches!
> 
> At least, I think it was meant to be serious!

> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#):
>
> Hey, that _was_ serious.
> 
> At least, to 9 year-old me, who had nightmares about the guy getting in the car with the flesh-eating cockroaches for weeks afterward.

I like buddy’s line at the beginning of those hijinks, when he first sees one, trying to step on it: “I _hate_ bugs.”

oh - here 🙂

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gjiOb8WZoEo/hqdefault.jpg "Damnation Alley Giant Cockroaches") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjiOb8WZoEo&t=170)

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