A man has thrilled internet viewers with the unconventional way he watched the series finale of Stranger Things.
Chris Latanville (@latanville), 35, shared a video showing how he viewed the final-ever episode of the hit Netflix series on an old television set -- a retro CRT TV from the early 1980s.
Latanville told Newsweek: "The viewing experience was surprisingly great! The video I posted doesn't do it justice. In person, the image looks very clear. But just seeing the show on a time-accurate TV, with that retro CRT sound quality, created such an immersive experience.
"Rewatching the show and the finale on an old TV was an experience I recommend to anyone who loves the show and loves a healthy dose of nostalgia.
"I pride myself on not spoiling shows, so I don't want to say too much when it comes to the finale. But it was one of the greatest finales I have ever seen on TV! A definite must-watch," he added.
Latanville also shared a YouTube video where he gave a comprehensive guide on how he screened his favorite show on the vintage TV.
He also noted a surprising coincidence connected to the TV itself. Latanville said that the television was given to him by his fiancée's aunt and happened to be manufactured in the exact same year that Stranger Things season one is set.
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things was released across three planned drops: Volume 1 premiered November 26 with four episodes, Volume 2 followed on December 25 with three episodes, and the finale arrived on New Year's Eve.
Set in the fall of 1987, the final season sees Hawkins reeling from the opening of the Rifts as the group unites for one last mission: find and kill Vecna. With the villain vanished and the town under military quarantine, the government's renewed hunt for Eleven forces her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, a familiar sense of dread returns -- and the stage is set for a final confrontation darker and deadlier than anything before it.
Latanville, who is based in Ontario, Canada, works as a mail carrier by day and a content creator by night. He runs a Nintendo-focused YouTube channel called Questing Couch, which ultimately inspired the idea.
He said that he was originally filming a video about playing the Nintendo Switch 2 on a retro TV when he noticed the television was made in 1983. Having just finished the final season of Stranger Things, he realized that the show's timeline begins in the same year. Once he made the connection, he decided to include the idea as a bonus element in the video.
The TV itself required no repairs. Latanville said he had acquired it a year or two earlier so he could have a smaller CRT television for retro gaming. His larger Sony Trinitron, he added, was too bulky to transport when gaming with friends. Having already used the TV regularly with his old Nintendo and PlayStation consoles, he knew it worked -- and worked well.
Getting Netflix onto the vintage television, however, required some creative problem-solving. Latanville said that the TV supports only coaxial connections, so he used an RF modulator to convert the signal and allow RCA cables to function as an input source. From there, he connected an RCA-to-HDMI converter, which allowed him to plug in an Amazon Fire Stick and stream Netflix. He added that viewers who want a clearer, visual explanation can find it on his YouTube channel.
The video quickly gained traction on Instagram, with viewers praising the nostalgic setup.
"This is how it was meant to be watched," said one user.
"I was just thinking to do the same thing with my 1960s tv," shared another.
"This is so cool!! I love using vintage items for modern day stuff," added a third viewer.