I read somewhere that someone thought Season 1 was the best because it introduced us to the characters and the monster/demogorgon was more in the shadows, which made it more creepy and spooky. I don't disagree with that. Yet I think it is the character development and the 80s nostalgia that make this such a good series. Each season builds on the others. So I've enjoyed all the seasons for that. I like character-driven and content-driven shows, like the AMC dramas (Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Halt and Catch Fire) and BBC and PBS fare.