We spend a lot of our days binge-watching Netflix shows. At the recent AsiaPOP Comicon (APCC), we spent hours trying to live like our favorite characters in the recreated sets of the most iconic and streamed series of today.
The first-ever Netflix booth at APCC took the event to a whole other level. It created a space for fans to explore the different worlds they only get to see on screen and even gave them a taste of what their favorite characters live as a reality.
Hall N was one of the biggest booths found in the comicon. It had a red carpet entrance as it welcomed Netflix fans to Josie’s Hell’s Kitchen. Marvel references were all over the downtown setup—you’d find the Chikara Dojo in Chinatown, the Jessica Jones mini mart and a “Defenders” street sign.
But the Marvel Universe was completely a visual treat. We wish there were martial arts lessons at the dojo or even fortune cookies and pork buns in Chinatown. Or, maybe, instead of “The Defenders” standees at the end of the alley, an actual Defender could join us at the comicon panels (Netflix, hear us out, please!).
The Byers’ living room was also recreated at Hall N. Christmas lights were strewn all over the room, and the iconic wall painted with the alphabet was present, of course. This was the same room where four of the series’ second season cast members—Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery—held their meet and greet sessions with “Stranger Things” fans.
The living room’s wall was cracked open and the Demogorgon waited to spook fans as they entered the dark dimension of the Upside Down. We came unprepared and wish we brought a makeshift baseball bat with us as our weapon of choice. Inside the eerie realm is the Demogorgon’s egg, which was the real prop used in the hit series.
We only lasted four seconds in the Upside Down and the quickest getaway ride away from the momentary nightmare is coincidentally the Hawkins Lab van that Eleven flipped over.
Super also got to experience living in a prison cell. The crime we’re guilty of? Excessive Netflix binge-watching, of course! We took mugshots, did duct tape sandals in different shoe styles and sported crazy eyeliners just like the gals from “Orange is the New Black.”
And as if we weren’t bad-ass enough when we came out of prison, we were recruited by the Southside Serpents the moment we entered Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. The “hazing” came with a temporary serpent tattoo.
Pop’s diner served vanilla and chocolate milkshakes in plastic cups marked with the Netflix logo. Visitors could linger in two other booths after their photos have been taken near the diner’s LED sign. Everything in the room was screaming retro and we wished we came dressed as our favorite “Riverdale” characters.
The booth was packed with activities, and we spent a lot of our comicon time lining up to experience the recreated sets, but one thing’s for sure—Hall N’s got us wishing for a Netflix theme park, or at least, a rerun in next year’s AsiaPop Comicon.
