Goosebumps’ Latest Story Reuses the Same Formula That Affected Season 1’s Conclusion

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Goosebumps (2023) and Goosebumps: The Vanishing.

Goosebumps: The Vanishing and Its Self-Contained Ending

The conclusion of Goosebumps: The Vanishing stands out for its self-contained narrative, diverging from the unresolved cliffhanger of its predecessor. The 2023 reboot of Goosebumps skillfully combined elements of teen drama with horror comedy, depicting a group of teenagers as they confronted supernatural entities in the quaint town of Port Lawrence. While the first season’s finale left its protagonist in dire straits after a tense encounter with the main antagonist, this new installment takes a different approach, introducing an entirely fresh cast and story.

The New Narrative in Goosebumps: The Vanishing

In this iteration, the plot centers around Anthony Brewer, a botanist whose older brother mysteriously disappeared in Fort Jerome three decades ago. As Anthony spends the summer taking care of his teenage twins, Devin and Cece, the trio forms friendships with local teens Frankie, Alex, CJ, and Trey. Together, they unintentionally uncover the mystery surrounding their uncle’s unexplained vanishing. While there are echoes of the original premise in terms of supernatural intrigue, this story is distinct and separate from the arcs established in the first season.

Unresolved Plot Threads: A Trend in the Goosebumps Series

Cliffhanger Endings Mark the Franchise

Just like the initial season, Goosebumps: The Vanishing concludes with an unresolved cliffhanger. After the alien spaceship that holds Anthony’s brother departs, the characters feel a temporary sense of safety, with Anthony finally piecing together the mystery of his brother’s disappearance. Yet, in a surprising twist, Trey expels a mysterious gray alien substance in the final moments, suggesting that the narrative is far from a complete closure. The anthology style of the series raises questions about whether these overlapping tales will be revisited in future seasons, or if the storytelling will reset entirely with new protagonists.

The Challenges of The Anthology Format

How the Format Affects Story Resolution

Anthology shows like American Horror Story and Slasher typically approach character continuity differently: the former retains a shared universe, allowing characters to reappear across seasons, while the latter does not revisit characters at all. This places Goosebumps in a quandary: it remains uncertain whether the unresolved threads from the first season will ever be fully explored or concluded since future seasons could just as easily focus on new plots disconnected from previous narratives.

Why Cliffhanger Endings Resonate with Audience

Echoing RL Stine’s Signature Style

The use of cliffhanger endings in the Goosebumps series aligns with a long-standing tradition in horror storytelling, where evil often lingers beyond the apparent resolution. Such techniques are reminiscent of RL Stine’s original novels, notably Camp Nightmare and The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, both of which end on notes suggesting that their tales are only beginning.

Future Possibilities and Audience Expectations

This narrative structure not only generates suspense but also keeps the door wide open for future crossovers, allowing for the potential return of characters from season 1 or Goosebumps: The Vanishing to illuminate what happened afterward. While ambiguous endings create anticipation, they can frustrate viewers seeking closure.

In summary, while the anthology format of Goosebumps presents fresh stories and characters, it poses challenges for narrative resolution. Both seasons offer thrilling adventures loaded with mystery and suspense, but whether they will ever truly conclude remains an open question.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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