‘When The Street Lights Go On’ is Quibi’s attempt at a non-fantastical ‘Stranger Things’, taking a young new cast, placing them with established actors, and creating a mystery and world packed full of nostalgia, this time for the 90s.
While I still think Quibi’s actual format and whole idea is destined to fail and that should be been obvious from the start, I do think some of their programming has been interesting, and this is one of the best.
It is packed full of cliche and a mystery that is solved very suddenly and with little build up, and it criminally wastes Tony Hale and Queen Latifah in bizarrely small and inconsequential roles.
However, what it does right, is create some interesting characters played by talented young stars (Sophie Thatcher, Chosen Jacobs, Sam Strike), and really captures a nostalgic mood for the 90s and a longing to re-live your childhood, which in the end makes it an effective watch.
Rating = 3/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 