Stranger Things took the world by storm in 2016, and its presence and influence have remained strong nearly 10 years after its debut with the release of its season finale. The show became a staple of Netflix must-watch shows, revived and pushed decades-old songs back to the top of the Billboard charts, and sparked massive brand collaborations with companies like Nike, Levi’s, LEGO, and Fortnite. From conspiracy theories to ’80s nostalgia, Stranger Things opened the door to an entire new wave of pop culture fascination.
The show was first released quietly on July 16, 2016, with almost no mainstream hype, an unknown cast and creators, and minimal marketing. However, it quickly rose to popularity through word of mouth, social media, and critical acclaim. Stranger Things attracted a diverse range of audiences, with its nostalgia factor creating an incentive for older viewers to watch, and the show’s supernatural plot attracting sci-fi enthusiasts. It inspired a whole new generation of fans and fanbase, and gave birth to Halloween costumes, company collabs, fan arts, and reviews. The show also resulted in several spinoffs, such as behind-the-scenes content and even a documentary detailing the production of season 5. One of the largest extensions to the Stranger Things universe was the Tony Award-winning live stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow, set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, which reveals the origins of Vecna (Henry Creel) and the Upside Down’s connection to the town. The stage production also features young versions of major adult characters from the show, Joyce, Hopper, and Bob Newby.
Fans often wonder: What is the underlying cause that makes Stranger Things so engaging? What makes it so appealing to so many fans? What contributed to its success? Well, the answer lies in a multitude of factors. One aspect is the fact that the show is simultaneously a completely new idea and something familiar. It deals with standard supernatural monsters, typical characters, and jumpscare-filled horror. However, the 1980s setting, the incorporation of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, and the frequent references to various 80s movies such as Star Wars, E.T., and other famous films created new grounds for a variety of topics to blend into the successful franchise Stranger Things is today.
Stranger Things recently debuted its fifth and final season in the series, releasing Episodes 1-4 in “Vol. 1” on November 26, Episodes 5-7 in “Vol. 2” on December 25, and “The Finale” released on New Year’s Eve. Jeremy Jahns, a YouTube influencer with over two million subscribers, shared his thoughts on the finale in a video review. “It was a solid, heartfelt, moving on vibe that was 100 times better than any huge, enormous, multi-phase boss fight, Kaiju fight that money can buy,” said Jahns. “But the boss was a big CGI monstrosity of an action sequence that I never really needed in Stranger Things… It definitely went down like a video game… they were fighting that boss in story mode; way too easy.” Jahns added that watching the last half of season five simply felt “meh”. Jahns’ general critique focused on the show’s “safe,” fan-service-heavy approach, sappy epilogue, and a downgrade in tension compared to earlier seasons.
Across various social media platforms, Stranger Things enthusiasts have been talking about a possible “secret episode” that Netflix would air. Thousands of fans sought validation from the Netflix app, apparent easter eggs, and even the cast themselves. The official Stranger Things Instagram profile even had its description as “One last episode.” This left fans speculating on a possible 9th episode. The hype around the secret episode, dubbed “Conformity Gate,” eventually died down, as nearly a month has passed since the release of the finale without any sign of a bonus chapter. “Think Story,” another influencer on YouTube, shared their thoughts on a theory of why another episode could be released. “Who’s to say that this entire epilogue isn’t an illusion as well? An illusion orchestrated by the hive mind that hijacks our deepest desires to create a false fairy tale ending,” they said.
Without a doubt, Stranger Things has been the number one staple of Netflix for over 10 years. It revolutionized the industry not just in popularity, but also in writing, acting, effects, and much more. The fact that fans are hoping for a secret episode really goes to show how many people don’t want to let this incredible saga go. As the story comes to an end, it’s good to recognize the show’s profound impact on society and what more Stranger Things has in store for us in the future.
