Anytime someone mentions a Netflix original series, there is a high chance that “Stranger Things” will be brought into the discussion. In July of 2016, when the series was released, millions of viewers were transported back to the fall of 1983, to a small town in Indiana called Hawkins, sparking a return to ’80s-inspired fashion and media and an ever-growing thirst for new episodes. Cable TV networks may originally have had its doubts about the science fiction show’s success, but the multiple-season order from Netflix and the overwhelmingly positive audience response has definitely proven cable TV wrong.
Created by the Duffer brothers, “Stranger Things” is centered around a group of friends in middle school who live in a mysterious town overrun by governmental experiments. The stars of the show—including rising 14-year-old star Millie Bobby Brown and renowned actress Winona Ryder—rose to fame in a flash. People across the globe have found reflections of themselves in these underdog characters, who are considered “losers” and “outcasts” in their fictional small town of Hawkins.
The cinematography, plot, and music seem to be just a few of the many reasons for this show’s vast audience and success. University freshman and Film and Screen Studies major Michael Aron stated, “The show gave me a feeling of familiarity and home because of the location, the underdog characters, and the color grading of the film. While I enjoy period pieces, I didn’t necessarily enjoy it for that factor. I got the most enjoyment out of the unique concepts and storylines of the series.”
The addition of a spooky plotline along with the nostalgia of the 1980s and childhood in general set “Stranger Things” apart from most other science fiction series. The monsters of Hawkins can sometimes even be considered a minor plot point compared to the interworking relationships of the children, parents, and townspeople.
University freshman Sammy Kallman, who loves the music in the series, said, “I believe the music added to the nostalgia factor of the show and created positive vibes to combat the seriousness of the plot.”
The show was originally set to be a one-time mini-series, but the audience retention rate and praise for the show influenced the Duffer Brothers to create a second season in 2017. Despite receiving 12 Emmy nominations during the past awards season cycle, though, the writers and producers of “Stranger Things” have yet to release the third season on Netflix. The latest installment was expected to drop this year, but due to the pressure that has suddenly been put on the writers and their desire to produce new content that is even better than its predecessors, the release date has been postponed to sometime in the summer of 2019. It seems that the Duffer Brothers need more time with the overwhelmingly high-stakes plot this third time around, as the whole world is watching.
Stranger Things has taken the world by storm, with merchandise, clothing, events, large social media followings, and a huge and excited fan base. The show even has its own dedicated day, Stranger Things Day, on Nov. 6, that celebrates the fandom and binge-watching the series. This is a fragile phenomenon and fans, University students included, seem to be eager for more.
