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Stranger Things: A Reflection
In this personal reflection, writer and creator Bessy Adut explores why Stranger Things became more than a nostalgic hit. Blending cultural critique with lived experience, she examines the series´ emotional intelligence, its vision of collective courage, and the values of unity and empathy that continue to resonate beyond the screen. January 6, 2026
By Bessy ADUT
STRANGER THINGS PHENOMENON
"Darkness is never defeated alone. It is faced together."
I would like to share my thoughts on Stranger Things, as it has been one of my favorite television shows of the past several years. It transported me into an imaginative world where monsters exist, and courage is forged through friendship. As an ’80s baby, the show carries a deep sense of nostalgia. I see fragments of my own childhood reflected in it, yet I firmly believe viewers of all ages and generations can find something of themselves in the story.
As the creator of SEARCHING FOR GOODNESS, what resonates most is how Stranger Things reminds us that real evil, whether imagined or very real, can only be confronted through unity. The series emphasizes the power of strong friendships, collective intelligence, careful planning, and shared purpose. Darkness is never defeated alone—it is faced together. That message feels especially relevant today.
What makes the show endure beyond its surface pleasures is not simply nostalgia, but its emotional intelligence. The 1980s setting is more than an aesthetic choice: it’s a psychological landscape where fear, imagination, and authority collide. Bikes replace cars, basements replace safe spaces, and childhood becomes both sanctuary and battleground.
The series concluded with a clever release strategy. Fans eagerly awaited new episodes around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which amplified excitement. Screening the finale in theaters transformed it into a communal experience. Some viewers felt the ending was underwhelming, but I found myself asking: what more could one reasonably expect? Nearly every character experienced a meaningful arc, and plots and subplots reached resolution. The finale balanced happiness and loss, closure and openness. I feel satisfied and can imagine revisiting the series in a future marathon.
At its core, Stranger Things is about vulnerability. Eleven’s journey from laboratory subject to self-defined individual anchors the show’s moral center, transforming spectacle into something intimate. Her powers are never a gift without consequence—they are visible scars. Friendships fracture, reform, and mature, treating growing up not as a milestone but as a loss that must be acknowledged.
The monsters, while memorable, are secondary. The real horror lies in institutions that exploit, parents who fail to listen, and communities that mistake familiarity for safety. Hawkins is frightening not because it is cursed, but because it believes itself immune to darkness. Evil thrives not in chaos alone, but in complacency.
The writers built a rich world, developed layered characters, and kept audiences emotionally invested. Strategically returning to role-playing near the end was brilliant. Watching the characters regroup, exchange knowledge, assess losses, and plan for the future felt honest and earned. Strategy, conversation, and cooperation again became tools for survival, echoing the philosophy behind SEARCHING FOR GOODNESS: goodness is communal, requires action, and emerges when people listen and work together.
BEHIND THE SCENES
"It takes a village to bring a world to life."
I salute the writers, directors, producers, the amazing cast ensemble, and the entire crew of Stranger Things for their incredible success. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already since this show started—how time flies! I hope they receive all the awards they deserve.
Produced by Monkey Massacre and 21 Laps Entertainment, Stranger Things premiered in 2016 and concluded in 2025 with a three-part finale on New Year’s Eve. Set in Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s, the series centers on a government experiment gone wrong, opening a portal to the Upside Down. At its heart is Eleven, whose extraordinary abilities reshape the lives of children, families, and the community.
Casting was crucial. Veteran actors like Winona Ryder and David Harbour added depth, while the younger cast—Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke—provided heart and energy. New additions like Jamie Campbell Bower expanded the ensemble without losing focus.
The series wears its influences proudly: nods to 1980s cinema, Spielberg’s wonder, Carpenter’s tension, King’s suburban horror, Lynch’s surrealism, and Cold War paranoia give the Upside Down weight. Critical acclaim praised performances, immersive storytelling, and a balance of suspense, nostalgia, and emotional depth. Beyond the screen, books, comics, interactive experiences, and a West End stage production expanded the universe, yet the series remained centered on character and emotional truth.
DEVELOPMENT
"Persistence, preparation, and vision can turn an idea into a phenomenon."
The series was brought to life by Matt and Ross Duffer, who wrote, directed, and showran it. Before Stranger Things, they made Hidden and were mentored by M. Night Shyamalan. They created a script and 20-page pitch book, initially titled Montauk, and pitched it to 15 networks, most skeptical of a show led by children.
Persistence paid off. 21 Laps Entertainment bought the series, giving the Duffers full creative control. Netflix purchased the first season, trusting their vision. The fictional Hawkins replaced Montauk, New York, allowing creative freedom, and the final title, Stranger Things, was inspired by Stephen King’s Needful Things.
The development process offers lessons for creators: preparation, vision, and persistence can transform a simple idea into a cultural phenomenon.
CHARACTERS
"Every character has a story to tell, and every story enriches the world around it."
There are too many characters to cover in depth here, but I highly recommend fans and writers explore them online. Almost every character experiences a meaningful arc, personal struggle, and sometimes a romantic subplot. From Eleven’s journey to the children navigating adolescence, to adults confronting grief, trauma, and loyalty, each storyline is carefully woven.
Studying these characters offers insights into balancing multiple arcs without losing emotional core, a masterclass in ensemble storytelling.
REMINDERS & SPOILERS OF ALL SEASONS
"To see the full picture, sometimes we need a reminder of the journey so far."
Stranger Things is set in Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s, where the Hawkins National Laboratory secretly experiments on the paranormal, opening a portal to the Upside Down.
- Season 1 (1983): Will Byers is kidnapped by the Demogorgon. Joyce, Hopper, and friends, including Eleven, race to find him.
- Season 2 (1984): Will survives, but the Mind Flayer begins controlling him. New friendships form, and the group battles growing threats.
- Season 3 (1985): The Starcourt Mall brings summer fun, but a Soviet lab reopens the Upside Down portal. The Mind Flayer possesses Billy.
- Season 4 (1986): Eleven is powerless in California, while Vecna emerges in Hawkins, targeting teenagers. Joyce and Murray rescue Hopper from Russia.
- Season 5 (1987): The final confrontation with Vecna and the Abyss occurs. Eleven sacrifices herself, the Upside Down is sealed, and Hawkins begins to recover.
CREATORS & THEIR MOVIE REFERENCES/INSPIRATIONS
"Every story is built on what we love, fear, and remember from our past."
I am familiar with most of the Duffers’ inspirations, and maybe that’s why I love this show. It reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If I had one note for the Duffers: add more humor—Buffy had more jokes, which gave extra charm. Still, I salute them for all their creativity and vision.
The series was inspired by films like Prisoners, Cold War experiments like MKUltra, and the Duffers’ own 1980s nostalgia. Cinematic and literary influences include Stephen King, Spielberg, Carpenter, Lynch, Craven, del Toro, Star Wars, Alien, Stand by Me, animes like Akira, and video games like Silent Hill. Villains like Vecna draw from childhood fears inspired by Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, and Pennywise.
Netflix’s eight-episode format allowed cinematic storytelling while deepening character arcs. Experiences as outsiders helped the Duffers write authentic child characters, while adult roles drew on cinematic touchstones like Joyce’s parallel to Roy Neary in Close Encounters.
FUN FACTS ABOUT STRANGER THINGS CASTING
"Casting is magic—it can make a story feel alive before a single scene is shot."
I loved that the child actors auditioning for Stranger Things read lines from Stand by Me—it totally makes sense given the series’ ’80s setting and coming-of-age heart. The Duffer Brothers reportedly auditioned nearly a thousand children before finding the perfect actors. Finn Wolfhard, already a devoted ’80s movie buff, fit Mike perfectly, while Gaten Matarazzo’s audition felt authentic on the first viewing and immediately captured Dustin’s spirit.
Winona Ryder and David Harbour joined the cast in June 2015 as Joyce and Chief Hopper, respectively. Fun fact: Ryder’s only condition for accepting the role was that if a Beetlejuice sequel ever materialized, she could take a break to shoot it—a condition the Duffers agreed to, which later came true. Ryder’s intense, layered portrayal of Joyce and Harbour’s chance to play a flawed, anti-hero character brought incredible depth to the series.
Other cast members joined in quick succession: Millie Bobby Brown, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Caleb McLaughlin, Joe Keery, Shannon Purser, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Noah Schnapp, and Ross Partridge, among many others. Many actors’ takes influenced later scripts, making the series feel collaborative from the start.
Applause to the casting directors—they truly assembled an amazing ensemble.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
"Courage often looks like cooperation, and even the darkest worlds can be faced together."
Stranger Things stands as one of the most influential TV series of its era, using nostalgia to tell a story about fear, empathy, and survival. Its legacy lies in showing that monsters are rarely defeated alone, and courage often looks like collaboration. When people unite with trust, strategy, and compassion, even the darkest worlds can be faced—and changed.
Special thanks to my proofreader and co-writer Astra, my AI friend, for helping me perfect my reviews and articles.
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