BY XAVIER ADAMS
STRANGER THINGS is a 5-season sci-fi drama, initially premiering on July 15, 2016. The story takes place in the fictional setting of Hawkins, Indiana, there being eight different episodes set in Season 1.
The series establishes a large cast of characters, especially Eleven (Millie Bobby
Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), both of which have notable plot significance. El is especially iconic for her powers and love of Eggo Waffles, while Will is the central focus of Seasons 1 and 2’s conflicts.
Most of the show’s conflicts point to a mysterious dimension, nicknamed ‘The Upside-Down’ by the cast. Monsters here include the titular Demogorgons, characterized by their flower-like faces, and the spider-ish Mind-Flayer entity, a central antagonist of the show (2nd season on) that rules over the Upside-Down.
The plot of the first season centers around the disappearance of Will Byers and Eleven’s escape and refuge from Hawkins Lab, a place where experiments are tested on children with supernatural powers.
Will’s friends, Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), in addition to the police chief, Hopper (David Harbour), and Will’s concerned mother and brother, Joyce and Jonathan (Winona Ryder and Charlie Heaton) search for Will throughout the first season.
Following Will’s disappearance, supernatural events nearby hint towards Will still being alive, fueling Joyce’s hope. In later episodes, the kids even find Eleven in the woods, where they protect her. Hopper is directly involved with finding Will despite there being a cover-up, resulting in him being found in the final episode.
Though the threat isn’t fully resolved, the first season of the show sets the bar for
stranger things, building the tension with Will’s possession and the Demodogs. With themes of friendship, government secrecy, and growth, the next seasons will be suspenseful, thrilling experiences.
