Stranger Things

Stranger Things cast by Gage Skidmore

Stranger Things Book Cover Original Pitch

David Harbour by Gage Skidmore

“Hawkins National Labs” also known as Emory University’s briarcliff campus. (28903314358)

Shannon Purser by Gage Skidmore

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Stranger Things is an American science fiction and horror television series created by the Duffer Brothers. It premiered on Netflix on July 15, 2016. Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the series centers on the investigation into the disappearance of a young boy amid supernatural events occurring around the town, including the appearance of a girl with psychokinetic abilities who helps the missing boy's friends in their own search.

The show blends elements of mystery, adventure, and horror, drawing heavy inspiration from 1980s pop culture. Its influences include the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King, among others. The series has been praised for its characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, and homages to 1980s genre films.

Plot

The series begins with the disappearance of Will Byers, a young boy from Hawkins. As his friends Mike, Lucas, and Dustin search for him, they encounter Eleven, a girl with psychokinesis who has escaped from a government laboratory. The group discovers that Will's disappearance is linked to a series of supernatural events and a government conspiracy to cover up a parallel dimension known as the "Upside Down."

As the series progresses, it explores the impact of the Upside Down on the Hawkins community, introducing new characters and expanding on the original group's personal stories. The children, along with adults like Joyce Byers, Jim Hopper, and others, face various creatures from the Upside Down, including the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer, in their efforts to protect their town.

Cast and Characters

• Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, Will's determined mother
• David Harbour as Jim Hopper, the town's chief of police
• Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, one of Will's friends
• Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, a girl with psychokinetic abilities
• Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, one of Will's friends
• Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, one of Will's friends
• Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister
• Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Will's older brother
• Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Mike and Nancy's mother
• Matthew Modine as Dr. Martin Brenner, the scientist in charge of the laboratory

Production

The Duffer Brothers developed Stranger Things as a mix of investigative drama alongside supernatural and horror elements, set within the 1980s. The series was originally known as Montauk and was intended to be set in Montauk, New York. However, the setting was later changed to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, due to logistical reasons.

The 1980s setting was meticulously created through period-appropriate costumes, sets, and a soundtrack featuring 1980s music alongside an original score by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The series' title sequence, inspired by the work of Richard Greenberg, has also been praised for its retro aesthetic.

Reception

Stranger Things has received critical acclaim for its characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, and homages to 1980s genre films. It has won several awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour).

The series has also had a significant cultural impact, inspiring various merchandise, an after-show titled Beyond Stranger Things, and has been credited with reviving interest in 1980s pop culture.

In Popular Culture

Stranger Things has influenced a range of media and has been referenced in video games, music, and other television series. Its impact is seen in the resurgence of 1980s aesthetics and storytelling styles across various entertainment forms.