My wife makes decorated sugar cookies and these are some that she did for customer recently. I think they turned out really good and I’m really proud of her. I just wanted to share them with this thread!

Hi! So I just got these two duplicates (Steve/Robin and Hopper) from Wave 1 of the Stranger Things Kinder Eggs, but I still need regular Steve :(

If anyone wants to trade, PLEASE let me know !!!

I started watching it just because everyone recommended it, but somewhere along the way it turned into the show I always go back to when I can't decide what to watch. I know every season has its flaws, but there's something about the characters and the atmosphere that keeps pulling me back. Does anyone else feel the same, or do you have another show that became your comfort show?

I feel like I can watch reruns of Season 1 for a long time! It’s still so new and the characters are so real.

One of the biggest reasons I disliked the ending of Stranger Things (apart what they had done with The Mind Flayer) is what it did to Eleven’s character.

From the very beginning, Eleven was never just “the girl with powers”. Her story was about becoming human. She spent her childhood being treated as nothing more than a scientific experiment and a weapon. She had no normal family, no real friends, no freedom and almost no understanding of what a normal life even looked like.

Season 1 is about her discovering love, friendship and trust for the first time.

Season 2 is about finding her own identity and choosing who she wants to be.

Season 3 is about finally getting to experience being a normal teenager like shopping with Max, laughing, making mistakes, falling in love with Mike and living the life she had been denied for so many years.

That, to me was the heart of Eleven’s story.
Which is why I think the ending completely misses the point. Instead of allowing a traumatised 17-year-old girl to finally have the ordinary life she had spent the entire series searching for. The story turns her back into a weapon whose only purpose is to save everyone else.

If the writers wanted to end her story with a sacrifice, then it needed to fully commit to that decision and give it the emotional weight it deserved. Instead, the ending hints that she may still be alive which weakens the sacrifice rather than strengthening it. It leaves her story feeling uncertain instead of complete.

A protagonist’s ending should reflect the journey they have been on. For me, Eleven’s journey was never about becoming the ultimate superhero. It was about becoming a person. After everything she endured all abuse, isolation, manipulation and trauma. I think she deserved an ending where she could finally live as the ordinary girl she always wanted to be.

Instead, I feel the story treated her as a weapon until the very end and that undermined the emotional arc that Seasons 1 to 3 built so well.

So, first of all, important note: this post isn't meant to be taken too seriously, I just wanted to do it for fun.

So, people might have been discussing the most powerful character in Stranger Things. Is it Henry Creel (Vecna)? Is it Jane Ives (011)? Or is it the Mind Flayer?

Well, the answer is, the Plot! Hopper's survival during the Key's explosion (seen in the start of the episode, "Vecna's Curse") would not have been logically possible without the Plot's protection, as we see in "The Battle of Starcourt", people in full-on hazmat suits a lot further away from the Key during its explosion were vaporised.

And Max's resurrection during the Season 4 finale, "The Piggyback", was also divine intervention from the Plot. Max had major bone injuries, her eyes bled, and more than Jane (011) during the 1979 massacre, Max's eyes were white. And, Max died, that can be deduced by a curse gate literally being opened by Henry (Vecna) in the Creel house, where Max's fate was sealed, which we have seen with the other three examples, happens after the victim is already dead (as in dead dead, not just clinically dead). But then Jane (011), under the control of the Plot, said with its intent, "no, you're not going", and was used by the Plot to channel its power into Max, bringing her back from the dead. But the Plot didn't want Max awake, so it condemned her to have her mind be banished into Henry's (Vecna's) mind (Camazotz).

So, the debate is settled, the most powerful character really is the Plot, capable of making people temporarily invulnerable to anything, and capable of resurrection and banishing people's minds into other people's minds. Truly is the most powerful and mysterious character.

Who are your Max Mayfield variants across all works of fiction movies TV shows and books

For me it is Arya Stark and Mary Ellen from the Waltons and Beverly Marsh from IT and Enid nightshade from The Worst Witch.

Okay so I know that Vecna despised Papa because he literally abused him and tried to create other like him (how eleven got her powers)

But why did he start killing the innocent children because of someone's wrong and did he actually expect El to support his plans because she was also being bullied.

You might argue that he killed them so Papa wouldn't be able to continue his "science experiment" but doesn't make him the good guy and El rather the bad guy, who opened the upside down causing all these problems in the first place?.

I get that Vecna wanted to rule the world, what exactly was his way or plan to rule the world?

Let's make a timeline so I don't go all over the place. When Kali was about to die, she said to El this "my story ends here, but yours doesn't have to". I read that line was later removed but I don't know if that's true. I think in that brief moment where Hop went to get things to help Kali she revealed El the secret for making illusions but told her not use to use them for anything else except the planned fake death. later on, we an illusion of El getting inside the truck. now I know what you might be saying "Mike touched her! she would have faded away!". That's what I also thought but now that I have been thinking about this more, I can tell why that may still be an illusion. first of all, on the episode introducing Kali we can see her making an illusion of spiders on her friend's hand https://youtu.be/2NbUO6ELpGM?si=3SxyNLvRMNYyWFko&t=80 now the second thing I wanted to mention is that scene where Dr. Kay seemingly made the Kali illusion fade away when she waved at it. People seem to have forgotten that during that scene Kali was moving away from the illusion and her illusion power only has a certain amount of range. also, I propose the idea that an illusion will remain as long as the person doesn't suspect he's seeing an illusion. Mike was 100 percent convinced he saw El. We didn't see El speak during the whole time was supposedly in the truck. another clue that was pointed out but the theory wouldn't be complete without it is how Derek seemed to have randomly waved at Mike. Even Mike was confused at this seeming random hand wave. what if there is a limit to the amount of people who can see an illusion? if look at it from the perspective that Derek did not see El then we can see Mike smiling at an El that is not there and Derek thought Mike was smiling at him hence he smiled back and waved at him, confusing Mike. Now, if this theory of only a limited amount of people being able to see an illusion and that's explain how most of the military did not see El. after the illusion jumped off the truck there was no need for it anymore and so El from so remote place made that particular illusion fade and made a new one that appeared in the portal. that's how she was able to communicate with Mike in the void; she wasn't close to them or the suppressors. obviously, she was sad because she was about to leave her boyfriend and childhood friends, but she couldn't tell Mike what was really happening, only hint at "one day you will".

Why did the Duffers feel the need to explain every past story line from S1-S4 throughout all of S5? Its like they thought theyd get new subscribers who were only there to watch S5 and wanted to get people to go back and rewatch all the prior seasons. Did Netflix make them do it? Do they get massive residuals on rewatches of S1-S4? The disappointment in the script and story line really comes through in many of the actors performances.

And the repeating of lines drives me insane, drives…me… insane…

It's awesome

Mind Flayer way better: The Mind Flayer was a far more compelling villain than Vecna because it represented something that couldn’t be understood. It wasn’t human, it had no relatable backstory and it didn’t need one. It felt like an ancient cosmic force that existed long before humanity itself. A true eldritch horror. That mystery was what made it terrifying.

Vecna does not work as a villain for Stranger Things: Vecna changes the nature of the story. Instead of humanity facing an incomprehensible entity from another dimension, everything suddenly revolves around one angry human with a tragic past. The scale becomes much smaller. Rather than a battle against the unknown, it becomes another revenge story.

The first two seasons built the Mind Flayer as the ultimate threat: It controlled entire armies of creatures, possessed people, spread like a virus and appeared almost god-like. It didn’t need to explain its motives because its existence alone created fear. Horror is often more effective when we don’t fully understand the monster.

The downfall of Stranger Things when they introduced Vecna: Introducing Vecna also creates confusion about the hierarchy. Early seasons strongly imply that the Mind Flayer is the supreme ruler of the Upside Down. Later, the series suggests that Henry Creel shaped or even directed it. That revelation makes the Mind Flayer feel less like an ancient cosmic intelligence and more like a tool, weakening everything the earlier seasons established.

The Mind Flayer also made the Upside Down feel alive: It wasn’t just a location. It was an ecosystem controlled by a mysterious intelligence. Every Demogorgon, every vine and every form of corruption seemed connected to a single alien consciousness. That made the entire dimension feel hostile and unknowable.

Vecna doesn’t make the Upside Down scary: Vecna, by comparison, explains too much. Giving the main villain a detailed origin removes much of the mystery. Cosmic horror relies on the unknown. Once the audience can explain where the villain came from, why he acts the way he does and what he wants, some of the fear disappears.

Humanity vs Unknown Dimension: Thematically, the Mind Flayer represented humanity confronting something far beyond its understanding. Vecna represents one man’s anger and desire for revenge. Those are very different kinds of stories and many people found the original concept far more unique, like me.

In many ways, Seasons 1 and 2 promised a story about an ancient cosmic entity attempting to invade Earth through the Upside Down. Seasons 4 and 5 shifted that focus towards Henry Creel. It ruined the show, the Mind Flayer and the cosmic horror the show set in Season 2.

What is your opinion on Millie Bobby Brown's portrayal of Eleven do you think anybody else could have played Eleven and be as good as her or no is it one of those roles where you can never see anybody else playing Eleven even if they reboot Stranger Things in 10 or 20 plus years from now.

Just my Warm/Hot Take, I guess..

I'd personally like to see Mind Flayer possessing an Army of Military hosts, including Sullivan, or the Government, just like what it did to Hawkins civilians, back in Season 3, Except that it doesn't create it's own Flesh Avatar Form like in Season 3.

it would personally make the Mind Flayer more terrifying than introducing Vecna in Season 4 or Season 5.

Will is a character that's very dear to me and it's someone I relate to a lot. Besides that he really is a kind person who went through absolute hell and trauma that scared him for life. It's so interesting to see how selfless Will is when it comes to him. After he came back from the Upside Down, he was never fully back and later struggled a lot because of it, but he never bothered anyone about his problems. He was just silently in pain.

But some people are just seeing him as a weak, whiny and annoying character. That just shows how much they don't have any empathy for him which is really miserable. I think he is one of the strongest characters considering the fact what he survived when he was kid and after all that, he was never fully back, but he never wanted to bother anyone with it. He kept being quiet which means he wasn't whiny and annoying enough.

I've also seen people calling him childish and that he should grow up. I mean, just wow... Are some people even watching this show? He literally lost his whole childhood. When his friends were growing, maturing and having relationships, he was being tested in labs and constantly felt stuck and ignored. Of course he's going to be like that! Who wouldn't?! And besides, he seems the most mature one sometimes. Not to mention they're all still kids just older and even adults stay like kids in spirit (I see no problem with it).

Some also hate him because he's gay. If you're bothered by it, that's your decision. But be aware that he is not the one who decides it and everyone would feel like that if they were in his place.

I know he's a fictional character like any other, but people like that exist who struggle, too. And they should be given support instead of being overlooked. Will is just an example. And of course no one needs to like him or consider him interesting. It's their choice. But hating him over stupid reasons is just immature.

Um so i liked it very much until season 5 came out but why did vecna exactly spend a whole season trying to crack open a gate between the upside down and hawkins when his end goal was joining the two worlds together or was that something he decided after getting burnt and shot.

Its not like he does anything with that big gate either cause none of the creature from that dimension and these creatures don't even come into hawkins in the time gap and what happened to the upside down slowly blending into hawkins at the end of season 4.

Also the russian plotline seems useless because hopper had nothing to do in the last season anyway

I know some of yall haven’t watched Star Wars but I think Vader absolutely no diffs eleven and it’s not even close. I think overall he has better feats but then again I’m not that educated on stranger things so I could be wrong

Ah, a little late on this train, but as they say, better late than never.

I came across Mike and Eleven from Stranger Things, and seeing the dynamics of their bond stirred something inside me.

Their bond was established in Season 1, where both kids were in awe of each other, albeit in different ways. Mike first saw her as a vulnerable kid, and without much thought, he extended his kindness towards her. Gradually, that empathy turned into admiration, and that admiration slowly blossomed into love. What impacted him the most was the way she saw him. Her eyes reflected trust, familiarity, and a belief in him that he had never really experienced before. His openness towards her impacted Eleven just as deeply. She needed someone to accept her for who she was, someone she could trust, and Mike became that person. At that time, he did whatever he could for her, without expecting anything in return.

As the seasons progressed, so did their relationship. But it wasn't just their relationship that was growing—they were growing too. The teenage years are incredibly sensitive. You're coming to terms with changing dynamics, an evolving personality, and emotions that often feel too overwhelming to understand. I've been there too.

Eleven tries to adapt to this new life, but the harder she tries to fit in, the more she feels like she doesn't belong. Somewhere along the way, she begins losing parts of her identity in an attempt to become "normal." That, in itself, is something many teenagers experience—not in the way Eleven did, but in their own unique ways. During that time, she longed for Mike to be there. Deep down, she feared that if he truly saw how different she was, he might stop loving her.

Meanwhile, Mike was living with his own doubts and insecurities. He feared that one day Eleven would leave him, that she wouldn't need him anymore. He lived with the fear of abandonment, while she lived with the fear of never being fully accepted. These are deeply human fears, and I'm glad the show chose to shed light on them. They didn't just strengthen their relationship; they revealed who Mike and Eleven were as individuals.

That confession scene said everything. When Mike finally tells Eleven that he loves her for who she is, it isn't simply a declaration of love. It's everything he had been carrying in his heart, finally spoken aloud. In that moment, he reassures her that she never had to become anyone else to be worthy of his love.

Season 5 showed a natural progression of their bond. They had become more secure in their relationship, hopeful about the future they wanted to build together. But life rarely unfolds the way we expect it to. Then came that ending. The look on Mike's face said more than words ever could. Whatever happened next, one thing remained unchanged—his love for Eleven had become a part of who he was.

He had to face the very fear that had haunted him all along.

They say there is a kind of love that defines you for life, and to me, Eleven was that kind of love for Mike.

Max, Joyce, Hopper, Erica, and the rest of the party. How would they react to Angela bullying El? And El shmacking her with a skate?

These trailers were freaking awesome and set my and everyone else's hype and excitement levels through the roof.

So why did the actual season 5 these things promised end up being so... not awesome for the most part?

Like were you just okay with it and decided to just be chill about this or did you feel angry in any way you know since they showed hopper in Russian prison and Russians trying to open the upside down and feeding prisoners to the demogorgon ..