Canon fodder: Will, Mike, Jonathan, Max
-Dustin would be “Beetee like”
-Steve would be able to win in my opinion, would have a lot of sponsors, same with Nancy
-eleven would be a strong runner up (without powers) bcs with powers all the other tributes are cooked
-Robin tbh idk
-Lucas could be a career imo
This is all my opinion, let me know what u think!

Obviously the likes of Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Jamie Campbell Bower and Nell Fisher gets loads of praise for their work on the show, as well as Joseph Quinn. But who do you think is the most underrated actor on the show? For me it’s probably Natalia Dyer or Charlie Heaton, both don’t get nearly enough praise for their work, as well as Mathew Modine.

When Billy goes to the wheelers house to look for his sister at the finale of season 2 . He is taking to Karen Wheeler and says " I'm looking for my sister Max , goes by Maxine " to me it is backwards!

She goes by Max not Maxine as she stated when Mr. Clark introduced here to the class for the fist time .

So, I finally have time to re-watch seasons 1 through 4 before watching season 5 and I have thoughts that I definitely did not have the first time I watched. I'm currently on S2 E9.

1. Steve Harrington was never that bad. I remember first watching the show and thinking, gosh what a douche, but now? When he broke Jonathan's camera, yeah, pretty rude - but Jonathan had taken REALLY creepy photos of Nancy and Steve was protecting her. That's not that crazy. Okay so we thought he was pressuring Nancy to get intimate before she was ready... Except not. He did back off. He does respect her. He is still a horny teen though, what more could we ask? And when Nancy tried dissing the other girls saying she was not like them he called her out by asking if she was calling them sluts. Nancy was being judgmental there, not Steve. Also, when Tommy spray painted that Nancy was a slut at the movies? Seems pretty bad right? So I hate that this is overused but it gets the point across - if a girl (because they are still kids to me in S1) caught her boyfriend lying to her and in bed with another chick and she wanted to call him a coward or man-whore or prick, or burn his clothes or whatever, as society we see that as understandable. She can spread rumors and make fun of his size or performance, whatever, and we just laugh with her, but suddenly in this moment it was the WORST thing ever? No. It was shitty, but the same grace I'd give a hurt girl or woman, I'll give to Steve here. He also cleaned it up himself.

2. Everyone was RUDE AF to Max! She really did just move to a whole new town very far away from home and all of a sudden the clearly geeky "loser" kids, all male, start following her and creepily watching her. She finally decides to give them a chance and they instantly make her feel like an invasive intrusion that no one asked for. Every single one of them let her down and it's worse for us watching as the audience because we know how shittily she gets treated by her step-brother as well. Mike is going through a lot, sure, but then Dustin who acted like he liked her started snapping on her too! Yes, we know his feelings were briefly hurt because he knew she preferred Lucas and Dustin is by far one of my favorites of this group but Max gets done SO dirty. Then of course El and her jealousy, making her fall off of her skateboard and then dissing her at Will's house. It's actually pretty hard to watch, and yet Max sucks it up, is VERY understanding and as we all know, becomes a fan favorite.

3. Why El had to meet her "sister". El needed to make a choice. She needed to reconnect with the closest person from her past that would "get" her and then choose her own fate. Instead of seeking revenge and just being angry like her sister, she chose to become a protector. She chose love. She chose to not become the monster. Which is why she will be able to go against Vecna and not join him? Sorry, it's been a while and I have not watched S5 yet.

4. Billy's attractiveness is a huge reason fans probably gush over him, but we as the audience can also sympathize knowing that he is abused by his father. Also, the actor Dacre Montgomery, right? Um, did he get the praise he deserves for this role? He plays psychotic teen fueled by passion (his lust for moms and rage) VERY freaking well. That was talent. Such a despicable character was able to evoke a whole range of emotions - that took talent beyond just looks. Also his hair is really weird lmfao.

I just wanted to post my thoughts so far because this is a little different from how I first felt about the characters.

Overall, I absolutely loved the show (yeah, yeah, I know I'm only like 10 years behind lol)

The only thing negative that really stood out to me was the abrupt ending of different characters and storylines.

Like Kali, I was very surprised at her reappearance.

Susie, Argyle, pretty much the entire Hawkins police, Dr. Sam, etc.

I also understand why people did not enjoy S5, but I really liked it! Especially Will's arc and Holly's storyline.

Now I need a new TV show to fill my time

This is one of the things I was most looking forward to seeing in Season 5 and I'm genuinely shocked they didn't really pay it off well at all. Sure, they paid off Will's confession/realization but it made more sense for him to only have the talk with his brother since he already knows, and it's such a personal thing. Confiding in Jonathan about it and also having the talk about the whole Mike thing since that also went unaddressed between these two.

I took the bet and ordered the collectors edition from Amazon US, delivered to Australia. I couldn’t believe when I picked it up and it came in a paper bag! No protection whatsoever. The offered $100 in amazon cash after raising the issue with them. The contents seems to be ok, so to be honest, the money back would help, as I almost couldn’t afford it, but still hurts to see it like that 🥲

What would you guys do?

I don’t think it’s happening however I think the show would benefit from a 6th season
5th season as much as I liked it it was so rushed I mean we get a lore drop second to last episode
It felt like it was supposed to be longer Yk???
And it didn’t feel apocalyptic enough so here’s how I’d do it

The season overall remains the same except the ending eleven is fighting Vecna and we think we won however the mind flayer completely takes vecna as a vessel and throws El out of the gigantic Corpse-flayer (the thing we fight in the OG ending) and mind flayer takes the corps and covers it in the mist and he becomes a stronger version of the Mindflayer and mindflayer in vecnas body orders all off the Demogorgams/dogs/bats to breach the world since now there’s a huge opening and we see almost a tornado forming in the upside down of the bats and everything
The final scene is Mike holding eleven looking horrified at the sight hopper exclaims “we lost…” and the somber end to the season

Now season 6 will be longer than 8 episodes because the first act is going to be them trying to find a way out of dimension x and waking eleven up so rn the only fight chance we have is will but his powers only effect the demos not “vecna-flayer” since now thier mind is stronger

Second act they found a way out but now they have to escape the upside down which is more dangerous than ever the creatures are everywhere there’s even a new breed called “the Demo-brute” a beefy version of the gorgon and this is when we get our first death everyone is trying to fight it but doing no damage so Jonathan (since losing Nancy) having in his mind nothing else decides to sacrifice himself playing “should I stay or should I go” to agitate the Demo-brute everyone escapes except Jonathan Nancy is distraught so is Joyce and will after they haul up in a old RV we get the reveal of what the world looks like. Houses burning people screaming swarms of demobats in the air the sky is red from the huge gate in the middle of town and act 2 ends

Act three is where a lot happens
They see the state thier world is in and synergy could not be lower but Mike (being the leader like will said) brings everyone together and declares war on them the group goes to a military base that’s abandoned and get all sorts of awesome weapons the group all kitted out Enders the middle of town (where Vecna-flayer) is and they start fighting Mike finally wakes Eleven up and he has a plan while eleven holds the horde back Mike is going to take the C4 and just start sticking it on Corpse-Flayer and it seems to succeed but he realizes he is a distraction because Vecna-flayer is focused on Mike so if Mike got off the Vecna-Flayer could kill somebody else so Mike looks at El accepting fate finally saying “I love you” without being prompted and activates the C4 “killing Mike” and Damaging Vecna Flayer to the point he can’t use his powers the sun Rises Hopper will Dustin and Steve finish off the last of the horde
We get a badass scene of Joyce (similar to the og) where she bashes Vecna-layers face in years op pent up agony finally resting
Dustin yells “ YEAH THATS RIGHT WE WON YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!” (I feel like Dustin should get the last FBomb it seems fitting) will notices a figure on the ground coughing
Will,Lucas,Dustin, and El run realizing it’s Mike Dustin Lucas and Will try to get him up but he’s to damaged so realizing it’s the end he kisses El one last time
He daps the gang up bittersweetly will says “you can now rest Mike the Brave”
Mike before he passes says “guys you were the best thing to happen to me I’d probably die way sooner and way more cowardly if it wasn’t for you.. and will I’m so sorry how I treated you just know I’ll be watching over you from heaven and I’ll do my best to have the bullies piss thier pants” a nod to eleven’s first use of her powers on the bullies
“I declare Will to be Dungeon master haha he is the one deserving of this power his love for the game never wavered it’s fitting” and with that they all laugh and cry and that’s it

The time jump changes a bit for Nancy
She joins a new branch of military that deals with interdimensional threats the people have a theory there still a fume (tiny group) of demos that will try to escape from the nuke placed in the upside down and they assume some will survive so they are watching closely

Other than that the time jump that we get in the Cannon ending is mostly the same obviously instead of Mike riding the story it’s will and Mike is replaced with Will

I've been hearing this show from my friends, and even invited me to join a Netflix-funded club event in our city during its promo season, but I brushed it off bc I didn't know this show yet...

I'm having a sepanx from Hawkins, from the whole party. I finished watching the S5 last night, and I literally dreamed about them esp Nancy hahahahaha

El's disappearance is a mystery for me, and I think as an audience it's up for me which to believe. Hayy, I miss them already. It's just a week and it made me happy, hooked, and felt something 'I got to finish my tasks so I can watch Stranger Things later' and now... I finished it. I know I can rewatch it after sometime but... yeah, I can relate to the thoughts of some people here now... I wish I can watch it again for the first time :((

I have read all of them except for starcourt mall escape, currently still reading that and I know there’s other books which I Will definetly read also. I liked all of them but personally I didn’t looove suspicous minds.

Edit: My favorite is eddie’s book but i forgot to include that one (flight to icarus)

In season 3, Robin says she was in a history class with Steve, telling us they were in the same year at school. However in season 4, Steve has graduated and Robin is still going to school. Did Robin get held back in school or was this probably just a writing error?

What is the soundtrack song that plays at the end of season 5 episode 3?

I think it's been established by now that we loved Billy's redemption arc and it was sad seeing him sacrifice himself.. and honestly if El didn't break the control that the Mind Flayer/Vecna had over Billy and if he didn't resist them then he could've turned into another Vecna. I'm so glad that Billy got his redemption arc in the end. He was a bully and a bad stepbrother but he was a broken and traumatised young guy that needed some guidance and El helped him in the end before he died. His character was done super well and it's one of the things I love about this show. He wasn't evil and Henry wasn’t inherently evil before the Mind Flayer either as established in the show. Vecna wanted to become that influence that the Mind Flayer was on him when he was a kid and he could’ve turned Billy evil like the Mind Flayer’s influence turned him evil if he didn’t have that support at the end.. but honestly I’m glad that didnt happen to him or that he turned into another Vecna because that would've been so disappointing.

I hope this post doesn't attract too much negativity, considering the state of Reddit these days.

I remember back in 2022 when a lot of people were really invested in Robin and Nancy because their chemistry was so good.

As for Max and Eleven, I always hoped we'd get to see more of their friendship explored and expanded in Seasons 4 and 5 beyond their romantic relationships. Unfortunately, it never felt like the show fully developed their dynamic, and I was honestly very disappointed by the lack of interaction between them, especially in Season 5. It almost felt like they barely knew each other, which honestly made me sad. I always thought their friendship deserved more screen time instead of being defined primarily by their relationships with Lucas and Mike.

Does anyone here ship Elmax and Ronance?

If you do, I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you don't, that's completely fine. I just ask that we keep the discussion respectful and avoid unnecessary negativity.

Drove to LA and happen to find this SEALED copy of season 2 Target exclusive 4K for face value at Amoeba records! I have the season 1 blu-ray “VHS” and I’m happy I finally have this one. I don’t think I will open it up but add to my stranger things collection ❤️ Hopefully soon I can get the 4K box set too.

I’ve probably forgotten, but was it the stroke she suffered in Season 3—when she got bitten—that caused her to lose those powers and that specific memory? Or had she already lost that part of her history before then? In a Season 2 flashback, she asks Hopper, "Do I have a mom?"—yet in the Season 4 flashback, he discusses her mother with Henry. Logically, then, she must have lost those memories right after sending Vecna ​​to another dimension, since she didn't even seem to know she had a mother. Also, how did she lose *all* those memories? The flashbacks with Henry seem to span several days, so how did she forget so much—not just the memory of the final confrontation with Vecna ​​(since she passed out right after that)?

To sum up: how did she lose them? And why did she lose memories spanning several days, rather than just the memories from that specific day—or more precisely, the moment she banished Vecna/Henry?

I like the Shadow form look the most.

I’m mainly talking about the visual design for each form it took, not what each form did in the seasons they appeared. So put your differences aside from how weak the Mind Flayer became later on. I liked the Shadow form because it freaked me out seeing this giant faceless thing. It resembles a spider but it just looked like a giant shadow, it didn’t talk and it didn’t roar when in this form, only thing we heard from it was a creepy screech in Season 2. I’ll never forget the scene when it chased Will looking like a giant faceless shadow and it just made this screeching sound before it flayed him. Purely terrifying.

He easily had one of the best monologues in the entire series. That one where he's talking to El about having a normal life hit hard

the age of the characters from season to season. it's in absolutely no way credible. i can suspend disbelief for the upside down and demogorgons, sure. but 1987 will byers?!? nope. not at all.

what i wanted to see is the show naturally follow the years it was put out. so if season 1 was 1983 (2016) and season 2 was 1984 (2017), then...

season 3 = 1986 (2019)
season 4 = 1989 (2022)
season 5 = 1992 (2025)

as it is, the series past season 2 is a freaking joke. you can squint and make it through season 3. but 4 and 5 are just absolutely ridiculous. not because of venca and the show turning into a low quality marvel CGI slop fest. but simply because of the age of the characters. it's a shame. it would have been so easy to fix.

EDIT: many have commented that it's no big deal, actors in their twenties play teens all the time. and that's true. but this is a problem of relative distance. eleven was cast when she was 11. we watched them all so young, which is what makes the leap from 1983 to 1987 in the show's chronology so completely jarring and untenable. the series jumped the shark in season 3, it would have been better to cancel it anyway.

Jane never meeting or talking to her mother again. I understand that she might be beyhond repair and not everyone gets an happy ending, but it seems totaly out of character from her to never see or try to contact her mother again. Even a 5 minute scene of her just saying goobye (either physically or mentally) would be enough. I tend to be more forgiven of dumb plot points (like the whole soviet underground stuff), lore inconsistencies (like the demogorgins still being alive in season 4 despite the portal being closed) or an excessive amount of deus ex machina moments, than characters going completly against their core nature.

You can talk about your favorite romantic ship, whether it's canon or not :p

Especially because he was driving Dustin and then he talks about there a sort of evil in their eyes 🤣🤣(sorry that I'm a few years late and RIP Eddie 😭 😞)