8 Things That Happen In Every Stranger Things Episode

Stranger Things has been a huge part of Netflix’s success with its original content since its premiere in 2016, but in the four seasons since then, there are certain similarities in things that happen in episodes across the series. At the beginning of the TV show, Stranger Things was about the disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), and the search that unearthed the mysterious circumstances behind the scenes in the seemingly normal town of Hawkins, Indiana. One of the most enduring parts of the series has been watching the child actors grow up onscreen, as they evolve into adults.

Stranger Things season 5 is still in production, and fans might have to wait longer than expected because of the upheaval in the film industry in the past several years. However, this means it’s the perfect time to revisit the earlier seasons to prepare for the coming story and get as up-to-date as possible. Many theories are swirling about what the story of Stranger Things season 5 could hold. No matter what happens, certain enduring stories and events will no doubt appear in the upcoming conclusion to the iconic series.

8

Steve & Dustin Team Up

The friendship audiences didn’t know they needed

In season 1, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) was a significant antagonist in the show, as the typical popular high school bully it’s easy to root against. However, as the show has progressed, his character has grown and developed significantly to the point that he’s become a fan-favorite. One of the more unlikely events was his becoming friends with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), a much younger character who unexpectedly provided Steve with the support and childlike joy he needed. Simultaneously, Steve gives Dustin advice and helps him face his fears.

It was a stroke of genius on the part of the showrunners to recognize the chemistry between the two actors and make sure that their storylines intersected moving forward. Robin (Maya Hawke) is also an important part of this friendship dynamic, but she’s much closer to Steve than Dustin. Additionally, when Steve and Dustin team up, it’s usually for a scheme that Robin wouldn’t approve of and has to help salvage in the end. These team-ups and schemes offer the much-needed comic relief that an episode needs.

7

Joyce Worries About Will

The original thrust of the series was their mother-son relationship

Winona Ryder recently had a major surge in popularity after her role as Joyce in Stranger Things, as she perfectly embodies the nervous energy and determination of the character. Though her primary plots are more closely focused on her relationship with Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and their romantic relationship, when Will went missing in season 1, all Joyce did was worry. At this point, Will is a little too old for her to micromanage and look after all the time, but she’s still incredibly driven by a deep love for both her sons.

Will is still connected to the Upside Down, and his character arc is a source of concern heading into season 5. Joyce will have plenty of opportunity to worry about Will as Stranger Things season 5 images hint that Will might die before the series’ conclusion. This would be a devastating end for all the characters, as Will is a beloved son, brother, and friend. However, Stranger Things has a pattern of only killing off characters introduced in the current season, and the show might have to end with a main character’s death for the sake of the narrative.

6

Eleven Uses Her Powers

Except for the season she was locked out from them

Eleven is arguably the biggest character on Stranger Things, and certainly the one with the most trauma and healing to do. She’s introduced in season 1 after she runs away from a secret lab where children with telekinetic powers are being experimented on. Luckily for the residents of Hawkins, Eleven’s powers have saved the day in almost every season of Stranger Things. However, at the end of season 3, it seemed that she might have lost her connection to these abilities forever.

This subversion was important, as Eleven continuously saving the day without any real consequences would’ve been a boring way for the story to continue. A key part of Eleven’s development is learning to be a normal child and healing from the hurt inflicted on her in her youth. There’s little doubt that season 5 will involve a deeper exploration of how her powers can exist within the world. The final villain the team faces must be the biggest yet and push Eleven to her limits.

5

A Monster Appears From The Upside Down

Each villain has been more terrifying than the last

What made Stranger Things stand apart from the other supernatural thrillers on TV was the fact that it was genuinely scary. As the seasons progressed it became more common for VFX teams to weave chilling monsters into the fabric of a series, but Stranger Things was one of the scariest shows on Netflix when it premiered. The monsters inside and outside the Upside Down have evolved just as much as the characters and stakes in Stranger Things. While the singular Demogorgon was enough to shake the characters to their core in season 1, a lot has changed.

The most recent villain, Vecna, was unique because he was the most anthropomorphic of all the creatures to emerge from the Upside Down so far. In some ways, this is more terrifying because Vecna is closer to a human, making his intentions more sinister. It seems certain that audiences haven’t seen the last of Vecna. Most likely, he will be back to continue terrorizing the characters in season 5. It would be interesting to see each of the monsters across the seasons before the show ends.

4

There’s A Larger Conspiracy Pulling The Strings

Whether it’s Papa or the Soviet government

Stranger Things makes full use of its period piece genre, chronicling the transition from the early 1980s through the most iconic parts of the decade. In the ’80s the Cold War was in full swing and there were enormous tensions between the American government and the Soviet Union. While season 1 kept the story and conflict close to home, the following seasons explored the expansion of the world, which included numerous plotlines involving Soviet spies and the organization that held Eleven in her youth.

Papa (Matthew Modine) is the face of this organization and serves as the monster Eleven has been most scared of over the years. As the audience learns more about Eleven’s past and how both that organization and the Soviets have been trying to access the Upside Down, it’s clear that larger forces are at work than the characters realize. Occasionally, this can get tedious, as it takes the pressure off the show to think of clever antagonists when they can blame things on a faceless group. However, it does add to the atmosphere of mystery and tension in the show.

3

A Classic ‘80s Music Needle Drop

Made internet famous by season 4

The ’80s were a great decade for music, and as the budget of Stranger Things increased, so did the amount of fantastic songs they included. In Stranger Things season 4, the featured song, “Running Up That Hill,” by Kate Bush exploded in popularity and became a chart-topper years after its release. Part of this is due to how excellent the song is, but it was made even more transcendent and emotional by what was happening on screen while it played.

In the scene, Max (Sadie Sink) was almost taken by Vecna, but listening to “Running Up That Hill” helped bring her back to Earth and return to her body. Needle drops in TV and movies can easily be overused, and serve as a crutch to create poignant moments where none exist. The mark of a good needle drop is using it in a scene where there is already a clear motivator or emotional drive occurring. The music should add to the atmosphere and uplift the feelings that have already been created.

2

D&D Is Used As A Metaphor

Dungeons & Dragons is a recurring theme threaded through the story

The role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, reached a new height of popularity in the ’80s. Based on the years Stranger Things is set in, it makes perfect sense that Will, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin are all obsessed with the game. In the first episode of the series, the audience is introduced to these characters while they play D&D, and they get a feel for the boys’ dynamic through how they play. It’s a safe lens through which they view the cruelty of the world.

Every D&D monster referenced in Stranger Things has served a clear purpose in the narrative and tied into the overarching themes. Season 4 returned to the original interest in D&D, allowing the characters to reminisce about their childhoods and reflect on how much they’ve grown since the show began. Some of the characters are ready to leave this game behind as a part of their childhood they’ve grown out of. However, it’s still an important part of the show because they still have lots of growing up to do.

1

Nancy & Jonathan Yearn For Each Other

One of the major romantic pairings of the show

Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) provide the classic will-they-won’t-they dynamic for the first two seasons of Stranger Things. However, once they finally act on their feelings, it seems as though they’ll be together forever. Unfortunately, fate has other plans and it seems the universe is conspiring to keep the lovers apart. This means they get to experience plenty of longing, singing, and yearning for each other, as they consider the rest of their lives while fighting monsters.

There’s some question over whether Nancy and Jonathan will end up together at the end of the series. While it would be disappointing for them to go their separate ways, they’ve started making adult steps and choices in the years since they began dating, and things are different now. Each of them needs to start prioritizing their futures, and if this means they won’t be together, they’ll still do plenty of yearning over the years.