On July 15, 2016, a Netflix Original entitled “Stranger Things” was released. It was an eight-episode series that took place in the 1980s and followed a group of middle school children and parts of their families as they battled inter-dimensional beings. The show has been ongoing since then, with seasons two and three being released before 2020. Season four was released in May of 2022, which was declared to be the second-to-last season. Three and a half years later, season five has been partly released on Thanksgiving Day.
This partial release of the final season has been long-awaited by many who have watched and supported the show since its initial release. The comeback of Stranger Things has refueled the generational bond between Gen Z members, and its impact on pop culture has once again proven to be immense.
According to a study done by Civic Science in 2022, 42% of Stranger Things viewers were reportedly members of Gen Z, which is people born from 1997 to 2012. The show reportedly skyrocketed in its popularity after the release of season three in July 2019.
From that point on, Stranger Things was consistently one of the most-streamed Netflix shows. Even though the last season’s release has been years apart, Stranger Things has been more relevant and well-known than ever before.
On top of bringing a large portion of Gen Z together through a common interest, Stranger Things has also increased the popularity of classic 80s music and culture. The show emphasizes classic 1980s trends like cassettes and large curls and mullets, and radio broadcasting, and those small details, mixed with the popularity of the show, have assisted in creating a slight comeback in the minute details that were integrated. Members of Gen Z have come together to cosplay as their favorite characters, and on days like Halloween, you can find people dressed as their favorite characters.
Classic 80s songs that were featured in Stranger Things, such as Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash and Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush, have reappeared on the Billboard 100 after the release of season five, with Running Up That Hill premiering at the #1 spot for the first week of the long-awaited season release.
In a more modern example, Gen Z connected with Stranger Things so deeply due to its handling of dark and controversial topics. The Duffer Brothers, who are the directors of Stranger Things, wrote characters who dealt with intense grief and identity crises, and social isolation. These characters became more and more beloved as the people who watched the show grew and understood the characters’ struggles on a more personal level. Anybody who has watched this show undoubtedly has a favorite character because of the way they’re written and portrayed on the screen. 8th grader Samuel Anderson began the show in 2019, following the release of season three. He talked about his love for Steve Harrington, who is a well-known and adored character since season one. Anderson said, “Steve’s character development was the best out of anyone. He became a better person in such a realistic way, and it was so great watching it happen over the seasons.”
Another Stranger Things fan from the UK, Sophia H., expressed her adoration of Robin Buckley, who was introduced in season three and has since been a character who has worked through her own identity crisis. Sophia H. said, “Robin’s story of finding herself really was amazing to see at such a young age. She inspired me to be true to myself, and I know she inspired others around the world to feel the same way.”
The impact of Stranger Things on Gen Z is large and often unfathomable. People have connected with peers over the culture and time of the show, as well as the characters and storytelling. As season five comes to an end, Gen Z continues to adore and support the show that made up much of their childhood, and this generation continues to have a bond with others around them through this common interest.
