When the D brothersugh launched the first season in 2016, the operation seemed like a simple homage to the cinema of Spielberg and King. In fact, they did much more. They made the 80s a universal aesthetic even for those who never lived through those years. From synth-pop music to BMX bikes, the show it created a bridge between generationstransforming nostalgia into a place where everyone – parents and children – felt at home
One of the incredible strengths of the series was seeing the cast grow in real time. We started with gods kids playing Dungeons & Dragons in the basement and we end up with young adults who have faced challenges far greater than just a monster. For the audience, it wasn’t just watching a series, but growing up with Unidic, Mike, Dustin and the others. This emotional connection is what made the wait for the final season almost unbearable.
If there’s one theme that has defined Stranger Things, it’s that being different is a superpower. The series celebrated the nerds, the outcasts, those who never felt “enough” for the normal world. The strength of the group (the legendary «friends don’t lie») proved that you don’t need to be an action hero to save the world: all you need is a good strategy, a walkie-talkie and someone who has your back.
Few shows can say they have changed world music charts (just think of the return of Kate Bush or Metallica) or that they have tripled the sales of board games and Eggo waffles. Stranger Things has redefined the concept of global events in the streaming era: each season was not just “an outing”, but a moment of collective discussion that stopped the world for a weekend.
Even if the last episode has just been released and the temptation to talk about it is very strong, the real balance is not about “how” it ends, but about “what” it leaves us with. It leaves us with the awareness that monsters can be defeated, that memory is a powerful weapon and that, sometimes, the most incredible adventures arise precisely in the most boring towns.
Hawkins, the protagonist, is now silent, but the void she leaves in the Netflix catalog (and in our hearts as viewers) will be difficult to fill. It’s the end of an era, but like every great story of the ’80s, it’s destined to become a timeless classic.
