Why watch Stranger Things? Here are my top 5 reasons!

Season 3 of Stranger Things was released on July 4th, and after binge-watching it like I always have, I’m dying to tell others what they’re missing if they haven’t seen it already!

So, here are five reasons why I find Stranger Things one of the most gripping and entertaining shows ever. Don’t worry, I’m not giving away any spoilers!

1. The young, constantly-growing cast is relatable, but new at the same time

Throughout each season, the cast has grown to include even more young actors, which has only served to make the narrative even more exciting and innovative. New characters are also enigmatic; why have they arrived? Seeing them crop up in episode 1 of each new season makes us more likely to stick with the show; we all want to know how their relationship with the original cast grows.

2. It’s full of humour, which decreases tension and keeps things constantly entertaining

Taking advantage of its youthful stars, the series includes jokes about relationships and common teenage dilemmas. The humour helps create a friendly relationship between them and the audience, rather than just featuring a perpetually serious atmosphere. The older characters, such as Joyce Byers and Chief Hopper, also contribute with their own occasional black humour while struggling with the challenges of parenting and adulthood, making the show accessible to most potential viewers.

3. Being set in a fictional town during the 80s gives it an exciting Stephen King-type vibe

Young viewers today can escape to an entirely different time, while adult viewers can revisit their glory days. Overall, the show’s entire appearance has a fantastic, retro feel, which adds to its excitement while also paying tribute to its original inspiration, the king of horror himself.

4. It’s rooted in science, but isn’t afraid to get a bit weird at times

Actor Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) said that “It’s based on a place in Montauk, New York called Camp Hero. There was, like, rumours of secret government spies doing human experiments to fight in the Cold War. […] It’s based on that one government lab.” The show brings urban legends and creepy rumours to life by throwing a secret government research facility in the middle of a small town, with all the obvious repercussions. Before long, viewers are knee-deep in alternate universes, spooky superpowers, terrifying monsters and a huge range of general weirdness. The mixture of sci-fi and suburban normality plays on the audience familiarity, creating a wonderful feeling of escape with a gripping and unexpected storyline.

5. Multiple groups of characters create a dense narrative with loads of variety

The different narratives and the groups they’re tied to seem to be far from related to begin with, but in time, it becomes clear that everyone has approached the same enigma in different ways. To tie off all the strands of story, the last episode usually shows the characters converging as they work together to set things right. The different perspectives create a sense of unity and togetherness when merging together to save Hawkins from the various forces disturbing it.

If you want to see the video of Gaten Matarazzo, click here!