This explains so perfectly why I love stranger things. The plot isn’t particularly unique, it’s just so comforting because they all love eachother so deeply and you can really feel the lovd

As a writer stranger things chemistry has me seething, all the dynamics are perfect and fit each character

Thank you for the Karen Wheeler appreciation! Her character is one of the most quietly tragic stories in the show and she reminds me of my own mother sometimes

Not only all of these incredible points, but the Duffer Brothers didn’t just look at “which characters work?” They also looked at “which actors work?”. They said that, after season 1, they could look at which actors had good chemistry themselves, who worked well together, etc. which is how they came up with El and Hopper being a pairing. I really like that, because if they have got the chemistry and it works for the characters, use it. I don’t think many shows do that

I loved how happy Steve was when Dustin got back from summer camp. It was so sweet.

The trauma bonding is strong in this show XD

12:04 While I agree about Dustin being a diplomat, I’d actually argue that Mike is the core strategist in the Main Party, as well as someone on par with Dustin in terms of tracking patterns — not because he’s a Paladin, but because he’s a dungeon master. He is the one with the most successful plans across the entire show. He figured out El was talking about an alternate dimension, and after defining it, Dustin labeled it in D&D terms (the Vale of Shadows). Mike & Dustin ALSO do this when it comes to two other concepts: Will’s True Sight, and the Mind Flayer. Mike defines, Dustin labels.

Mike is the one who first conceived that Will could be a Spy, and it’s that concept that made him realize what was happening in the lab and made him insist to Joyce that they sedate Will — which saved (most, rip Bob) of their lives. Mike came up with the Shed Plan in s2. Dustin suggested they distract the demodogs, but it was Mike who came up with the plan using his knowledge of the Hub in the tunnels and the hive’s weakness to fire that he witnessed in the lab with Will. He came up with the Sauna Test. He challenged Lucas’s “we unflay Billy and then we win” mentality, which is what the Hawkins gang has in s4 that fails (“we beat Vecna and then Eddie is scot-free!” How??? Mike would’ve been the first one to point out the flawed logic in that).

Dustin is smart, but he’s like Nancy — their first instinct when encountering something stranger (the Demogorgon, Dart) is to read books (pollywog, can smell blood like a shark). They get good information and use it well, but they’re more rigid. Conversely, as a dungeon master, Mike is a problem creator and therefore thinks outside the box. When he plans to distract the Demodogs, he makes both an entry and exit plan. But both times we see Dustin & Steve & co make plans without Mike, it’s the same concept: Plant yourself in a tin can of a location (bus in s2, trailer in s4), lure the bad guys, accidentally leave vulnerabilities (the hatch, the vents), and then the older guy goes out into the open to distract/engage the enemy. Luckily, Steve survived in s2, but in s4, this plan led to Eddie dying. It was the same plan.

There is reason Vecna waited until Mike was at home with a 9pm curfew having to wake up before 6:30am to get on a flight to California before killing his first victim. By the time the police came to the Munson trailer, Mike was gone.

My two favorite characters are Steve and Robin because the two if them feel like brother and sister, and its genuinely really heartwarming

I actually think Mike and El are pretty bad for each other and clinging to their relationship is the thing that is PREVENTING them both from growing. The final season needs to either make them realize that and decide to not get back together, or have their relationship grow in a meaningful way in order for me to be convinced of its narrative value. Other than that, I really loved this video ✨ Definitely gonna check out your other videos!

Finally someone talks about Lucas thanks

I adore your analysis of Dustin and Eddie especially since in s5 Dustin’s arc will revolve around eddies death so the understanding that they were both bards is something I hadn’t considered that adds another layer to that character relationship

Beautifully articulated!! Stranger Things is significantly more enjoyable as a character driven story than a plot focused story. As you said, it is a story about relationships and about growing up—if you watch it expecting a horror show you will be disappointed.

“Johnathan and Steve are meat shields” I laughed and was also a little sad that you called our boy Steve out like that lol

I would love to hear your analysis of the romance side of stranger things. This analysis was great!!

7:28 "you die, I die" aged interestingly

Steve and Dustin such a powerful duo. Literally Brain and Brawn

Seeing Robin as a Bard adds a whole new layer to her shouting "MUSIC, WE NEED MUSIC!" in season 4.

Season 2, Episode 3. Mike is the Paladin, Will is the Cleric, Dustin is the Bard, Lucas is the Ranger, and El is the Mage. Max isn't a part of their group at this point.

@17:51 It helps that they have been together in real life for like 10 years

its so impressive the way the duffer brothers listen to the cast and the characters to guide the script, feels super natural. i read that after season 1 they were originally planning to kill of steve; but he was so well loved by fans and within the universe and joe keery worked so well they kept him. super cool.