Stranger Things: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Netflix Series

With its '80s setting, kid-centric storylines, and nostalgic visuals, Netflix's Stranger Things feels like an homage to the horror films, science fiction, and coming-of-age stories that were so prevalent in the 1980s. However, the show is also packed with subtle references and details that viewers may not catch on their first viewing. Stranger Things is a love letter to all things the '80s. From the hairstyles to the clothes and even the music, everything about this show has a distinctly ‘80s feel to it. It’s hard not to get caught up in all of the nostalgia when watching this series. With that being said, there are quite a few things you might not know about this smash-hit series.

The Duffer Brothers initially wrote the show with Mark and Shawn Cohen

While the Duffers were developing the series, they were trying to figure out who would be the best child actors to play the roles of the kids. The two brothers initially wanted to go with child stars who had a lot of experience, but their agent suggested that they look at some other kids who don’t usually get cast in major roles. That’s how the Duffers met Mark and Shawn Cohen, who are real-life brothers. The brothers had never acted before, but the Duffer Brothers liked the fact that they were non-actors. The brothers took a meeting with the Duffer Brothers and, in order to show the directors that they were right for the roles of the kids, Mark and Shawn acted out the entire script for Stranger Things. Despite the fact that they had never shown their acting chops on camera before, the Duffers were completely blown away by the Cohens’ performances. They also decided that they wanted to write the show with Mark and Shawn in mind.

Winona Ryder’s Character Has The Same Name As Her Real Life Sister

Winona Ryder plays Joyce Byers, the mother of the main characters. Joyce is a single mom who is raising her son, Will, and her daughter, Barb. Most viewers don’t know this, but Barb is actually the real name of Ryder’s own sister! It’s unclear if this was intentional or not, but it’s definitely an interesting coincidence. Those who know Ryder from her younger years may remember that she played a small role in the 1989 movie, Donnie Darko. In fact, in the movie, Ryder’s character is named Midge. A few years later, the movie was released on VHS and the box art featured a woman with the same haircut as Midge.

The Show Is Named After A Song By Siouxsie And The Banshees

One of the stand-out songs featured in Stranger Things is “Kids In The Hall” by the band Siouxsie and the Banshees. This song plays while the boys are skateboarding and, also, while they’re in the school lab. It’s a great song, but why did the showrunners choose it? The song is called “Kids In The Hall” and it was released as a single in 1983, which happens to be the same year that Stranger Things takes place. The song was part of an album called “Rhythm of the Wild,” which also happens to be the title of Nancy’s paper in the show. These are just a few of the reasons why the showrunners chose to feature Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Kids In The Hall” in Stranger Things. The title of the song has absolutely nothing to do with the show itself, but it was chosen to represent the show’s overall feel.

Eggo Was Featured In Stranger Things Before It Was A Show

The first time Eggo waffles were ever mentioned in pop culture was in the first season of Stranger Things. In the second episode of the show, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas go to the grocery store and discuss what they want to eat. Dustin says, “I want Eggos.” Mike, who is probably the most health-conscious kid on the planet, says that he wants “fruit,” and Lucas, who likes to keep it traditional, says that he wants “Pop-Tarts.” The other characters in the show dismiss their choices and state that they’d rather have Eggos. It’s a funny moment, but people who had never seen the show before may have been wondering what the heck they were talking about. For those who don’t know, Eggo waffles are a popular brand of waffles that have been around for decades.

Eleven Is Based On A Real Person, Who Also Helped With Research

One of the most fascinating aspects of Stranger Things is the character Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown. Eleven is a strange and unique character who has mysterious powers. Some of these powers are supernatural, while others are more scientific in nature. The actress who plays Eleven, Millie Bobby Brown, had to undergo a lot of research in order to get into character properly. She had been an actor for nearly a decade before appearing in Stranger Things, but this was her first major role. Brown credits her co-star Winona Ryder and her assistant for helping her to get into character. Ryder’s assistant, who was only 14 years old at the time, was actually a real-life psychic. This young woman, who went by the name Clem, actually helped to influence the development of Eleven’s character.

Chief Hopper’s Name Comes From Another ‘80s Classic Film

Chief Hopper is the police officer that investigates the disappearance of Will Byers. Played by actor David Harbour, Hopper is a gruff and tough-as-nails cop who has his own secrets

and demons. Hoppers’ full name is Edward James “Jim” Hopper, Jr., and this is a reference to the character James “Jim” Graham from the film, The Last American Virgin. It’s likely that the creators named Chief Hopper after this character because they wanted to emphasize the fact that Hopper has been through a lot in his life and that he may have been less than perfect in his younger years.

There are multiple references to Stephen King’s novels throughout the show.

While Stranger Things does feature a lot of references to ‘80s pop culture, the show also has a lot of references to Stephen King’s novels. There are a couple of references to King’s novels in the first episode of the show, one of which is the dog that Chief Hopper is taking care of. The dog is a German Shepherd, and this breed is used in many of King’s novels. In fact, the dog in Stranger Things is named Luther and he’s actually portrayed by a Maine Coon cat. The characters of Jonathan Byers, Nancy, and Barb all have names that are similar to characters in other King novels. Jonathan is similar to Johnny Smith from The Dead Zone, Nancy is similar to Annie Wilkes from Misery, and Barb is similar to Sissy Spacek from Carrie.

Finally, the show was shot in just six days! That’s insane.

The first season of Stranger Things was initially supposed to be a feature film, but the showrunners decided to change their plans and turn it into a series. This meant that the entire season had to be shot in just 10-12 weeks, which is an insanely short amount of time. Given all of the detail and thoughtfulness that went into setting up the world of the show, filming all of these scenes in such a short amount of time must have been a challenge for the crew. However, the showrunners say that planning for the series and the first season actually helped them to streamline the process and make the best use of their time.

Conclusion

Overall, Stranger Things is a series that is truly worthy of its title. The show is packed with homage to '80s pop culture, from its soundtrack to its references to Stephen