The end of an era (and of Hawkins as we know it)
It seems that the calendar not only marks the end of the year, but the end of a golden era of streaming. Netflix, in a move that demonstrates a sense of timing as precise as it is predictable, has decided to release the final episode of the fifth season of “Stranger Things” on December 31st. Because nothing says “happy new year” like the possible dimensional apocalypse and eighties nostalgia. A masterstroke to make you cry both for the characters and for your unfulfilled purposes.
The architects of chaos (and 80s t-shirts)
The impact on pop culture? Oh, it just revitalized the oversized sweatshirt trend, resurrected Kate Bush on the playlists of a generation that doesn’t know what a Walkman is, and made us afraid of fir trees and Christmas lights. The formula, according to those in the know, was to mix nostalgia with retro science fiction and a group of teenagers who, instead of suffering from acne, deal with portals to malevolent dimensions. A plot twist that undoubtedly all parents of the 80s would have preferred to the typical rebellion of the time.
And at the center of this hurricane of cinematic references and monsters with role-playing names (Demogorgons, Vecna), are the Duffer brothers. Yes, those twins who, with their creativity, have made a fictional town in Indiana occupy more space in our collective imagination than many real countries. The true heroes, who showed us that childhood obsession can be profitable if channeled correctly.
From a camcorder to conquering Netflix: the epic (and probably nerdy) story
The creators of this monster (pun intended) are the twins Matt and Ross Duffer. They were born on Valentine’s Day in 1984, which perhaps explains their love of complex relationships and intense emotional dramas. Their great childhood passion was devouring VHS movies, a habit that their parents, in an act of brilliance or total surrender, decided to feed them by giving them a camcorder. Imagine the scene: two twin boys filming their own horror stories. Terrifying? For your neighbors, probably yes.
They didn’t stop there. After going through high school making homemade films (read: with pasta and cardboard special effects), they entered the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Because of course, when the hobby gets out of hand, it is best to professionalize it. Her big idea, originally titled “Montauk“, was rejected more times than Eleven uses telekinetic powers in one season. Until Netflix, in a moment of lucidity, said “yes” and the rest is history, many Emmys, and a Peabody Award that surely looks great on the shelf next to your action figures.
So get ready. On December 31st you will not only toast to a new year, but to the definitive outcome of a saga that defined a decade of television. An ending that will hopefully answer all the questions (what’s wrong with Hawkins’ economy with so much disaster?) and give us the emotional closure we deserve. Or at least, some spectacular memes.
Ready for the final farewell? Share this nostalgic trip on your social networks and tag whoever accompanied you in each season. Explore more on our site about other creators who changed the rules of digital entertainment.
