I want to talk about Stranger Things.

I just watched Season Five and I must say…it’s really gotten to me.

I was late to the party and didn’t actually watch Season One for the FIRST time until 2022. I know, I know, but I had it in my mind that it was a little too scary and life in 2016 and after was already scary enough. I didn’t need the extra stress. But in 2022 I was in a better place – weren’t we all – which is why I drummed up the courage to give it a go and, of course, fell in love immediately.

Having graduated in 1985, watching Stranger Things was like finding a shoebox full of old notes and pictures from my childhood, sitting down in the grass in my backyard, and looking at them with the summer sun slowly sinking on the horizon. So familiar, so innocent, so true, and such a great story of friendship and courage in the face of monsters.

Not gonna lie, it fed my soul.

The kids were adorable. They pretty much nailed the look and lifestyle of the time period. And don’t even get me started on the music. Spot on, friends. Spot. On.

I consumed all four seasons in 2022 and then, waiting on Netflix, put Stranger Things on the back burner.

Fast forward to the end of 2025…and the world was burning. Fresh new horrors and atrocities happening every day, both at home and abroad. Ghosts from the past reappearing as demons in our midst. Real living monsters jockeying to rule the world, all at the expense of the innocent.

On a personal note, my partner of 12 years passed away in October of 2025 after two long years of fighting cancer. I was still numb, but slowly getting back into a routine of sorts. It was bitter cold and snowing outside, and I found I had empty time every evening in a newly quiet house. So I sat down to consume Stranger Things Season 5 during that time of year that feels disconnected to everything else in the world – the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

I quickly realized I may have forgotten some details, so took it upon myself to watch the entire series again and binged it ALL in a little more than one week. I was charmed all over during the first four seasons, just as impressed with every aspect of the series as I had been the first time around.

Season Five did not disappoint me, either. I love a good monster movie, and I was emotionally invested in all of the characters. It really worked. It truly entertained. And, like I said, it got to me.

Stranger Things needled the back of my mind as we entered the first few days of 2026. The ‘mighty algorithm that knows all’ sent me several interview clips of the cast, as well as the clip of David Harbour’s acceptance speech at the 23rd Annual SAG Awards in 2017 (shown below – watch to the end). It was actually that speech, combined with the more and more alarming national and international news that sped into high gear during the first few weeks of January, that made me understand what it was about Stranger Things that would not let me go.

Stranger Things Cast: Acceptance Speech | 23rd Annual SAG Awards | TNT

Stranger Things is not just a nostalgic trip back to the 80’s, nor is it just about monsters or growing up, or even about small town America. Stranger Things is a reflection of who we once were and what we have already overcome.

Not only that, Stranger Things is a love note to our better selves. A rallying cry for us not to give in to conformity, ignorance, occupation, oppression, violence, abuse, neglect, or the judgement of a few self-righteous egomaniacs at the expense of ourselves, especially those most vulnerable among us.

So many things about the show were absolutely true. I can confirm that we used to run freely throughout our neighborhoods and towns all day and into the night without our parents knowing, or worrying about, where we were. There was often a basement rec room with shag carpeting where everybody hung out, and where we didn’t watch TV because there wasn’t much to watch.

The D&D kids, the jocks, the arcades and video stores, the rotary phones, the lack of interrupting cell phones, AND the inability to Google anything which forced us to rely on our own knowledge (or that of our smartest friend), were all faithful representations of how life used to be.

But other things were also true, certain realities that don’t make us homesick for the past. People really did light up cigarettes in the middle of restaurants – and airplanes. They also used to openly drink and drive. There were clearly defined cliques in schools, often supported by the adults in charge, and there was the never ending bullying of the “strangest” among us.

Women at work were treated just the way you see Nancy treated at her internship, often worse. Stay-at-home moms who did yearn for more wasted away in an emotional downward spiral. Blatant racism without ever saying the words out loud did make interracial relationships rare, and the target of hate. Coming out as gay would likely ostracize you from your family and friends, and could cost you your job, your home, and even your life.

Now, you may argue that, with the exception of smoking in buildings and airplanes, and the laws against drunk driving, all of these things still exist. And you would be right. However, I think anyone who grew up during that time or before can tell you they do not exist to the degree that they used to exist. Not even close.

The world has become far more accepting of the uniqueness of individuals, and supportive of their right to pursue whatever makes them happy in life. The smartest and kindest kids from way back then have been working hard over the decades to improve the world, and it shows. These improvements in the rights of people no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation are exactly why the monsters are back.

The monsters we fight today are the same monsters we fought back then, which is another wonderful truth about Stranger Things. Just like the characters realize in each progressing season, we all know these monsters. They are not new to us. And that means we know more about how they operate and how to take them down. So just because a monster is awake and angry does not mean it will win. In fact, the more we stick together – just like the friends in the show – the better chance we have of kicking its big, stupid, nasty ass.

Which brings me to Dustin’s Valedictorian speech at the graduation ceremony in Season 5. The speech that spoke directly to all of us who grew up in that age with its punk rock style, and also speaks to every kid who has come into adulthood since. It speaks to a generation and to our current situation. It encourages us to face down the monsters in our modern day world, and take joy in the diversity of our society. It’s worth a watch.

Stranger Things 5 | Dustin’s Speech | Netflix

“So, honestly, just screw it. Screw the system. Screw conformity. Screw everyone and everything trying to hold you back and tear us apart.” How can you not love this speech? How can you not hear it and feel like we can actually change the world?

I do realize that it is just a show and the Stranger Things monster is not real. And I realize that many are struggling, and will struggle, through these real life monster attacks that we are experiencing now. Still, I take heart in the message, and I take heart knowing that so many others take heart in it as well.

This is how the world works. We change things for the better and we win. We lose the plot and take a few steps back. We give in to fear but then we find our courage and step out again, arm-in-arm, never forgetting that it is our love for each other and our belief that we are all worthy of the best this life has to offer that keeps us going.

We can and should fight for what’s right. We can and should take all of the good things from our past into our future and leave everything else behind.

Stranger Things tells us that these things are true…

We all have to grow up and we all have to fight monsters.

But it also reminds us of these truths as well…

We will never go back and we will never give up.

Stranger Things 5 | Finale Trailer | Netflix

Much love,

Darci