One of Netflix’s most popular series that struck a chord with both kids and adults is ‘Stranger Things’. Produced by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror TV series that first made waves since its release on July 15, 2016. Stranger Things received outstanding reviews from both critics and viewers and many praised Netflix’s effort of creating their original series. Set in the town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, the story follows the life of teenagers Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, Mike Wheeler and Will Byers.
In a strange turn of events, Will’s disappearance causes a chain reaction of the discovery of a secret government facility in Hawkins National Laboratory and their confidential experiment which results in the creation of a dimensional portal. This portal unleashes a deadly creature who belongs from the ‘Upside Down’ and the facility performs experiments on humans based around this portal. This facility is also where we meet Eleven, a young girl with supernatural powers. The story quickly moves from being a rescue mission to eliminating the creature. While the series’ four seasons may not seem enough for many, the storyline seems to be perfectly stretched without making compromises on character development. Here are the best episodes from the series ranked on their ability to keep the audience engaged, shock the viewer with surprise or to make them feel good inside.
Season 2, Episode 2: Trick or Treat, Freak
The Halloween episode of Stranger Things somehow feels befitting as the characters dress up as characters from nostalgic movies like Ghostbusters. The episode sees the initial beginning of the relationship between Hopper and Eleven as she comes back to life after being killed in the first season. Barb, who has become a famous character among the fans is seen being mourned over by Steve and Nancy.
Season 3 Episode 7: The Bite
The episode before the finale is meant to hype-up the ending and many think ‘The Bite’ did a great job of accomplishing that. Nancy sheds her good girl persona and starts firing rounds of shotgun eventually leading to her character development as one of the strongest. Eleven is still in focus and while her powers have restrictions, her build-up to the finale is definitely worth watching.
Season 2 Episode 6: The Spy
Absent from the episode is Eleven and while many may see her as one of the main protagonists, the beauty of other characters and their advancements keeps the story going on even if the main character remains out of the picture. This episode sees Steve and Dustin starting off as friends and other kids joining Steve to fight the Demon Dogs. Max explains her story to Lucas and Will is pressured to act as a spy for Mind Flayer.
Season 3 Episode 4: The Sauna Test
Taking a break from the nostalgic trip to the 80s, the episode ‘The Sauna Test’ brings the show’s pleasant themes to rest when Billy starts attacking the kids. With the initial hatred towards the kids which triggers Billy unleashing his wrath on the kids, the episode makes for an adrenaline-inducing fight sequence. The episode sees Billy taking Eleven by throat which is the episode’s most terrifying scene.
Season 1 Episode 6: The Monster
One of the moments made famous by Dustin is when Mike is forced by his bullies to jump off a cliff only to be saved by Eleven, and Dustin screams “She’s our friend and she’s crazy” at the bullies. This also the episode where Eleven finally sees her abilities in a positive light thanks to Mike and his constant upliftment.
Season 2 Episode 9: The Gate
The finale of season 2 is a rather eventful one. While finales of other seasons were jam-packed with edgy moments, the finale of season 2 is much calmer and slower compared to the rest. While there are many key moments in the episode to make it interesting, the part where Steve blows up a part of Upside Down is undeniably the best.
Season 2 Episode 8: The Mind Flayer
Probably one of the saddest moments in the entire series was this episode which saw Bob win over Joyce only to get killed by the Demodogs as he couldn’t make it in time. Many feel that this episode marked the cruel and gruesome nature of the storyline which puts the entire series ahead of its game. Other notable events in the episode include the exciting escape from the Hawkins Lab and the fight between Eleven and a Demodog.
Season 1 Episode 1: The Vanishing of Will Byers
If there is one episode that captures the core of Stranger Things as a series is the pilot episode of the series. Many think of it as one of the best works in the series and if not preceded by the intense season-enders, the pilot episode might just have taken the top positions. The first episode sets the mood for the entire series right from its first few scenes. The seemingly harmless story is met with unusual turns in a very short amount of time and this is exactly how the rest of the series looks like.
Season 3 Episode 8: The Battle of Starcourt
The longest episode in the series, the finale of season 3 brings many characters together, a scene which is rare in the entire season. Many think that the characters embarking on their own journey by the end of the episode is understated. However, the core of Stranger Things remains the journeys of groups which is why the Scoop Troop’s handling of communications led to one of the best scenes in the episode which is Suzie and Dustin singing ‘The Neverending Story’ theme song. Many notable scenes from the episodes include the fight at Starcourt Mall where Eleven seems to have lost her powers and forces all the others in the group to brainstorm.
Season 1 Episode 8: The Upside Down
The end of season 1 was definitely one of the best moments on the entire run of the series. The beauty of the episode lies in the closings of many chapters that the season started with. Right for Eleven striking down her mad scientist ‘Papa’ and his accomplices with her powers while also managing to dive into the Upside Down to rescue Will and bring him back to life. We also get to see the end of the Demogorgon and Eleven’s goodbye to Mike as she gives it all to save Will. The end of the first season truly remains as one of the most exciting episodes in the series which puts all the build-up to rest.
I’m Emma Justin . I’m a web developer living in USA. I am a fan of technology, entrepreneurship, and web development. I’m also interested in education and writing. You can visit my company website with a click on the button above.
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