If you don't know what Stranger Things is, where have you been living for the past couple of years? The show begins with the disappearance of a young boy which uncovers secret experiments, supernatural forces, and one girl - Eleven.

It's one of Netflix's breakthrough shows, with 4.9 million people watching Season 1, and 361,000 people finishing the first series in one day! It's quickly become a cult classic show, the inspiration behind Halloween costumes and pop culture references.

As someone who has never watched Stranger Things, I wanted to delve into what it was about the show which had helped it gain such a wide and diverse audience and fandom.

Day 1: Understanding Why

One person online described it as a show for people who love pop culture, and it is undeniable that this is true. Set in the 1980s, the clothing, the film posters on the wall, and the general aesthetic of the show feels oddly nostalgic, even to people who weren't born in that era. The music is also a crucial part of this, and overall the show's attention to detail about these factors makes it feel authentic.

It's also a show for people who love ET. The similarity between the concepts is indisputable - both about kids hiding a supernatural being - and it has a very classic feel to the storyline whilst also remaining new and exciting.

It's also just a brilliant supernatural thriller. There are monsters, science experiments, and a whole host of characters to explore. It's spooky, some scenes chilling, which stops the show ever feeling too cliche or cringey.

While reading about why people love the show, one point which continued to come up was that the show has a quality which cannot be explained which comes from the passion of the show makers and the actors.

The fact that it's on Netflix is also a big plus for fans of the show. You can binge watch all the episodes at once, leading to it becoming such a cult classic so quickly.

Day 2: Characters

Everyone knows who Eleven is. She's a young girl with psychic and telekinetic powers. And she loves Eggo Waffles.

Then we have Will, the boy who started this all by disappearing into the Upside Down - an alternate universe with the deadly Demogorgon.

Next is Mike, who becomes the leader of the group of friends throughout the show, and Eleven's love interest.

Lucas - the group's biggest skeptic towards Eleven, and the one who questions trusting her so quickly.

Then, there's Dustin who is know for his iconic hat and for generally being the mediator of arguments within the group.

These are just the main characters, but there are clearly other important characters within the series which have gained their own fans. Just like other shows like Riverdale, there is a diverse range of personalities for people to connect with and relate to.

Day 3: Fanfiction and Inside Jokes

From imagines, to meme books, to romantic books, to pure supernatural ones, Stranger Things Fanfiction offers a bit of everything. Which is to be expected from a TV show which is so diverse in what it covers.

While it is a largely supernatural show, there are large elements of romance within it which lends itself to ships and other romance ideas. What I found really interesting was that when I typed in 'Stranger Things' onto Wattpad I saw a number of crossover books - placing stars like Lily Collins and Melanie Martinez into the world - and this was something that I had never really seen before in Fanfiction.

With so many characters to choose from, the sheer vastness of Fanfiction is slightly crazy. It's not only Fanfiction though, but if you go onto YouTube there are a number of ship edits.

Day 4: Cultural Impact

For a show which has only been around for a couple of years, Stranger Things has made a huge cultural impact. As spoken about before, it seems like the show is a perfect combination of different elements which has made it so influential.

It brings about nostalgia, bringing 80s pop culture back to our screens which sets it apart from other shows which are on. There is something about this element, about the clothing and the aesthetic of show, which people attach to. It's the same principle which has made so many people compelled to shows like Sex Education - there is something about watching things filmed in that way which makes people want to watch more.

Day 5: Reflection

I've definitely gained a better understanding of why so many are attracted to the show; it gives off the sense that it's something very nostalgic while still being new and exciting. The cast help add to its appeal, and watching these new actors grow and develop is an experience which is always fun to watch.

It works on a principle like IT or E.T., and there will always be appeal towards supernatural concepts like Stranger Things. It feeds into the Netflix phenomena of shows gaining such large fandoms due to these shows being on these platforms which give them a huge and expansive potential audience.

NEXT WEEK

YOU DECIDE...

SUPERNATURAL OR THE MAZE RUNNER?

comment other fandoms you would like to see chapters on :)