Advertisement
Netflix
CultureFilm & TV

Netflix’s Stranger Things returns, here’s what you need to know about the Upside Down

Full of 1980s nostalgic pop-culture, the alternate world sci-fi horror series will air just before Halloween, and fans will be pleased to see the return of Eleven

3-MIN READ3-MIN
From left: Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin in Stranger Things. Photo: courtesy of Netflix
The Washington Post

The nostalgia-heavy, small-screen blockbuster Stranger Things returns to Netflix with a new season on October 27 – just in time for a pre-Halloween weekend binge session.

Netflix unveiled the trailer for the upcoming season of the breakout hit at this month’s Comic-Con in San Diego, and it’s chock-full of 1980s pop cultural references. The kids are dressed as the Ghostbusters for Halloween. They’re playing Dragon’s Lair at the arcade. There’s a Reagan/Bush 1984 campaign yard sign. Vincent Price’s voice-over on Michael Jackson’s Thriller narrates the whole thing.

The footage was shown as part of a panel discussion with executive producers Shawn Levy, and Matt and Ross Duffer, as well as much of the cast.

Advertisement

The Duffers say they had always intended the show to be similar to “Spielberg directing a big, fat Stephen King book.”

Advertisement

The big takeaway is that Eleven is back. The mysterious girl with mysterious powers shows up at the end of the teaser, and it looks as if she’s found a way to get out of the “Upside Down”.

The iconic character is played by Millie Bobby Brown, who is up for a best supporting actress Emmy for the role. Eleven will be a full-fledged character in the second season, say the show’s creators. “Her role is substantial and really satisfying,” says executive producer Shawn Levy.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x