Summary
Since its beginning over a decade ago,Stranger Thingshas gone on to become Netflix’s flagship show, delivering even more jaw-dropping action and pulsating spectacle every seasonas Eleven and the gangface off against the demons of The Upside Down.
Emerging as a pop culture revolution centering on an assortment of nerdy kids who discover another world in their small town of Hawkins in the 80s, the journey of Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Eleven has transcended boundaries across the world, with its coming-of-age story resonating with millions. LikeStranger Things, coming-of-age stories have found a home in the television medium, with many sharing familiar aspects of the Netflix behemoth.
Not many shows had more of a cultural impact in the 90sthanBuffy the Vampire Slayer, the supernatural high school drama that was the original coming-of-age horror that rocked the world, before the likes ofStranger Thingsand the streaming era came to pass. Like the title suggests, Buffy is a high school girl who becomes a vampire slayer, tackling a world of evil that continually threatens Sunnydale, with Buffy and the Scoobies ready to vanquish ghouls, vampires, and demons alike.
Although not Demogorgons, the supernatural forces Buffy takes on are formidable dark foes that prompt continual issues for the protagonist, such as anxiety, teenage angst, and identity, themes that preside heavily inStranger Things, a show that builds on its monumental success almost two decades later.
Among Mike Flanagan’s many projects on Netflix, the horror auteur developedThe Midnight Club, a teen horrorcentered on eight sickly teenagers in a hospice. As friends, the eight patients come together at midnight, forming the Midnight Club, where the teens tell spooky tales that begin to play into reality.
Teeming with Flanagan’s trademark horror tropes, the young patients are soon haunted by supernatural occurrences. At the same time, the protagonists deal with themes of grief, paranoia, and kinship, with their bonds and exclusive club having similarities toStranger Things' famed squad featuring Mike and Dustin among others.
Despite their mature themes and differing backdrops,Veronica MarsandStranger Thingshave more in common than meets the eye, with both shows placing mystery at the heart of their premise, having small towns with big secrets, and high schoolers dealing with dangerous situations above their pay grade. After the passing of her best friend, Veronica Mars, a complex high schooler, devotes her life to solving crimes that continually occur in the small town of Neptune.
Kristen Bell’s tremendously layered performance as Veronica puts much of the show on her back,with the neo-noir storyin a high school setting, providing a fresh take on the genre.
Among a surge inKorean entertainment making its markin the West, such asParasiteandSquid Game,All of Us Are Deadcontinues the trend, offering a high school story brimming with mass horror aspects thanks to its exhilarating zombie premise. In a story that reinvents the tried and tested zombie formula,All of Us Are Deadchooses to tell the perspective of a zombie outbreak from the perspective of a group of Korean high schoolers, with its high school backdrop bringing a sense of non-stop action and adrenaline.
Along with the usual school friendships, romances, and petty drama, the international hit’s focus on a group of teens battling petrifying and vicious fiends parallels its fellow network smash,Stranger Things.
The Spanish showParadiseovertlytakes inspiration fromStranger Things, mirroring its supernatural premise, meshed with the inclusion of teenagers carrying an exciting sci-fi narrative. After the disappearance of three girls, a group of meddling friends band together to unearth the mysteries in a seaside town enshrouded in hidden supernatural secrets.
Encompassing elements of horror and mystery, avid fans ofStranger Thingswho can not get enough of teenagers gallivanting around dark entities can findParadiseoffering many of the same qualities, albeit in a foreign language.
Stranger Thingsis not the only high school-centered story featuring superpowersto grace Netflix, withI Am Not Okay With Thisentering the scene in the early months of the decade. Following the high school adventures of Sydney Novak, a student who learns to deal with several problems, such as sexuality, love, the emergence of superpowers, grief, and the highs and lows of high school that are thrown at her.
In the show, Sydney’s telekinesis is found to be tied to her feelings, with the attraction to her friend Dina and the death of her father culminating in uncontrollable emotions, reminiscent of Eleven’s struggles throughoutStranger Things.
Before the likes of Seth Rogen and James Franco blossomed into some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, the actors made their start in the one-season wonder that wasFreaks and Geeks. From the minds of comedic geniuses Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, a group of obscure and unusual high schoolers gain the spotlight, with their chaotic and unflattering school and social lives coming to the forefront.
While it was canceled only one season into airing,Freaks and Geekshas gone on to earn a legendary status for its representation of outcasts in high school, highlighting the realities of school life and the disarray that comes with growing up, akin toStranger Things’depiction of coming-of-age life.
