Started July 15, 2016 · Based on 5 seasons, 42 episodes · TV-14
Stranger Things is a popular science fiction show about a small town facing scary monsters from another world. A group of young friends and a girl with special powers work together to save their town. Over the seasons, the show puts a heavy focus on identity and gay themes. In the final season, a main character's coming out scene is a major part of the plot and is shown as the key to unlocking his powers.
Community feedback
Was our 70% Woke rating accurate?
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Stranger Things.
Woke representation / casting
The show features a highly diverse cast that increasingly emphasizes identity. Prominently, multiple main characters are queer, including Robin Buckley and Will Byers. Because queer representation receives elevated weight, the presence of central LGBTQ+ characters with major romantic and personal subplots pushes this score high.
40%
Woke political dialogue
The series does not use heavy partisan or activist jargon. However, it contains long, highly visible emotional speeches about the pain of being different, fear of rejection, and self-acceptance. These monologues, especially Will's big coming-out speech in the final season, are treated as central narrative points.
35%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
Queer identity and self-acceptance are driving narrative themes. In the final season, Will's struggle with his sexuality is not just a subplot but the literal key that unlocks his psychic powers to fight the ultimate evil. Additionally, Robin's entire character arc focuses on her identity and pursuit of a lesbian relationship.
65%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show features classic sci-fi tropes about a corrupt government faction running secret experiments. In later seasons, the narrative increasingly critiques the traditional 1980s social environment as narrow-minded, depicting the era's social norms and peer groups as hostile to gay and outsider characters.
25%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The show is an original television series and does not adapt outside books, comics, or real historical figures.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The final season triggered intense backlash from anti-woke commentators and general viewers. Many complained that the show stopped the main plot for a forced coming-out scene. High-profile figures like Elon Musk criticized the creative choices, and the relevant episode became the lowest-rated of the series due to review bombing.
85%
Creator track record context
The majority of the listed technical and visual directors have clean, purely professional track records with scores of 0/100. Only Lachlan Milne holds a moderate score of 45/100 due to his interest in filming marginalized stories. This keeps the collective crew context score very low.
15%
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