Stranger Things has been one of the definitive TV shows of the past decade, finally making the ‘80s cool again and delivering some of the sharpest writing, most entertaining characters, and most sensational production design of any show right now. Each season of the show has been bigger and more intense than the last, with plenty of exciting storylines converging in explosive ways. With Stranger Things season five set to conclude the show, there are many scenes from earlier episodes that still live in the audience’s minds.
Stranger Things has been a pop culture giant, with much of the show’s iconic imagery working its way into the zeitgeist and making itself known even by those who aren’t fans of the project. It’s been Netflix’s biggest show since the beginning, and much of that comes down to its willingness to get incredibly creative, bold, and ambitious with its storytelling. It’s taken some risks, and these are the exciting scenes that viewers still remember several seasons later. The most important Stranger Things episodes are those that push boundaries and try new things, which happens a lot in this show.
10 Joyce Speaks To Will Through Christmas Lights
Season 1, Episode 3
One of the major turning points of Stranger Things’ first season was Joyce’s discovery that she could communicate with her son through the electricity in her home, using the Christmas decorations as a way to send messages into the Upside-Down. This was a game-changing scene in the story, as it finally leaned into the supernatural side of the narrative and gave audiences a taste of the creative sci-fi concepts to come.
9 Max Escapes From Vecna Using Her Music
Season 4, Episode 4
In the fourth season of Stranger Things, the gang are forced to face their biggest and most dangerous enemy yet in Vecna. There are still many theories about Vecna and how he’ll ultimately be defeated, but the villain got his first taste of defeat in the “Dear Billy” episode when Max’s friends used her favorite song (“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush) to pull her from the trance and back into the real world. The music really helped make this scene stand out, and the striking visuals of Max escaping from the Upside-Down aren’t easily forgotten.
8 Steve Fights The Demodogs
Season 2, Episode 6
There have been several versions of the Demogorgons included throughout Stranger Things, but perhaps the most unusual and intimidating are the Demodogs. They’re smaller, canine-like versions of the creatures that tear their prey to pieces - but this didn’t stop Steve from facing them alone with his trusty baseball bat. His fight against the Demodogs was among the show’s coolest scenes, and it further proved how much he’s willing to risk in order to protect his young friends.
7 Eleven & Max Have Fun At The Mall
Season 3, Episode 2
The friendship between Eleven and Max was one of the most entertaining parts of Stranger Things’ third season, which was otherwise considered the show’s weakest to date. There’s lots of high-stakes storytelling and evil monsters in Stranger Things, but sometimes, the show’s best moments happen in the few moments of quiet and happiness that these children are granted. Eleven’s journey to the mall was a pivotal moment in her journey and one of the few scenes where she can be a regular teenager.
6 Hopper Escapes The Russian Prison
Season 4, Episode 7
Although much of Hopper’s narrative in Stranger Things’ fourth season happened far away from the rest of the action, the way everything culminated in an orchestrated prison break featuring angry guards, hidden tunnels, and flaming Demogorgons proved that everything would pay off in the end. The immense set piece also saw Hopper reunite with Joy after several episodes, which was obviously nice to watch.
5 Eddie’s Upside-Down Guitar Solo
Despite calls to bring Eddie Munson back in Stranger Things’ fifth season, the character had one of the coolest departures from the show yet. Not every character has the opportunity to sacrifice themselves for their friends, and only one can do it while shredding an intense guitar solo. Eddie’s death was a tragic moment that proved the show wasn’t done torturing the audience yet, but the musical scene that preceded it was undeniably cool.
4 Dustin & Suzy’s Neverending Story Duet
Season 3, Episode 8
The most memorable scenes in Stranger Things are usually the ones with deadly monsters or tragic deaths, but the show’s third season frequently leaned into the more lighthearted side of the story. The most obvious example of this was in episode eight, when Dustin is forced to sing along to “The Neverending Story” with his girlfriend Suzy in order to persuade her to help him and his friends. It’s a sweet moment that reminds audiences that despite everything, these are still young children with teenage problems.
3 Mike Jumps Off The Cliff For Dustin
Season 1, Episode 6
There’s no definitive moment that Stranger Things objectively proved itself to be an excellent show, but if there was, it would be Mike’s self-sacrifice in the show’s sixth episode. When Dustin is threatened by their high school bullies, Mike succumbs to the pressure and jumps off a cliff in order to save his friend from pain. He’s ultimately saved by Eleven and her telekinetic abilities, but he was still willing to die for his friend, and that really hammers home the friendship among these characters.
2 Eleven Closes The Gate
Season 2, Episode 9
In one of Stranger Things’ scariest moments, Eleven risks her life to close the gate between the real world and the Upside-Down, using the full extent of her powers in order to do so. The scene had audiences firmly on the edge of their seats, doing a great job of explaining the stakes and making viewers aware of what could happen if she failed. It was a defining moment in Eleven’s storyline, cementing her as the show’s hero.
1 Steve Comes Back To Save Jonathan & Nancy From The Demogorgon
Season 1, Episode 8
Throughout Stranger Things’ first season, Steve Harrington is a selfish bully whose crush on Nancy causes him to act out against Jonathan and make fun of him at every possible turn. But in the first moment of Steve’s perfectly written redemption arc, the character realizes that he can’t be responsible for their deaths and puts his own life on the line to fight the Demogorgon with a baseball bat. It’s a plan that never should have worked, but it was the first step in finally making Steve a likable character.
Stranger Things
The Stranger Things franchise is a cultural phenomenon that blends supernatural horror with nostalgic 1980s references. Created by the Duffer Brothers, the series follows the residents of Hawkins, Indiana, as they face the terrifying realities of a parallel dimension known as the Upside Down. Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has become one of Netflix's most popular and critically acclaimed series, spawning multiple spin-offs and expansions, including an animated series and a stage play.
Created by Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer
First Episode Air Date July 15, 2016
English (US) ·