From Hawkins to Here: My Life Through Stranger Things

I have been a fan of Stranger Things since the beginning, for nearly ten years. I remember watching season 1 a little less than a month after its July 2016 release, and I quickly became so hooked that I found myself watching episodes between my college seminars. That initial excitement drove me to rewatch the first season twice before the second season arrived the following year—and I stayed up late to binge it two nights in a row. I remember crying in my bed, laptop on my stomach, watching the characters finally make it to the Snow Ball.  

I was invested.

Stranger Things had everything I enjoyed. I am a big fan of the 80’s films. I love 80’s music. I love horror, sci-fi, and mystery - and I love great characters that I can emotionally connect with.

2019 was a big year for me personally. I was living in a new state, I ended a terrible long-term/long-distance relationship, and I was figuring out who I was - a new adult who just turned 23.

On July 4th that year, I got to return to Hawkins with my favorite group of nerds. I’m sure you can imagine how excited I was to jump back into this show - just to find some sense of normalcy (ironic, I know). I woke up at 6AM and binged the entire series so I could finish my watch around 2PM to prep for friends I had coming over to celebrate the holiday. I remember my sister calling to ask what time she should come over to help me cook, her voice a comforting presence amid my emotional whirlwind, and I sobbed into the phone, saying, “I finished it” as I recounted the sacrifices of Billy and Hopper.

This show has been there for me for nearly 10 years - that's a common law marriage.

I rewatch it when I’m sad. I rewatch it when I need some nostalgia. I rewatch it when I need comfort. I rewatch and remember the moments I watched it for the first time and how it made me feel - or how I still feel.

When season 4 came around, I was in a semi-new stage of my life. I had a new position at work, I met this super cool guy, and I was living in a different apartment with different roommates. We all watched the premiere together. The only thing I hated about this was that I had to resist binging the first volume just to be polite. It was hard to avoid spoilers, but somehow, I managed. Since Vol. 2 was only the last two episodes, we were able to complete our watch all together. It was a nice change to have others there to watch with - it was the first time the show really felt like a community to me.

Between the gap of seasons 4 and 5, I rewatched and rewatched, and even travelled to New York City to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway.

After what felt like forever, November 2025 finally arrived, marking the debut of the fifth and final season of my favorite show. By then, I had settled into a new home, now living with that cool guy I’d met—who, over time, became a fan himself—and I could invite my sister over for watch parties.

The first volume was so rewarding. I theorized that Will had powers since season 2!

The second volume really set us up for the finale. I knew the Upside Down was a bridge - the stage play kind of lets us make those assumptions - but a wormhole?!?!

The finale.

I knew in my heart that Eleven would have to sacrifice herself to end it all - the Upside Down, Vecna’s plan, the military projects. I just knew. It was the only way. Although everything ended exactly how I think it was supposed to (thanks, Duffers!) Although I can understand why some fans are having a hard time with this ending and saying goodbye.

For those fans - you can still believe. You can hold on to the hope that El is out there somewhere, her story stretching beyond the screen. Mike, the storyteller, gifted us that choice—not just to soften the blow of losing El, but to help us process the end of something bigger. It’s not just saying goodbye to a character; it’s letting go of a world, of the bonds we built with these stories, of the memories and emotions that became part of us.

I have to be honest—the finale left me feeling strangely isolated, unable to connect with fellow fans online as I once did. It stings to witness others’ disappointment when, for me, the ending brought a sense of peace. While some mourned what was lost, I found myself quietly grateful. This ending, bittersweet as it is, has become a gentle push, guiding me toward my own new beginnings. Instead of holding me back, it’s helping me step forward into the next chapter of my life.

The show ended as I turned 29, on the cusp of a milestone year. In 2026, I’ll celebrate my 30th birthday—a new chapter, echoing the journey of the characters as they step into adulthood at the end of season 5. We’re all growing up, learning to let go, and embracing the unknown together.

In a beautifully symbolic moment, my Stranger Things candle from Bath & Body Works quietly flickered out during the finale. It felt like the universe was gently nudging me forward, reminding me, “I don’t believe in coincidences, not anymore.”

Before the finale, I completed my MBA, and now I’m ready to find my path—to start a new career, nurture my small business, and embrace the changes ahead.

So much in my life is coming to a close, but it’s not just about endings; it’s about making space for new beginnings.

This show has been my teacher, my comfort, my companion. I’ve learned so much from these characters—about courage, friendship, and resilience. It means more to me than words can say.

Some may dismiss it as “just a show,” but for me, it was a lifeline. It was always there for me, and I know it always will be. That’s something I’ll hold close, no matter what comes next.

I believe.