The Best Part of ‘Stranger Things’ Has Nothing To Do With Eleven

The Big Picture

• Season 4 of
  Stranger Things
  showcases male characters embracing emotional vulnerability and healthy communication.
• The show offers a diverse portrayal of masculinity through evolving character arcs and unique friendships.
• Stranger Things
  breaks stereotypes by highlighting male friendships in a heartfelt and emotionally resonant way, fostering a positive view of vulnerability.

With its sizable array of male characters, Stranger Things has, for the greater part of a decade, been able to provide an ample variety of refreshing and surprising alternatives to traditional masculinity. It wasn’t until the latest season, however, that the series took a more assertive turn in this direction. Through representations of healthy communication, emotional vulnerability, and the unpacking of “popular guy” stereotypes, Season 4 has proven that retro nostalgia can also help pave the future.

Stranger Things is one of the most present and well-established pop culture phenomena of the last decade. The impact it has had on the current cultural zeitgeist is undeniable, with the power to bring back ’80s hits, influence fashion, and popularize D&D among “non-geek” fans. Such a powerful influencing tool has to be wielded carefully. It is, after all, and to a certain extent, capable of shaping young minds and shifting socio-cultural dynamics, even if inadvertently. The Duffer Brothers have, thus far, and for the most part, employed their influence for the greater good, particularly with their careful representation of masculinity.

‘Stranger Things’ Allows Its Characters To Be Vulnerable

A process that started in Season 1 but has, to this point, asserted itself in Season 4, saw the changes in the main cast from children to adolescents as an opportunity for growth within the narrative itself. Stranger Things never shied away from being dark, but the last season leaned into heavier themes, namely regarding trauma, survivor guilt, and isolation. It is only appropriate then that the main tools for survival in Season 4 were also psychological in nature. In the last eight episodes, audiences saw not one but several moments of deeply moving, sincere moments of vulnerability between young men. Will (Noah Schnapp) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), particularly, have more than one moment together where they voice their fears and insecurities toward life, romantic relationships, and their own friendship. Will, more so than Mike, is even seen crying several times, and not once do any of his peers belittle him for it. One other sweet moment sees Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) offering much-needed emotional support to Will, who welcomes and accepts his brother’s affection, culminating in both sharing a warm and teary embrace.

Another sees Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Eddie (Joseph Quinn) playing rough for a few seconds before Eddie tells Dustin to “never change” and then shifts their playful demeanor into a tender hug. The same Eddie, a long-haired metalhead, stops Steve (Joe Keery) in his tracks and shares his own resolved insecurities and prejudices towards him, before praising Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Robin’s (Maya Hawke) courage. Something that is also worth noting, is that Eddie mentions his own lack of courage several times, and no other character ever holds that against him. Even though he later proves himself wrong, the verbalization of his fears throughout the season is never punished or even discouraged. The same applies to Dustin — the same Dustin who can also, at least twice, be seen crying freely and unashamedly. Tearful confessions, thoughtful advice, emotional openness — these are seen as healthy and welcome forms of engagement between these boys, something that is often non-existent or played for laughs in other pieces of media.

Steve, who was first introduced in Season 1 as somewhat antagonistic, has grown steadily throughout the series and established himself as a fan favorite, especially after his breakthrough in the role of “babysitter” in Season 2. A task that could be seen as “emasculating,” given its traditionally feminine connotations, is what saw Steve emerge and consolidate himself as a strong, likable character. Although Steve continues to half-heartedly reject that role throughout the entire series, it is undeniable that he is drawn to the fatherly mantle — one that is reliable, positive, and benevolent. Steve, who admits to dreaming of having no less than six children (the same number of children he keeps complaining about “babysitting”), grows into himself through reliability, caring, and the traditional masculine trait of protecting.

‘Stranger Things’ Juxtaposes the Typical Bully Character With Complex, Emotional Characters

Steve’s development from typical jock to everyone’s favorite babysitter comes as a welcome change of pace, as the “popular boy at school” trope insists on portraying handsome, extroverted, and charismatic young men as inherently bad. In fact, Season 4 includes that exact kind of character, with Jason (Mason Dye) and his crew of “jocks,” who are controlling, heedless, and who can only express their fears through aggression. Jason and his friends do not talk, share, or listen — not about the things that matter, anyway. Jason communicates orders, plans, rationalizations of his prejudice, threats… But never feelings, not any that aren’t anger, at least. Another such case is Billy (Dacre Montgomery), who represents an abusive, toxic model of masculinity. His negative presence in Max’s (Sadie Sink) life has set up the events and motifs of Season 4. Max’s trauma, not only from witnessing Billy’s death but also as a result of his abuse throughout her childhood, is what leads Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) to mark her as a victim. It is quite fitting that, in direct opposition to an entity that feeds on the isolation and vulnerability of survivors, it is the quiet, often invisible heroism of emotional support that prevails. Lucas (Caleb Mclaughlin) and Max’s other friends are the answer to Billy and Vecna. In another tear-jerker moment, Lucas offers his friendship and help to Max — a refreshing reversal of roles, given that women often bear the burden of emotional labor.

Stranger Things is not interested in demolishing or rejecting older forms of positive masculinity. On the contrary, it knows what to keep, what to transform, what to introduce to these ’80s-inspired male characters. This also applies to Hopper (David Harbour), who is closer to being the typical action hero, but who has undergone certain modernizations. Most notably, not only is Hopper saved by Joyce (Winona Ryder), a woman in whom he is romantically interested, but he does not think twice about resorting to her help in storming the Russian prison a second time. Overall, there continues to be a vast selection of male personalities to choose from in Stranger Things, although some are more familiar than others. The importance of having such alternative representations of masculinity is enormous. Boys and men have been taught, in the media and pop culture as well, that crying, talking about one’s feelings, and listening are things to be ashamed of. It has increasingly become more common for young men to be represented at large through a mostly negative lens, as is the case with Euphoria and 13 Reasons Why.

That is not to say that valid criticism and portrayal of toxic masculinity should not be made, but alternative models must be provided, in order to truly guide society forward. Isn’t an enduring aesthetic one that must not only be able to criticize the present (or in this case, the past), while also providing new alternatives for the future? Perhaps we ought to take a more optimistic approach toward retro nostalgia. See it not only as a product of the uninspired psyche of a generation that can’t imagine new realities for itself but as an artistic expression on its own merit – one that reassembles the memories from the past to build the realities of tomorrow. Stranger Things can’t bear the full weight of that, but it certainly has done its share when it comes to imagining new, kinder ways of relating to ourselves and each other — a matter that is more pressing than ever, especially for men.

‘Stranger Things’ Shows That It’s Normal For Men To Have Emotions Too

Stranger Things has been wildly influential since its conception. With every new season, the world seems to latch onto something and run with it. In Season 1 everyone jumped onto Eleven’s Eggo obsession, come Season 3 everyone was donning 80s apparel, and come Season 4 everyone was rocking Hellfire shirts for tasks as simple as grocery shopping. Yes, it’s a show, one with a rather outlandish concept at that, but it’s also brought so many people together. Not to mention, it encourages people to be themselves and reminds them that they will always find their people. Because really, as much as Stranger Things is about demogorgons and other dimensions, it’s also about friendships, growing up, and growing into yourself. A lot of viewers have grown up with the Stranger Things characters, making the influence all the more palpable. It gives a real authentic look at every side of things, but especially gives that alternative look at masculinity that we don’t often see, and because the show is so spread out, we get to see the development of this over the seasons.

Each main male character in Stranger Things provides a different take on masculinity, offering everyone a chance to find themselves in one of the characters, if only a little bit. You have sensitive and shy Will, bumbling and sweet Dustin, the more level-headed and intuitive Lucas, and loyal leader Mike. And then there’s the older of the main characters, Steve, who goes through arguably the best character development from a typical douchey jock to a quirky, lovable, and loyal friend. Jonathan, who is quiet but would do anything for those he loves; Eddie, who seems dark and mysterious on the outside but is really a big goofball on the inside; and Hopper, who goes from someone who has completely closed himself off to any sort of love and affection, to taking in Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) as his own and just in general letting himself be happy again.

‘Stranger Things’ Is a Story About Male Friendship

Another strong point of Stranger Things is how, as I mentioned previously, at its core, it’s a story about friendship, specifically male friendship. The scene which we first meet our main characters is when they’re all playing Dungeons and Dragons in Mike’s basement, a frequent activity for them. They’re never separated for long and do everything together. If they fight, we see the emotional toll it takes on all of them. Their friendship is just as much a character as the characters themselves, it’s that pivotal to the series. And the thing is, we don’t often see male friendships depicted in such detail. There are constantly movies being made about female friendships, and while some are goofy and cheesy, some are also heartfelt and meant to bring a little tear to your eye. But the movies about male friendships are few and far between and are always comedies without much substance. That’s not to say they’re bad, but you don’t put on something like The Hangover if you’re looking for some sentimental takes on friendship. Stranger Things gives you that foreign look into male friendships and shows us that it can be just as complicated as any other friendship and just as emotional. The show lets the characters be goofy with one another and let their guards down, they’re vulnerable with one another, and they know one another’s fears. They aren’t just friends for the convenience of the show having a core friend group to drive the mystery plot, they feel like real, genuine friends, and it’s a wholesome change to see such a dynamic play out on screen.

It’s this kind of development for male characters specifically that sets Stranger Things apart from other shows, and lucky for fans, there is plenty to go around. It’s tiring seeing the same one-dimensional male character in every show, and Stranger Things makes sure to change it consistently by not only introducing new characters but by continuously developing the old ones and unlocking new traits within them as they grow and mature — just like we all do in real life. Stranger Things has not only changed television in terms of how we watch and write shows, but it’s also changed how we look at characters, and how we view male characters specifically. Stranger Things proves that it’s okay for men to be vulnerable, and it’s okay for them to show fear, and to ask women for help, rather than the other way around. It doesn’t make them weak; it makes them human, and even in a show that leans heavy on sci-fi and fantasy like Stranger Things does, that’s pretty great to see.

Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

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