Now that the finale episode of Stranger Things Season 5 has aired, I thought it's as good a time as any to recap the entire series and list out some of the best Stranger Things moments. Because hey, hate the finale or the entire season 5, there is absolutely no way you can say some are these moments are not cool and at the forefront of your mind when you think Stranger Things!
I had initially wanted to do a top 10 iconic moments but given Stranger Things had 5 seasons, 42 episodes and a total runtime of about 45 hours, it felt like a short-change to limit the list to just 10! So, I have settled for 15.
Plenty of spoilers ahead for all seasons. Read on at your own risk!
15. Murray asking about Jonathan's "pull out"
Season 2, Chapter 6: The Spy
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| Murray being cheeky |
Alright, I just had to put this one in because I always end up watching this scene multiple times in one viewing. It was such a tongue-in-cheek moment. But what made it special was when Murray accidentally dropped his eggs off his fork while eating and proceeding to say, "Oops" in the most natural way possible. You know it's a blooper moment that was kept in and you love it all the more for that reason!
14. El and Max's Shopping Spree
Season 3, Chapter 2: The Mall Rats
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| Girl's Day Out |
The whole montage of El and Max shopping at Starcourt Mall always puts a smile on my face. Having such a light-hearted moment for El while she had a tough time the rest of the season, in fact, make that the entire series, was such a good relief. Plus it showcases female bonding in a way that had not been portrayed before on the show. We had seen the male-male bond and the male-female bond but here, we got the female-female bond and was it good!
13. Will's Chat with Mike about being the Heart
Season 4, Chapter 8: Papa
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| Will's Emotional Breakdown |
It's not so much the conversation but the fact that the audience know exactly what Will was saying and not saying. That he loves Mike but will never be able to say it, that the love will forever remain unrequited. What elevated this scene to iconic for me was Jonathan hearing the entire conversation and understanding the hidden subtext behind it. Grieving together with Will.
12. Jonathan introducing Will to "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Season 1, Chapter 2: The Weirdo on Maple Street
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| Jonathan and Will vibing to "Should I Stay or Should I Go" |
One of the more memorable tracks of Stranger Things had to be "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash. This song was interspersed throughout Season 1 and seamlessly became a part of the series for me. More importantly, it represents the bond between Jonathan and Will, one of the more underrated relationships in Stranger Things. Jonathan passing Will the mix and introducing this song to him will always be an iconic moment.
11. Eddie Playing "Master of Puppets"
Season 4, Chapter 9: The Piggyback
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| Eddie's Solo in the Upside Down |
Eddie Munson, is one of those characters we wished had survived longer in the series. Him, having his solo moment on top of his trailer in the Upside Down, sort of helps to make up for his untimely death. Interspersing this moment with snippets of the others executing their parts of the plan makes this an extra special moment.
10. The Snow Ball
Season 2, Chapter 9: The Gate
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| Nancy and Dustin at the Snow Ball |
The entire Snow Ball sequence was great, to be honest. But the part that tugs at our heartstrings has got to be Dustin sitting alone in his grief having been rejected by a few girls. Watching this scene always gets me tearing up. Nancy coming to his rescue is such a beautiful moment. It's also one of those moments that shows Nancy in a sweet light, when we usually see her being a badass.
9. Will Speaking to Max through Vecna
Season 5, Chapter 5: Shock Jock
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| Will taking over Vecna |
Nobody wants to see Max die especially not in season 5 after surviving her near-death experience and in chapter 5 of season 5, she came close to it yet again. As Vecna is strangling her, Will controls Vecna's body, releasing a gasping Max and commanding her to "Run" through Vecna's voice. Damn, Will sure came through.
8. Will tells Joyce to "RUN" through the Christmas Lights
Season 1, Chapter 3: Holly Jolly
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| Spelling "RUN" through the Christmas lights |
Joyce with the Christmas lights will never not be iconic! In fact, the lights on the walls interspersed with alphabets will forever be associate with Stranger Things. In this particular scene, there is tension, danger and anticipation, as Will, communicating to Joyce through the lights warn her of danger just before a demogorgan burst through the wall amidst flickering lights in pursuit of her!
7. Neverending Story Duet
Season 3, Chapter 8: The Battle of Starcourt
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| Dustin and Suzie's Duet |
Dustin and Suzie's voices were key in this duet. But what makes this moment great was the reaction of almost every other cast! How Erica was rendered totally speechless, crouching beside Dustin. How Hopper, Joyce and Murray lost hope in the entire plan within the Russian base. How the rest were in wide-eyes disbelief while the mind flayer chased their car. The scene was so out of place and well-remembered. Closing it off with Erica proclaiming, "enough" just turns my happy smile into a chuckle.
6. Dustin's Emotional Outburst and Saving Steve in the Process
Season 5, Chapter 6: Escape from Camazotz
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| Dustin stops Steve from taking a risk |
This scene would be up there for any fans who love the dynamics between Steve and Dustin since season 2. Season 5 had Dustin and Steve in conflict. They are at each other's throats and things even culminated in a physical fight just before this scene. And then, Dustin found Steve's rescue plan stupid and let his heart out in an emotional tirade, showing us all just how incredibly affected he is by Eddie's death.
Capping the scene off with the ladder losing its foothold and falling made it all the more powerful. Dustin saved Steve when he couldn't save Eddie.
5. Discovery of Will's Fake Body to "Heroes"
Season 1, Chapter 3: Holly Jolly
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| Bringing in Will's body from the quarry |
The Dungeons and Dragons gang had been searching for Will with El's help prior to this, never doubting that he was alive. Imagine everyone's shock and devastation at the discovery of Will's body in the quarry. With David Bowie's "Heroes" playing as an angry Mike rides away into his mother's arms and a frightened Joyce embraces Jonathan, the ending of chapter 3: Holly, Jolly became forever iconic.
4. El Returns and Comes to the Gang's Rescue
Season 2, Chapter 8: The Mind Flayer
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| El Returns |
This is really a recurrent thing - El coming to the gang's rescue. What makes this scene especially iconic is that everybody had thought El was dead. Her, neutralising the demodogs and then unlocking the door with her telekinesis, before making a grand entrance in her new look no less, surely must have made fans want to jump up and cheer! I know I felt like it.
3. Steve Fights the Demogorgan with Nancy and Jonathan
Season 1, Chapter 8: The Upside Down
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| Battle with Demogorgan |
Oh boy, Steve. This was his turning arc and what an arc. Made him go from baddie to hero and fans never looked back again. To us, Steve became part of the gang then. And not to take away anything from Nancy and Jonathan, this was one well-made battle plan!
2. Will Becomes the Sorcerer and Killed them Demogorgons
Season 5, Chapter 4: Sorcerer
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| Will is a Sorcerer |
There is no doubt Will finally achieved his potential in this scene and I don't mind saying it's about time. When things go to a new low and all hope seems lost, he rose and took charge of the situation heroically. And what a way to do it. Killing the demogorgans simply through mind control, saving his friends in the process. And then the nose bleed being the cherry. No more neck holding for Will!
1. Max Escapes Vecna's Mind amidst "Running Up That Hill"
Season 4, Chapter 4: Dear Billy
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| Max racing to escape Vecna's possession |
For me, this is peak Stranger Things! Max, who has been in a state of depression beginning Season 4, running to "Running Up That Hill" to Vecna's mind. Symbolically, this is also a moment of her leaving behind her depressive state and re-embracing life. Add to this the scene happening concurrently in the graveyard with Steve, Lucas and Dustin all heavily invested in getting Max out of danger and we have the best moment of Stranger Things.
If you are looking for more Stranger Things content, be sure to check out my upcoming post on 5 Best and 5 Worst Moment of Season 5
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