10 best Stranger Things moments

Created by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things became a worldwide hit, as it paid a homage to 1980s American culture and had just the right number of thrills, horror, and friendship. The show revolves around a group of people in the town of Hawkins, who must fight against monsters from another dimension, after the town’s lab does illegal experiments. Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, and others, the show has some of the most power-packed and hilarious scenes. Here are ten of them.

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Billy's sacrifice, Eleven closing the gate, and other best moments from Stranger Things

1. Max and Eleven’s mall outing

In season 3, episode 2, Eleven is sulking over her relationship with Mike and Max decides to cheer her up. While in the second season, it seemed that Max and Eleven did not start on good terms, in season 3, it was refreshing to see a healthy girl friendship in the show. Max tells Eleven that boys should not be the center of their life and takes her to Starcourt mall. The two end up having a lot of fun and in true 80s fashion, they try out some of the clothing of that era.

On the other hand, Mike and his friends are also at the mall and Mike is trying to get a gift for Eleven. At the end, Mike and Eleven cross paths outside the mall and Eleven is furious that Mike lied to her about not being able to hang out. She dumps him and catches the bus home with Max, laughing about it and having an ice cream. The scene is pivotal as it is one of the few times Eleven lives like a normal kid.

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2. Eleven closes the gate to the Upside Down

In season 2 episode 9 of Stranger Things, Eleven has to once again gather all her powers as she must close the gate that is connecting the real world to the Upside Down. While season 2 was not one of the strongest seasons of the show, this scene, towards the very end of the show, is still etched in people’s minds. Hopper and Eleven go to the Hawkins Lab as Will is struggling with the Mind Flayer inside his body.

The scene is intense and builds up slowly and steadily. Eleven remembers all the horrors she had faced as a child at the lab. She harnesses all her powers and also remembers the love Mike has for her. As she slowly builds up her power, Hopper diverts any creatures that might harm her. The background music is minimal, which heightens the scene. Finally, she uses all her energy to close the gate and even lifts off the ground. The scene is important as it defines Eleven as the show’s hero.

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3. Dustin and Suzy sing a duet

In season 3, episode 8, the gang is busy fighting the creatures from the Upside Down and Dustin decides that he needs help from his girlfriend Suzy. Throughout the season, Dustin had been telling his friends that he had made a girlfriend and no one believed him. However, the big reveal comes towards the end of the series, in one of the most pivotal moments, that Dustin indeed has a girlfriend. Joyce, Hopper, Murray are trying to break into a vault. So, Dustin decides to connect with his girlfriend, who knows the Plank’s constant, which can save the gang.

The scene is frightening yet funny as the gang is busy fighting monsters and Dustin and Suzy are more focused on their romance. Dustin requests Suzy to tell him the numbers of the mathematical equation, but Suzy orders him to sing their favorite song, Neverending Story. The scene gets comical as the two sing over the radio and the gang is amused at what is happening at such a crucial moment.

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4. Eddie’s electrifying guitar performance

In Season 4, Episode 9 of Stranger Things, the gang plans to infiltrate Vecna's lair in the Upside Down, but they require someone to keep watch, as the lair is guarded by menacing Demobats. Eddie and Dustin decide to stay outside and divert them, as the rest of the gang begin their plan of action. Eddie decides to fight off the creatures in his characteristic style by plugging in his electric guitar and playing the song, Master of Puppets by Metallica. While Eddie plays his song, Max tries to run away from Vecna, also keeping him preoccupied as the gang slowly comes closer to destroying him.

The scene is euphoric as Eddie declares that he is doing this for Chrissy. While Dustin looks at him proudly, Eddie keeps belting away at his guitar, even though the Demobats are about to reach and injure him. While Max tries to once again revive her happy memories as a way of escaping from Vecna, the Demobats unfortunately, attack Eddie and he dies doing what he loved. The scene is iconic as it is a befitting end to his charismatic presence throughout the entire season.

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5. Joyce’s communication with Will through lights

In season 1, episode 3, Joyce, the mother of Will, is at her wits' end as her boy has gone missing and she cannot find him, even though she can feel his presence. But things change when she learns that Will is trying to communicate through the Christmas lights as they keep flickering on their own. Joyce believes that it is her son Will, who is trying to contact her, and she quickly decides to cover her entire house with lights. This moment on the show became viral as it symbolized a mother’s strength in finding her son and going to any length possible.

She quickly paints the letters of the alphabet in her house and requests Will to guide her as to how she can find him. However, things take a turn for the worse and she somehow opens a portal for a monster from the upside down to land up inside her house. The scene is intense and is one of the first incidents when the show introduced audiences to themes of the supernatural and the sci-fi.

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6. Max’s escape from Vecna

In season 4, episode 4, Max realizes that she does not have a lot of time left as Vecna is after her. She decides to visit the grave of her step-brother Billy and has a heart-to-heart moment with him. While Nancy and Robin are trying to find a way to escape from the clutches of Vecna, the boys decide to give Max her moment with Billy. However, things take a turn for the worse, as Max goes into a trance and enters Vecna’s world.

The scene is one of the most famous scenes in the series, as Max begins to levitate. Finally, Robin and Nancy inform them that she needs to hear something that would ignite happy memories and the boys put on her favorite song, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. Max is able to hear that song and think about all the beautiful moments she had with her friends. This allows her to free herself from Vecna’s grasp and in one of the most beautiful shots, she runs away from him, as the music is building to a crescendo.

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7. Billy’s sacrifice

In season 3, episode 8, all the gang members are inside the Starcourt Mall and must fight off for one last time. However, things take a turn for the worse, as Billy arrives, still controlled by the Mind Flayer and wreaks havoc upon everyone. But Eleven decides to share a moment with him and shows him a memory of him with his mother. This reminds him that before the rude and arrogant person that he has become, he is a sweet and hopeful kid at heart.

The memory flashback works and Billy is thankful to Eleven for helping him take him back to a time with his mother. When the Mind Flayer decides to attack Eleven, he heroically comes in between and sacrifices himself to save Eleven. Max is horrified at what has happened. The scene is pivotal in the series as Billy was shown as a rebel in the second season and a villain in the third. However, this scene serves as his redemption.

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8. Mike’s heroic sacrifice for his friend

In season 1, episode 6 of Stranger Things, the boys have found Eleven and are trying to find her identity. All of them are on their bikes and going somewhere, when Dustin’s bullies arrive on the scene and corner them. The bullies get a hold of Dustin and force Mike to jump off the cliff if he wants his friend safe. Mike proves that even at a young age, he knows the value of friendship and decides to take the plunge. The scene slowly builds, until Mike falls off the cliff.

However, when Dustin and his bullies go over to see, they find out that Mike has not hit the ground and instead, is levitating in mid-air. By some unseen force, he is brought back up. It is revealed that it was Eleven’s powers that had saved Mike. She injures the bullies and saves both Dustin and Mike. This is an important scene as viewers are able to see Eleven’s powers for the first time in action. It is also the scene, which creates a bond of trust between Eleven and the boys.

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9. Steve saves Nancy and Jonathan

In season 1, episode 8, Steve has undergone an entire redemption arc. He started as an arrogant high school jock, who only cares about parties and girls and is annoyed when Nancy begins to get close to Jonathan. He badmouths her and it seems that his character is nothing more than an annoying side character. However, things take a turn and Steve turns out to be one of the most trusted and lovable members of the gang.

When he comes to know about the dangerous creatures that are wreaking havoc upon Hawkins, he joins Dustin and the other kids and not only fights against the Demogorgon, but also protects the kids. He therefore shows his honest and trustworthy side. Towards the end, when Nancy and Jonathan are stuck inside his house and a Demogorgon begins to attack them, Steve fearlessly fights with him by using his baseball bat and protects them, even though they are not on the best of terms. He puts his own life on the line and proves that he has redeemed himself.

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10. Hopper’s sacrifice

In season 3, episode 8 of Stranger Things, while Billy is terrorizing the gang inside Starcourt Mall, Joyce, Murray, and Hopper are trying to get inside the vault, which is underground and has an open gate to the Upside Down. In one of the most emotional moments of the season, Billy sacrifices his life to save Eleven, as he is finally out of the Mind Flayer’s grasp and decides to do the good thing. On the other hand, Hopper is fighting with an enemy and is stuck in a situation where he must sacrifice himself to close the gate.

He requests Joyce to do what she needs to do, and heartbroken as she is, she closes the gates and Hopper disappears along with it. The season ends on an emotional note as viewers believe that Hopper has died. However, in the next season, it is revealed that he is taken prisoner by the Russians. But the scene is emotional, raw, and tense, and the scene reflects his undying loyalty towards protecting others.