SPOILER ALERT: I talk about Stranger Things. Reader discretion is advised.

Today is January 7. We are one week removed from the releasing (or “dropping” as the youth of America say) of the series finale of the Netflix series Stranger Things.

The antics and adventures of Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Jane, and so on have come to an end.

As far as the plot lines are concerned, all is mostly well with the world. The “Upside Down” is gone. Henry/Vecna and the Mind Flayer have been destroyed. Our heroes have graduated from Hawkins High School and are moving on with the rest of their lives as best as they can.

I started watching the series in late 2016, a few months after its first season was available. The show gained its original interest from viewers as an homage to horror movies from the 1980s, with references to The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Poltergeist, among many others.

Over the past five seasons — over nine years’ time — unbeknownst to me until its conclusion, the show gained a wide following beyond those who remember renting scary movies on a Friday night during their youth in the 1980s and 1990s.

This fandom is so intense that philes are using their collective brain power to convince themselves that there is at least one more “secret” episode (supposedly to be released on January 7, but no such luck from where I sit and type), in order to help them cope with what many feel was a disappointing, underwhelming, and illogical final episode.

This hysteria has shown itself in many media sources, social and otherwise, being portrayed as fact.

Those who have perpetuated this myth or rumor (either for “clicks” or information sharing) have done an . . . interesting . . . job of putting pieces together from the actual final episode that might “fit,” but aren’t really pieces.

They cite things like certain set designs, postures of extras, letters and words that just happen to be next to each other and might spell something, and even alleged Morse code messages, not to mention allegedly cryptic social media posts, some that may have been posted by fans or trolls merely to validate rumors.

For those who enjoyed and embraced the atmosphere that the Duffer Brothers created, more of that world is obviously desired, for various individual reasons.

Notably, more is wanted as to the fate of the character “Eleven” who apparently sacrificed herself to save her friends (and the world?) in the final episode.

Yet, near the conclusion of that installment, a main character (and love interest) proposed an alternate scenario in which “El” may still be alive.

This ambiguity is not good for the hardcore fans who care deeply.

Since the audience was given a choice to decide on their own what happened to “El,” many are taking to social media proclaiming their choice  — the possibly happier option of her being alive — by stating “I believe”.

The power of belief

The media scholar in me is fascinated by the response of many Stranger Things fans.

On the one hand, I applaud the desire and heart to see what they feel is wrong and an injustice and fix or correct it, but . . . on the other hand (Tevye reference) . . . reality is still reality. The series is over, and creative decisions were made. Those were the prerogatives of the creators. Some things have to be accepted, especially when it’s just a TV show (or whatever it’s called when it’s available via a streaming platform).

I like to see that so many people can come together, spread information, and believe something so quickly. However, this sort of energy can be used for the wrong things, too.

When people can unite for good and get everyone on the same page, it’s a truly blessed thing.

Not so much when it’s just for a piece of entertainment — or worse — something that is morally wrong.

The phenomenon of reactions following the Stranger Things finale shows us the power of desire and persuasion, especially in the era of social media and technology.

Just imagine if this kind of energy was applied to messages about evangelization.

What if the hype over the final episode of a series could be transferred to the anticipation for Easter?

What if Easter just wasn’t “enough” for people, they wanted more, and they found that “more” in the Catholic Church?

How do we make the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior more important than the existence status of Jane Ives/Jane Hopper/011/El?

Use it wisely

I’m saying all of these things as a pretty big fan of the show.  

I binged the new seasons’ episodes as quickly as I could when they came out.

We all loved Eddie, but I’m on Team Barb. It was so unfair what happened to her, and she never had a chance to be a hero herself.

I won’t make any friends with this, but I didn’t mind the final episode and don’t think it was as devastating or awful as a lot of people think it was.

The fan reactions are giving me a chance to reflect on the importance of entertainment in my life and the lives of others.

While caring about fictional characters shows heart and empathy, I do wonder if we are short-changing our brothers and sisters made of flesh and blood who could use similar heart and empathy.

Of course, attaching ourselves to made-up people lets us be merely spectators and not have to do anything other than react. (Did anyone else hear “spectators” in Bishop Sheen’s voice, or was that just me?)

Caring about others might mean we have to do something and not just wait for the next episodes of their lives to be unveiled.

Who are the people in your life that you care about so much that it hurts when you don’t know what’s happening to them, or you want to do anything you can to help them?

Of course, I do realize that some people have been hurt deeply by real people and a fictional world is their escape and their solace.

My hope is that they will find healing power in embracing the goodness of art and creativity that comforts them, and that someday they will know the full love of God and others.

As we all lament that the “Conformity Gate” (the alleged secret episode’s title) isn’t real, let’s be thankful and feel blessed for what is real and not strange at all.

Thank you for reading.

I’m praying for you.