History YMMV / StrangerThings

* {{Narm}}: Creator/CaryElwes does a fine job as the slimy mayor Larry Kline, but his reaction to Hopper breaking his nose stands out as hilarious in an otherwise intense scene. His delivery is definitely what sells it.
--->'''Larry:''' MY NOSE! YOU BROKE MY GODDAMN NOSE!

** Jennifer Hayes cries at Will's funeral during season 1 and never appears again. Many fans portray her as [[PuppyLove having secretly had feelings for Will but never confessing]]. She's also commonly portrayed in fics as a LovableAlphaBitch and a TokenGoodTeammate among the popular kids who either acts as a potential love interest for Will or a [[TheBeard Beard]] who helps him hide his sexuality.

** Joyce Byers maiden name is commonly assumed to be Horowitz, the last name of her actress ''Creator/WinonaRyder''.

** It seems that many fans have interpreted Will as being gay. This theory was addressed by Noah Schnapp, who made an Instagram post arguing that the question sort of misses the point because it doesn't ''matter'' if someone is gay or not – even if he was gay, it would change nothing about him, and that one of the show's biggest messages is that we should treat people with kindness regardless of who they are. His bullies calling him several gay slurs is only meant to depict an accurate portrayal of bullying at that age and era (as TheEighties wasn't exactly the most LGBT-friendly of times). [[spoiler:Season 3 seems to confirm this, with Mike directly calling him out on the fact that he's never been into girls, although we still haven't directly seen Will get romantic feelings for a boy. At least until Season 4, where it's made clear (albeit implicitly) that Will is in love with Mike, but doesn't have the courage to tell him.]]

** Along the same lines, not long after it was shown that Neil Hargrove was an AbusiveDad towards Billy, speculation started to spring forth whether or not Billy is an ArmoredClosetGay. Between his constant [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday bragging of his sex life]], inability to actually hold down any type of long term relationship, his [[HoYay obsession with Steve]], and his dad demeaning him with homophobic slurs, it's led to some taking this stance with this character.

* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Steve may be the best example of the show. There is his canon relationship with Nancy and then we have [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Jonathan]], [[FoeYayShipping Billy]], [[VitriolicBestBuds Robin]] and [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight Eddie]]. The fact that the latest three were introduced in different seasons could make a RunningGag that every new character is expected to be shipped with Steve somehow.

* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Steve may be the best example of the show. There is his canon relationship with Nancy and then we have [[Opposites Attract Jonathan]], [[FoeYay Billy]], [[VitriolicBestBuds Robin]] and [[ShipsThatPassInTheNight Eddie]]. The fact that the latest three were introduced in different seasons could make a RunningGag that every new character is expected to be shipped with Steve somehow.
* LGBTFanbase: While [[spoiler:Robin]] is the only canonical LGBTQ+ character thus far [[note]]At least on the show. The novels ''Suspicious Mind'' has Ken, a gay medium and ''Rebel Robin'' has gay teacher Mr Hauser[[/note]], the show has been popular from the start with gay, trans and gender-nonconforming audiences for its familiar themes of social rejection, nonconformity and abuse. The young cast is largely comprised of women with masculine appearances (Barb's "{{Butch|Lesbian}}" fashion sense, Eleven's [[BaldHeadOfToughness shaved head]], Max being a {{tomboy}}) and boys who are bullied for having un-masculine interests, and there are increasingly unsubtle hints that Will might be gay (in Season 1, his mother mentions that he's often called "queer" as an insult and in Season 3, Mike outright asks him why he's not interested in girls). [[spoiler: Practically confirmed in Season 4, as Will gives Mike subtle hints about his feelings for him. Mike doesn't pick up on it, as he believes Will is talking about Mike and Eleven's relationship, but the audience gets a few more clues.]]

* LauncherOfAThousandShips: Steve may be the best example of the show. There is his canon relationship with Nancy and then we have Jonathan, Billy, Robin and Eddie. The fact that the latest three were introduced in different seasons could make a RunningGag that every new character is expected to be shipped with Steve somehow.

** Byler: [[Byler ShipTease]]

* ShipsThatPassInTheNight: The pairing of Steve and Kali has amassed a surprisingly big number of shippers for two characters who have never even interacted.

** After Steve's [[spoiler:{{Jerkass}} side really comes out via him both SlutShaming Nancy and going out of his way to insult Jonathan's family, it's ''extremely'' satisfying to see Jonathan give Steve an absolutely brutal beatdown, even if he gets arrested afterwards.]]

** [[spoiler:Dustin straight-up ''[[TookALevelInBadass killing]]'' the sociopathic Russian TortureTechnician who was torturing Robin and Steve by [[LaserGuidedKarma electrocuting him with his own cattle prod.]]]]

** After cruelly rejecting Dustin at the Snow Ball, it’s extremely satisfying when resident Hawkins AlphaBitch Stacy have her drink explode in her face after sneering at Eleven and Max.

** [[spoiler: Although he probably didn't really deserve it, Number Two being tortured by Brenner can still be rather satisfying after the humiliation and bullying he inflicted on Eleven.]]
** [[spoiler:While he has yet to face the consequences of all the things he's done so far, seeing Sullivan stranded with his convoy at the base thanks to the copter crashing on the vehicles and being forced to watch El and the others escape is satisfying enough for the moment.]]
** After watching him threaten to break her arms, [[spoiler:seeing Andy gets hit in the groin and then face by Erica is deeply satisfying to watch.]]

** Bileven: [[FoeYayShipping Billy/Eleven]]

** Byler: Will '''By'''ers and Mike Whee'''ler'''

* FanDislikedExplanation: TheReveal in Season 4 that [[spoiler: Vecna created the Mind Flayer and turned the once barren Upside Down into a dark reflection of Hawkins]] is contentious as many feel like it robs the place out of its mystery and [[spoiler: gives an underwhelming human origin to an EldritchAbomination.]]

** ''The First Shadow'' reveals that [[spoiler: Season 4's BigBad Vecna was once an but otherwise decent kid named Henry Creel who got possessed and manipulated by the Mind Flayer into killing his family which caused him to spiral into nihilism and misanthropy. After this reveal, you can't help but feel bad for Henry in spite of the horrors he does later in life.]]

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic:
** While the panic and desperation Joyce feels in Season 1 -- not only in trying to find her missing son, but also for how [[CassandraTruth no one believes her]] when she tries to tell them of the supernatural elements of his disappearance -- is very justified, her constant hysteria pushed her into this territory for some viewers. Fortunately she hardens up with every passing season.
** Similarly, Hopper to those who aren't fond of his short temper and tendencies to get violent with people in order to further his investigations. His abrasive nature continues into Season 2, in which his harsh treatment of Eleven as she's in his care comes off as emotionally abusive. Season 3 is generally considered to be when Hopper is at his worst, as his abrasiveness is [[{{Flanderization}} blown into]] full-on aggression at the drop of a hat. He acts very possessive over Eleven, threatens Mike into staying away from her and is condescending and belittling towards Joyce despite trying to pursue a romantic relationship with her. His violent fury when she stands him up on their date (under the incorrect assumption that she was with another man) is somewhat PlayedForLaughs but was too much for many viewers, who felt that it was veering dangerously close to DomesticAbuse. This isn't helped by the fact that the audience is expected to sympathize with his reasons for acting this way despite these reasons not being explained in any depth until the end of the season finale, making it hard to understand why he's being such an asshole beyond "Mike is annoying and he's pissed at Joyce".
** Early on, it may seem a little hard to feel sorry for Nancy's overwhelming concern for Barb after her disappearance, considering that she did have her best friend personally drive her to a party Barb didn't want any part of, and then went to blow Barb off to have sex with Steve afterwards. This causes Barb to stay behind out of concern for Nancy's well-being due her having been drinking during the party, leading to Barb being taken and killed by the monster shortly afterwards. Granted, Nancy had no way of knowing that a monster was lurking around the town kidnapping people, and the timing of the attack was unfortunate, but Nancy's actions and initial dismissal of Barb did indirectly lead to her being taken and killed by the monster. She becomes much more sympathetic come Season 2, where she acknowledges all of this, feels guilty about it, and redeems herself for it by getting [[MemeticMutation justice for Barb.]]
** On the flip side to the above, there are viewers who didn't feel much sympathy for Barb herself in this situation. While her concerns about Nancy going to Steve's party, drinking beer, and possibly getting asked for sex by Steve were certainly valid, some viewers feel they weren't actually out of Barb's concern for Nancy's wellbeing but out of fear that Nancy could get in with the "cool" crowd and thus become too cool to hang out with ''her'', and Barb didn't want Nancy to change herself too much so that she could still be ''her'' friend. Barb's line of "Nancy, this isn't you" in response to Nancy making her own decision based on what she desired and thought was best for herself at the time (to have sex with Steve) is often cited, as is Barb sitting around moping by the pool even when she was told by Nancy that she could go home at least twice (which ends up leading to her death) and her attitude towards Nancy wanting to lose her virginity coming off as SlutShaming.
** Mike has been guilty of this in each season post-Season 1. In Season 2, he's mean to Max because he felt she was trying to replace Eleven (even though Max had never even met her), and is cold to Lucas and Dustin, two of his oldest friends, just for wanting to befriend her. In Season 3, he and El regularly ditch their friends to go make out, even when Dustin has ''just'' returned from camp. When Will calls him on it, he just responds that it's a typical part of growing up; ignoring that Will's issue wasn't that they had girlfriends, but because Mike was constantly ditching him and when he ''was'' hanging with them, he was clearly only doing so out of obligation or because El wasn't available. And in Season 4, he acts cold to Will and has barely written or called to him, in marked contrast to how often he speaks to El - and when he's first called on it, he says it's ''Will's'' fault for [[NeverMyFault not making more of an effort]]. Later, he blames the bullies' attack on Eleven at the rink on Will by accusing him of acting depressed and "ruining the whole day."
** For some viewers, the attempt at RedemptionEqualsDeath for Billy in the Season 3 finale doesn't land, with critics arguing that Billy didn't redeem himself at all, and deep down was the same sociopath that we'd seen in Season 2. Part of the problem is that the things some fans were upset with Billy over (nearly running over three kids out of sheer pettiness, his emotional abuse of Max, beating Steve into unconsciousness, etc.) were glossed over, with Billy never really making an attempt to atone for his vile behavior prior to his death.
** Karen Wheeler in Season 3 falls into this since she considering cheating on her husband with Billy (who is roughly ''the same age as her daughter Nancy''). Granted her husband is lazy and unappreciative and she ''does'' ultimately change her mind, but there's still the fact that she, a grown woman, thought about cheating on her husband with a high school student.

** Chrissy Cunningham, who like Barb was immediately well-liked by the fandom, owing to her being a NiceGirl who's a {{Moe}} and TheWoobie, but in particular her cute dynamic with Eddie, which manages to turn a ''drug deal'' into a surprisingly cute moment. Unfortunately, like Barb, she doesn't live very long, but some were quick to headcanon ways she could somehow come back to life. Notably, the Duffer Brothers themselves [[https://tvline.com/2022/06/05/stranger-things-season-4-death-duffer-brothers-regret/ admitted]] to having had regrets about killing the character after filming all her scenes and seeing the finished product.

** ''The First Shadow'' reveals that [[spoiler: Season 4's BigBad Vecna was once a weird but otherwise normal kid named Henry Creel who got possessed and manipulated by the Mind Flayer into killing his family which caused him to spiral into nihilism and misanthropy. After this reveal, you can't help but feel bad for Henry in spite of the horrors he does later in life.]]

* CryForTheDevil: The adolescent Demogorgon that the Soviets vivisected. Despite its parent being a serious threat, Hopper can't help but feel bad for its predicament, which is why he performs a MercyKill.

* IKnewIt:
** Very few fans actually believed that [[spoiler:Hopper was really dead]] at the end of Season 3, and moreover, many of them also believed that [[spoiler:he was somehow transported to the USSR by the explosion that closed the Gate and seemingly killed him]]. Sure enough, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB2GYwbIAlM first teaser]] for Season 4 revealed that [[spoiler:he's actually still alive at a Soviet labor camp, even though the show itself reveals he survived the explosion and was captured, not transported by the explosion]].
** A popular fan theory was that [[spoiler:the Mind Flayer {{was once|a man}} the child labeled One by the Hawkins National Laboratory. This turned out correct, though not exactly how they envisioned it; the Flayer was created by One/Henry/Vecna to be an extension of himself.]]

** [[Series/StrangerThings Show]]:
*** [[spoiler:[[Characters/StrangerThingsVecna Vecna]], born Henry Creel, is the [[TheManBehindTheMan human mind behind]] the [[Characters/StrangerThingsTheUpsideDown eldritch Upside Down]]. A normal child in a loving household who nevertheless [[EnfantTerrible grew up]] as a [[MisanthropeSupreme hateful sociopath]], Henry [[MindRape mind-raped]] his own family before murdering his mother and older sister, leaving his father Victor alive to take the fall for his atrocities, where Victor would go mad and scratch out his own eyes. Remanded to the care of Dr. Martin Brenner and becoming his first patient--thus known as 001 or simply "One"--Henry manipulated fellow psychic [[Characters/StrangerThingsEleven Eleven]] and convinced her to sever the chip inhibiting his abilities, allowing Henry to massacre not only every orderly and guard in Brenner's lab, but every psychic child as well. Banished to the Upside Down, Vecna constructed [[Characters/StrangerThingsTheMindFlayer the Mind Flayer]], meaning every atrocity--from the murder of numerous well-loved supporting characters, to the massacres at Hawkins Laboratory, and of 30 random innocent people in 1985--can be laid at his feet. Vecna ultimately seeks to let the Upside Down spill into Earth and consume all humanity as the culmination of his misanthropy, and throughout Season 4, he torments, mind-rapes, and murders numerous innocent teenagers with their worst fears, ultimately torturing Max Mayfield into catatonia and possible brain death.]]
*** Season 4: [[WardensAreEvil Warden Melnikov]], the dictator of Kamchatka prison, is a petty {{sadist}} who enjoys having his inmates subjected to horrible labor with regular beatings and tortures. Those who are condemned or "worn out" are [[FedToTheBeast thrown to a captive Demogorgon]]. Deciding on a new spectacle, Melnikov organizes [[GladiatorGames gladiator matches]] for the sick thrill of watching the prisoners try to fight back against the Demorgogon before being torn apart.

** Vecna's backstory as revealed in ''The First Shadow'' has heavily split the fanbase, with some feeling it fleshes out his character and makes him more sympathetic, while others hate it for coming out of nowhere and retconning his portrayal in Season 4, particularly since it comes in a hard-to-see play rather than the show itself.

* UnintentionallySympathetic:
** Lucas is portrayed as being in the wrong for being wary of Eleven, who could very easily hurt all of them if she wanted to, and for initially wanting to deal with her as quickly as possible. In real life, these are all fairly sensible choices, but the show seems to lean on his GenreBlindness to cast him in an unsympathetic light.
** Surprisingly, many viewers seemed to sympathise with Jason, thanks to his sympathetic motive for his evil actions, and were hoping he would see the error of his ways in the end and redeem himself. In particular, his actions in the final episode, many empathise with his perspective of events since, to him, he came across [[spoiler: Max in a trance-like state and had reasons to believe Lucas had her in a trance and was about to kill her.]]

** Mike throughout Season 3 is presented as all-around in the wrong in his relationship with Eleven, despite being fairly justified in nearly every situation. It begins with Eleven dumping him for lying to and avoiding her, despite him only doing this because Hopper point-blank threatened him if he didn't stay away from her. When arguing with Max over the frequent mind reading Eleven does while trying to find the source of the Mind Flayer through Billy, Max is shown as in the right for calling Mike out for not having faith in Eleven, even though Mike is correct that Eleven is pushing herself too far. His complaining of Eleven invading his and others' thoughts is dismissed at once--Eleven merely snarking that she can do as she pleases--when it's a valid concern to have. The idea that he needs to respect Eleven as a partner rather than treat her as a WishFulfilment pet would carry more weight if we actually ''saw'' him doing the latter.

** Similarly, Hopper to those who aren't fond of his short temper and tendencies to get violent with people in order to further his investigations. His abrasive nature continues into Season 2, in which his harsh treatment of Eleven as she's in his care comes off as emotionally abusive. Season 3 is generally considered to be when Hopper is at his worst, as his abrasiveness is [[{{Flanderization}} blown into]] full-on aggression at the drop of a hat. He acts very possessive over Eleven, threatens Mike into staying away from her (which Joyce applauds him for), and is condescending and belittling towards Joyce despite trying to pursue a romantic relationship with her. His violent fury when she stands him up on their date (under the incorrect assumption that she was with another man) is somewhat PlayedForLaughs but was too much for many viewers, who felt that it was veering dangerously close to DomesticAbuse.

* [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation/StrangerThings Alternate Character Interpretation]]

** Neil Nagrove crosses MEH long ago when he [[AbusiveParent constantly abuse Billy and his mom]], molding him into a bully as of present day.

** Though this is a given since Lonnie is a full blown HateSink, but [[NiceGuy Bob Newby]] is a much more popular character with the fandom. Even disregarding the fact that he's played by [[Creator/SeanAstin Samwise Gamgee himself]].
** While Brenner has fans for being a strong villain, many like Dr. Owens more for for acting like the complete opposite of his predecessor, being a compassionate, caring, and selfless person who prioritized the well being of Will and Eleven over the facility and it's goals.

** The big climax of Season 3 stops dead in its tracks so two kids can do a mediocre cover of the theme song from ''Film/TheNeverendingStory''. But the whole thing is played so straight, complete with the original orchestration backing it, and combined with the song being such a beloved piece of nostalgia for the show's main audience becomes hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure.

** The return of the Nancy/Steve/Jonathan LoveTriangle in Season 4 has sharply divided viewers. Many find it to be a waste of time that cheapens the development of all three characters (Nancy and Steve in particular have grown a lot since their breakup while Jonathan spends the entire season in a different state, making the [[ShipToShipCombat rivalry]] between him and Steve come off as rather one-sided and unfair). Others (mostly Stancy shippers) welcome the storyline and are eager to see it finally get resolved in Season 5.