This article was originally published on JustStarz
It's safe to say Stranger Things has become one of the most loved shows on TV ever since its premiere on the streaming service giant. And the hit series didn't disappoint with their latest season yet. But with so many hidden meanings and pop culture homages sprinkled throughout the episodes, even the biggest fans are bound to miss some of these unexpected easter eggs. Whether you're all caught up with the famous mystery or have yet to see a single episode, these sneaky hints will have you Netflix and chilling in no time.
This Scene Paid Tribute to an Old Winona Ryder Movie
Possibly one of the more memorable scenes from Stranger Things' newest season is when Hopper, Joyce, and Murray all escape from the Russian prison. Those who have already watched this episode probably noticed those creepy Demogorgons in giant test tubes during this intense scene, right? They're pretty hard to miss. But what you might've missed is how that specific moment mirrors the hit film Alien: Resurrection (1997). And guess who acted in that movie?
None other than Stranger Things' very own Joyce Byers, aka Winona Ryder, starred in Alien: Resurrection. So it's safe to say the similarities in these scenes were no coincidence.
Eddie's Tattoos Foreshadowed His Ending All Along
Eddie's heartbreaking death from Demobat bites was foreshadowed by one of his tattoos. If you look closely, you can see that the heavy metal fan has a tattoo of a small swarm of bats on his arm. The few of us who noticed this detail when it first appeared probably didn't think much of it at the time. He also has a skeleton puppet, which we think foreshadowed him distracting the Demobats by playing Metallica's song, "Master of Puppets."
"Master of Puppets" was released on March 3rd, 1986. Eddie's death occurred around March 22nd, 1986, so he learned the lyrics in just two weeks.
The Hidden Meaning in Will's Science Project
After much speculation and questions from fans, the Duffer Brothers (the creators of Stranger Things) and actor Noah Schnapp all insist Will Byers' sexuality is open to interpretation. But there's potentially a massive clue in Will's science project. As he and Eleven walk to class, you can see Will is carrying a poster about Alan Turing. The genius British scientist was the father of modern-day computing, and his work cracked the Nazi's Enigma code machine, helping the Allies win World War II. And that's not all he's remembered for.
Despite helping win the war, Alan Turing was punished by the British government in 1952 for being gay. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized in 2009, and The Queen pardoned him in 2013, almost 60 years after he took his own life. In recent years, Turing has finally gained the respect and honor he always deserved. Could Will's science project be a hint about his personal life?
Were the Duffer Brothers Promoting Their Next Project - Or Is This a Hint?
The Duffer brothers have confirmed that Max is alive at the end of Season 4, yet "brain dead, blind, and all of her bones are broken." When she is comatose in the hospital, Lucas remains by her bedside and reads Stephen King's novel, The Talisman. The 1984 book tells the tale of a boy who goes on a mission to obtain artifacts in an attempt to save his mother's life.
The Duffer Brothers are huge Stephen King fans and are in the process of adapting The Talisman into a television series as we speak. So we've got a feeling that Lucas reading this particular book is both a little promo for the creative geniuses' next project and a hint as to what lies ahead for Lucas if he decides to help Max come back to herself in the next season.
Eddie Wasn't Holding up Just Any Old CD
Remember when Eddie rummaged around looking for some music? Not content with Madonna, Blondie, David Bowie, or The Beatles, he screamed, "This is music!" Well, the cassette he held as he said that was British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's 1983 album, Piece of Mind. The band's mascot was a weird-looking zombie demon called Eddie, and he appeared on many album covers and even on the tail wing of the band's Boeing 747.
The Stranger Things crew used both the name of the album and the demon mascot (named Eddie) to foreshadow this season's events.
Dustin's Creative Get-Up Was No Coincidence
Did you know that Dustin's outfit––the one he wears in The Upside Down with Eddie, Steve, Nancy, and Robin––mirrors Jed Eckert's outfit in Red Dawn? If you haven't seen John Milius' Red Dawn, the story follows a motley crew of American high school kids who resist occupation using guerilla warfare tactics after the Soviet Union (and Cuba and Nicaragua) start World War III by invading the USA. And it just so happens that Patrick Swayze sported basically the same outfit later worn by our beloved Dustin.
Jennifer Grey, plus a young Charlie Sheen, was starring alongside Dirty Dancing's Patrick Swayze in this 1984 film.
This Moment Was an Easter Egg Inside an Easter Egg
When Eddie asks Max if she has a bandana or ski mask, the redhead gives him a Michael Myers mask. Not only is this one of Stranger Things' several references to John Carpenter's Halloween (1978), but it's also its own Stranger Things' easter egg inside an easter egg, kind of like a Russian doll. In Season 2, Max wore the same Michael Myers mask to scare Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will while out trick-or-treating in their Ghostbusters costumes.
So it was a kind of full-circle moment when Eddie used it to help the crew.
Why This Might Not Be the Last We See of Eddie
While Eddie tried to ward off the Demobats with Metallica, the song playing a bit later during his final conversation with Dustin was Moby's "When It's Cold I'd Like to Die." And it's not the first time this track has shown up in the series. It was also used in Season 1 when Joyce and Hopper find Will in The Upside Down and try to save him as Hopper experiences flashbacks of his daughter, Sara's death.
Could this be a clue that Eddie will survive, just like Will? Or was this the end of him, like Hopper's late daughter? Thanks to this Easter egg (and other clues), there's a great fan theory about Eddie's death. He died from Demobat bites, and in Dungeons & Dragons, Kas the Bloody-Handed becomes a vampire, so this might not be the last we've seen of Eddie. He might just be a little... different the next time he comes around.
This Tribute to "Halloween" Predicts Vecna's Fate
When the courageous trio of Robin, Steve, and Nancy bravely attack Vecna by shooting at him and throwing Molotov cocktails in his general direction, the fearsome creature flies out of the Creel house, landing in the yard. Vecna's dead body burns on the grass, just like serial killer Michael Myers' lifeless body did in the slasher flick Halloween. In both cases, their "dead" bodies disappear because they somehow end up surviving.
So we can rest assured that Vecna is not dead and that the Duffer Brothers love classic slasher films.
Steve's Family Dreams Already Came True
Remember back when Steve Harrington was your average run-of-the-mill unlikeable jock? Well, the dude's come a long way. He finally opened up to Nancy about how he saw his future panning out and talked about how he always thought he would have a really, really big family. And when he says big, he really means it as he went on to describe: "A full brood of Harringtons. Like five, six kids."
Steve may not realize it, but he's already a father figure as he looks out for exactly six children: Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max.
Vickie's Style Was Inspired by the Cult Classic "Sixteen Candles"
Stranger Things is littered with eighties references because the show's creators were born smack bang in the middle of the second golden age of film and TV. Some of the Duffer Brothers' favorite pop culture refs come from filmmaker John Hughes. One example is Robin spotting Vickie at the gun store. Vickie's brown jacket, hat, and haircut are in homage to Molly Ringwald's look in John Hughes' Sixteen Candles (1984).
And we got to say, Vickie totally pulled off the Sixteen Candles look.
Those Friday Night Dates Never Seem to Happen
It turns out Stranger Things loves to include easter egg references to its own show. Remember when Lucas and Max decided to plan Friday night movie night? Well, this tender moment harks back to when Jopper (that's a nickname we made for Joyce and Hopper, in case you're not up to speed) arranged their (non) date for Enzo's on Friday night back in Season 3.
Sadly, they never got to go on a real date at Enzos because Hopper was unexpectedly captured. And Lucas and Max didn't get to go on their date, either. Sad!
What's up With the Upside Down Rainbow?
While the show's Rainbow Room might be an LGBTQ+-friendly statement, eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed the colored room foreshadows a later event. Some of the rainbows on the wall during Eleven and One's showdown are the wrong way around. El's rainbows are your average arrangement, with red at the top and purple at the bottom. But One's rainbow is upside down, with purple on top and red at the bottom.
But what does it mean? Do the topsy turvy stripes foreshadow that Eleven is about to send him to The Upside Down? We certainly think so.
The Tiny Dancer Inside the Music Box
When Robin enters Nancy's room for the first time, she looks at Nancy's ballerina jewelry box and utters the line, "Holy sh*t, there's a tiny ballerina in there!" If you're getting flashbacks, that's because Eleven did the same thing all the way back in Season 1 when she was exploring the Wheelers' house. Well, El didn't say "Holy sh*t" because she was too young to swear like a trooper!
But she certainly showed just as much enthusiasm and amazement for the tiny ballerina as Robin did.
Stranger Things Dipped Into Arnold Schwarzenegger's Old Props Box
Remember that sword Hopper used to slay the Demogorgon in the Russian prison? It was the same sword Arnold Schwarzenegger wielded in Conan the Barbarian (1982). Like, literally the same exact blade. According to David Harbour, season 4's props department got their paws on the actual sword from John Milius' fantasy epic. It first showed up in S04E07, when Enzo unlocked the cabinet filled with weapons before the inmates went to battle with the Demogorgon.
And while David Harbour lost 80 pounds and shed his dad bod for season four, he's no bodybuilding champion like Arnie. As a result, he described the sword as "heavy as hell."
Why Schwarzenegger's Old Sword Might Be the Key to Killing Vecna
But that weapon-filled cabinet isn't the first time that famous sword is referenced. The Sword of Kas plays a significant role in defeating Vecna in Dungeons & Dragons. The blade was wielded by Kas, who served Vecna until he betrayed him, and Mike mentions this battle between Kas and Vecna in S04E01, "The Hellfire Club." So we have a feeling this sword might be the key to finally ending Vecna.
Fun fact: Marvel's X-Men comics are another influence on the show, and The Hellfire Club name comes from there! In the comics, the club members try to use Jean Grey's Phoenix powers as a weapon, paralleling Eleven's situation.
How Did a Hulk Hogan Shirt End up in the Soviet Union?
After escaping the Russian prison, Joyce and Hopper change into fresh clothes. This is because Axe body spray wasn't available in the pre-Glasnost 1980s Soviet Union. But the quick costume change also provided yet another chance for an eighties throwback for the 80s-loving Duffer Brothers. Joyce and Hopper change into WWF (now WWE) wrestler Hulk Hogan T-shirts. But how on earth did such all-American contraband goods get into the Soviet Union?
Though it's not explicitly mentioned, we can assume the contraband Hulkster tees arrived in the country thanks to Russian Smuggler Yuri Izmailov.
Everyone's Hair Is an Easter Egg
Almost last, but by no means least, give it up for Stranger Things' hair department, as nearly everyone's hair is an easter egg. Mike's mullet copies Eddie's while Eleven tries to copy Joyce Byer's short shag. Lucas's hair is like late 80s actor/rapper Kid'n'Play, Nancy's hair resembles Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing (1987), and Chrissy's hair resembles the late, great Olivia Newton-John's hair in Grease (1978). And it doesn't end there.
Jason's hair is like Tom Cruise's in Risky Business (1983), Robin's resembles Ally Sheedy's in The Breakfast Club (1985), and Vickie's hair is just like Molly Ringwald's hair-do in the same movie.
Family Video Was A Real Rival To Blockbuster Video - And Only Recently Shut Down
Blockbuster Video was famous for renting VHS in the 1980s and later DVDs and video games in the 1990s. In the 2000s, streaming and downloads led to the store's bankruptcy. But did you know Family Video was also an actual video store? It was founded in the late 1970s and mainly served rural areas like Hawkins, Indiana. Family Video outlasted its bigger rival as its last store only closed in March 2022.
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed some classic movie posters and standees in Family Video. They include Weird Science (1985), The Man With One Red Shoe (1985), Basket Case (1982), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985), Pete’s Dragon (1977), and Gremlins (1984).
A Season 4 Throwback to Season 2
When Lucas asks Max if he's a part of her happiest memories, the young redhead replies: "That's presumptuous of you." This is a callback to the first proper conversation she had with Lucas and Dustin in Season 2. And if you've forgotten this interplay, it went: "We know where to get the full-sized candy bars. We figured you'd want in," and Max replied, yep, you guessed it, "That's presumptuous of you."
And the good news is that Max's happiest memory was being invited to go trick or treating with the crew. They accepted her into their group when she was new in town.
Why "Running Up That Hill" Was the Perfect Soundtrack
Season 4's most thrilling moment came as Max escaped Vecna in the Upside Down. As you already know, the accompanying song is Kate Bush's 1985 hit "Running Up That Hill." The song introduced a whole new generation to the hugely talented, slightly eccentric British singer-songwriter. And there's a little-known reason why it seems that this amazing song was always meant to accompany this intense scene.
But we bet you didn't know that the music video for "Running Up That Hill" also features Kate Bush running through a nightmarish red hellscape. Reminds you of anything?
The Meaning Behind the Red Dragon
Remember when El asked Will to draw a painting for her? We, the audience, got to see the artwork in its full glory when Will unveiled it to an impressed Mike. But did you know that the red dragon in the painting isn't any old red dragon? He's named Borys, the Sorcerer King of Ur Draxa, and is one of the most powerful creatures in the Dungeons and Dragons universe.
Legend says Borys' scales glowed red with the heat of volcanic lava, and he was so ferocious that clouds gathered beneath his wings like a storm of fire.
This Scene Was a Shot-For-Shot Remake of a Hit Horror Flick
Remember when Nancy and Robin paid a visit to Pennhurst Asylum and walked down the corridor to see Victor Creel in his jail cell? Well, that's not just a homage; it's almost a shot-for-shot remake of FBI Agent Clarice Starling meeting Hannibal Lecter for the very first time in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). As they approach, Victor is scraping his fingernails along the desk in homage to Robert England's Freddy Krueger.
Although Pennhurst Mental Hospital is fictional, the spooky asylum was inspired by a real Pennsylvania sanitarium. Opened in 1908 as the Eastern Pennsylvania State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, it closed down in 1987, just after the events of Stranger Things. It is now a haunted house because, of course, it is!
Did You Recognize This Nod to Season 1?
Remember when Dr. Martin Brenner carried Eleven in his arms after Sullivan and his army attacked the Nina Project? Well, the scene is a callback to the time he carried a much smaller Eleven through Hawkins Lab all the way back in Season 1. The aftermath saw the evil megalomaniac genius (played by Matthew Modine) taken down by a sniper shooting from a helicopter, and we all know what Eleven did to that helicopter!
But the two massive questions on everybody's lips are: is Dr. Brenner really dead, and could he really be Eleven's biological Papa?
Henry Creel and Will Had Parallel Experiences
When Vecna tells El he created the Mind Flayer after being banished to The Upside Down, we see Henry Creel drawing the Mind Flayer. This is a callback to Season 2, back when Will was possessed and sketched the same nightmare-inducing creature. If you've ever wondered about the inspiration for Vecna, look to Stephen King's killer clown Pennywise, pinheaded cenobite Hellraiser, and Freddy Kreuger from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
When it comes to Vecna invading people's memories, A Nightmare on Elm Street is the biggest inspiration. And, of course, Freddy himself––actor Robert Englund––plays Victor Creel.
Spielberg's Sprawling Influence
Stephen King isn't the only Stevie Boy who influenced Stranger Things. Steven Spielberg's movies Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978), E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982), The Goonies (1985), and Poltergeist (1980--okay, he only exec-produced) also help create the show's universe. For instance, when Lucas and Max explore Victor Creel's old house, Lucas jokes that if he hits the right piano keys, a secret door will probably open, just like in Goonies.
Another example can be seen when Dustin calls Steve from the school phone booth; someone has scrawled the line "E.T. phone home" in graffiti. Spielberg, King, and John Carpenter are probably the biggest influences on the look and feel of the show.
What Watchmen Could Tell Us About Vecna
Who watches The Watchmen? The Duffers do, that's who! Henry Creel's transformation into Number One/Vecna parallels Jon Osterman becoming Dr. Manhattan, right down to the blue-lit room and the same music from the same scene in Zack Snyder's 2009 film. Vecna is obsessed with time, and his visions often show grandfather clocks. Jon Osterman was obsessed with time since his father was a watchmaker. Sylar from Heroes was also a watchmaking bad guy!
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's seminal graphic novel was set in the 1980s and saw the USA and USSR team up to try to take down the omnipotent Dr. Manhattan. Could that be a clue to Vecna's fate in Stranger Things?
Everyone Has a "bad Feeling About This"
When Joyce, Hopper, and Murray try to take down the Demogorgons in the Russian prison, Murray says he thinks this might be a really bad idea. If you recognize Murray's line, that's because it comes from Star Wars. Han Solo first utters the line in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), and Princess Leia and C-3PO repeat the line in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). It also shows up in the prequels and sequels.
While playing Dungeons and Dragons, Dustin tells Eddie, "Never tell me the odds," which is another reference to a Han Solo line in The Empire Strikes Back.
Some Things Never Change
When Eleven dives deep into Max's memory, she is treated to a vision of Max flicking the bird to a fellow skateboarder. And if you think you remember young Max flipping off some other people during her time on Stranger Things, you're right! The feisty star can be seen doing exactly the same thing in both Season 2 and Season 3. We guess some things just never change.
We just love how consistent Max is. Nothing but respect.
"Hicks, Take the Upper Level"
When the army arrives at the Nina Project to try and kill Eleven, you can hear that one of the soldiers is named Hicks, and he is ordered to search the upper level. This is a direct nod to a piece of dialogue in Aliens (1986) when Lieutenant Gorman tells Bill Paxton's character Corporal Hicks to "take the upper level." What an extraordinary, tiny easter egg. It just shows the Duffer Brother's attention to detail.
And that's not Stranger Things' only link to Aliens. As well as Winona's appearance in Alien 4, Paul Reiser––who plays Dr. Sam Owens––also starred in James Cameron's seminal sci-fi sequel.
Stranger Things Loves Stephen King, and Stephen Loves It Back
Stranger Things isn't just about 80s throwbacks. The Netflix show also features pop culture references from the 1970s, too! When Vecna finally infiltrates Max's good memories of The Snow Ball dance, it looks just like the prom scene from the Stephen King movie Carrie (1976). But exploding, blood-filled balloons aren't the only similarity to Brian DePalma's classic horror film; just like Eleven, Carrie White is telekinetic and badly bullied by her classmates.
Horror maestro Stephen King took to Twitter to call season four "really cool," and the author has previously called the show "balls to the wall entertainment."
Satanic Panic Was a Real Thing in the 1980s
In season 4's opening episode, Eddie reads a Newsweek article about Dungeons and Dragons being seen as a gateway to Satan worship. This Satanic Panic was a real fear in the 1980s, and the nation was gripped by over 12,000 unsubstantiated cases of Satanic ritual abuse. The media blamed the rise of heavy metal music, horror films, and fantasy stories, labeling them "un-Christian" and "un-American." But Satanic Panic never really went away.
The unhinged conspiracy theory continues today as some people still believe a global Satanic cult of the powerful and elite abduct children for human sacrifices.
The Duffer Brothers Love Some Quentin Tarantino
After Robin, Steve, and Nancy are saved from those terrifying tentacles in The Upside Down, Robin mentions that divine intervention was the only reason they survived. The line is a direct nod to a hail of bullets missing Jules and Vincent in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (1994). After miraculously surviving, Jules––aka Samuel L. Jackson–– utters the infamous line, "This was divine intervention. Do you know what divine intervention is?"
And that's not the only Pulp Fiction link. The actress who plays Robin Buckley is Maya Hawke, and her real-life mom Uma Thurman was the star of the 1995 film.
Patch It Up
If you went to high school in the mid-to-late1980s, every class featured at least one Eddie Munson. Looking like the fifth member of Bon Jovi, they all played D&D, smoked cigarettes, and worshipped Satan at the local mall. They also wore acid-washed jeans and denim jackets covered with patches and badges. Eddie's "very metal" jacket features Motorhead, WASP, and Dio patches.
Fun fact: the huge backpatch is the Real McCoy, and it was donated to the show by the late singer's widow, Wendy Dio.
Why Not Borrow From the Best?
On the subject of Quentin Tarantino, when BFFs Steve and Nancy unload the donation from the car, the shot looking up at them is an homage to QT's trunk shot he used in numerous movies. The low-angle shot shows up in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 (2003), and the vastly underrated Death Proof (2007). The trunk shot also appears in From Dusk til Dawn (1995).
That said, Tarantino only wrote and starred in From Dusk til Dawn. Robert Rodriguez directed the ingenious heist gone wrong slash vampire movie.