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10 Easter Eggs Hidden In Stranger Things Season 1

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Eleven Stranger Things season 1 image
Netflix

With season four on the horizon, we visit where it all began to unearth 9 Easter Eggs hidden in Stranger Things Season One.

It’s been a busy four years since we first visited Hawkins, Indiana. The place where we were introduced to a feisty bunch of tweens on the hunt for their missing friend. A journey through a matrix of government conspiracies, interdimensional drama and psychokinetic strangeness.

SPOILERS: If you’re reading this then you’ve probably seen Stranger Things, but if not there are spoilers ahead.

1. Barb and the slug

Nancy’s BBF and somewhat moral compass sadly meets her end in Season 1, and ever since there has been fan outcry for her return.

The hashtag #justiceforbarb still floods any threads or pages to do with the show. Fans have a soft spot for the responsible teen, and a thirst for the wholesome character to return.

What fans may not have noticed is the potential clue left behind. In “Chapter Seven: The Bathtub” Eleven discovers Barbs corpse in the Upside Down with a slug-like creature hanging out of her mouth. One much like the creature Will Byers coughs out as the season closes.

Could this mean that Barb isn’t dead, but merely trapped as a host of the Demogorgon?

Creators the Duffer Brothers may be playing the long game here. Whilst they had a funeral for barb, there was also a point in season one where they found’ Wills body. Perhaps this fan favourite could make her return of sorts, as some kind of Barbogorgon’ to wreak havoc on Hawkins after all.

Reddit users have also suggested a theory tying into this, wondering whether Barb could be the American referenced at the end of season 3.

One user wrote, ‘I think Barb is the American in the Russian prison, not necessarily just Hopper. Hopper will be stuck in the Upside Down at the start of Season 4 as he jumped through the portal before the machine blew up’. With the last season leaving so many loose ends, it’s possible that this small detail from the debut season was a breadcrumb trail all along.

2. D&D Mirroring

The gang are first introduced to us as they conclude a mammoth game of Dungeons & Dragons. Mike, the Dungeon Master unknowingly forwards the gang and audience of what’s to come. “Something is coming. Something hungry for blood. A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness”. Before Dustin responds, “Oh Jesus, we’re so screwed if it’s the Demogorgon”.

The mirroring of fantasy and reality become commonplace. The game is used to establish both the kids as hero’s prepared to fight the fantastical, and introduce the supernatural villain.

During the game, Lucas suggests using a fireball on the monster, another element of foreshadowing as the Demogorgon is ultimately bested by, Jonathan Byers and a lighter.

At the end of their game, Will tells Mike “The Demogorgon, it got me,” as he only rolled a seven. Soon after Will disappears as the game plays out in real life once more, and D&D is used to plant more seeds of the story.

3. Hoppers Sleeve

Stranger Things constantly pays homage to 1980’s pop culture with it’s Easter Eggs. Season One is littered with subtle nods to Steven Spielberg’s filmography.

One small detail comes in the form of on Sheriff Hopper’s uniform. It bears a striking resemblance to Police Chief Brody’s in Spielberg’s debut blockbuster, Jaws.

From the tan colours to the triangle patch, the design of Hopper’s primary outfit is a direct reference to Spielberg’s elasmobranch focused thriller. Will Byers even has a Jaws poster in the background of his room as yet another nod to the director’s work and influence on the time.

4. Holly and the Lights

One of the Stranger Things Easter Eggs comes in “Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly” sees young Holly Wheeler drawn to the randomly twinkling Christmas lights. She wanders away from the oblivious adults and discovers the Demogorgon pushing through Will’s wall.

This is the first time the monster is seen to be interfering with reality from the Upside Down. Holly is used as the inquisitive innocent, a popular horror trope. A direct reference to Spielberg’s sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The 1977 sci-fi drama sees Barry, a young child entranced by mystical lights to reveal more sinister goings-on in that of the arrival of aliens.

Both scenes play on the fears of home invasion and abduction. As the young characters are at fascinated by the supernatural events and victims; despite being at home with their parents.

5. Eleven the Extra-Terrestrial

Contrasting the use of suspense building tactics, Season One has a lot of lighter moments too.

Many of these are in the form of references to Spielberg’s E.T.

Both use humour to tell the story of a group of friends trying to keep their mysterious new friends hidden from adults and the government.

Eleven and E.T are disguised in dresses and wigs to go out in public. They are hidden in the main character’s room and use their abilities to save their friends while riding bicycles. E.T helps his accomplices fly in order to escape capture while Eleven flips a van to help her friends lose the authorities.

6. Joyce and the axe

When Joyce Byers reaches breaking point in season one, she takes an axe to the wall of her home. Believing she can chop her way into the Upside Down and retrieve Will.

The frantic shots of her breaking through the wooden panels mirror Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining.

The framing of both frantic characters trying to get to their children suggests Stranger Things planting a nod to one of horrors iconic moments.

7. Suits and slugs

Ridley Scott’s 1979 space epic Alien is secretly referenced throughout series one. Yet the Easter eggs are easy to miss when you’re engrossed in the plot. Hopper and Joyce walking around the dark parallel realm mirror LV-426, the planet where the Nostromo crew land.

The Demogorgon is even designed to resemble face-huggers. From the hatched eggs and jetsam in the atmosphere of the Upside Down to the slimy slug-like creatures that inhabit their victims.

8. The love of desert

Dustin Henderson embodies everything that made 80’s adventure films so great. He’s the rest bite from the intensity. Whether it’s the comical love of food to the over the top freakouts intense situations.

Dustin’s discovery of the secret stash of chocolate pudding is practically a shot for shot tribute to Chunk finding a freezer full of ice cream in The Goonies. The husky voice and over the top excitement of sweet treats pay respects to an iconic fellow adventurer.

9. The comic book

During the first episode, Will shouts that he wants the comic X-Men #134 form Dustin following his victory in a bike race.

This might be the most delicious Easter Egg of all. That particular issue sees Jean Gray, the powerful psychic of the Xmen become Dark Phoenix. The telepathically and telekinetically unstable badass.

This one minute reference plants the seed of another telekinetic character that was about to be introduced to the show. One who will transform throughout the series to follow.

10. The mirror

The season’s cliff-hanger sees Will stare at himself in the mirror. Just before he coughs a slug-like creature into his sink. All suggesting that this adventure is far from over and he is still haunted by the events of Season One. This is perhaps a reference to David Lynch’s twisted drama, Twin Peaks.

Lynch’s final shot concludes with Agent Dale Cooper staring into the bathroom mirror before smashing his head and cackling maniacally. To highlight the effect that investigating the death of Laura Palmer had on his sanity and indicating there was much more to come.


And that’s our list of Easter Eggs from Stranger Things Season One. What do you think? Did we miss any rumours you’ve spotted? Let us know in the comments below.


Check our more of our Stranger Things articles HERE.

Read IMDB information about Stranger Things HERE.

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TV News

Cobra Kai Season 4 – Review

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Cobra Kai Season Four image
Netflix

Cobra Kai season four is out now on Netflix and the All Valley is back and better than ever. Here’s our review.

SPOILERS: If you’re reading this then you’ve probably seen the show, but if not there are spoilers ahead.

It’s January, and new shows are popping up everywhere. This brings us to the show that I and my friends have been holding our breaths for: the fourth season of the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai! After three seasons, I wondered if there was anything left to mine from the Karate Kid lore or the Johnny/Daniel dynamic. I am happy to report that this might be my favourite season yet! It manages to not only expand upon the universe it has created, but to bring in a new villain, who is so bad that he threatens to outdo even John Kreese!

Alliance

Season four sets us off where the third left off, with Johnny and Daniel having joined forces to fight Cobra Kai. Their friendship arc is the glue that holds this season together. The story focuses largely on whether they will be able to pull it together and make their partnership work. As in previous seasons, their relationship has its ups and downs. The stakes are heightened, however, as the season leads up to the All-Valley Tournament. A bet between the three senseis – Kreese, Daniel, and Johnny – means that losing the All Valley is losing the title of sensei.

This season explores the ways that both Johnny and Daniel work with the kids. It also examines the kids’ struggles as they prepare for the All Valley while dealing with conflict within the ever-changing network of friends and enemies in the dojos. Robbie has left juvenile hall and decided to join up with Cobra Kai as a means of inflicting revenge on both his dad and Daniel. Tori and Sam continue their rivalry. And John Reese’s old friend Terry Silver (of Karate Kid 3 fame) shows up to kick Cobra Kai into high gear.

Daniel’s son, Anthony, who has largely been absent until now, faces his own dilemma when his friends begin bullying Kenny, the new kid in town. This soft-spoken middle school character brings us into the world of the younger kids, setting up yet another storyline. Kenny becomes the victim of a gang of kids (including Anthony), enduring round after round of bullying before Robbie takes him under his wing. After his induction into Cobra Kai, the formerly shy middle-schooler becomes a bully himself.

Shades of grey

This brings me to one of my favourite things about the show. The constant back and forth dynamic between characters makes us feel that anything is possible. There is no black and white in the world of Cobra Kai. Where the Karate Kid told us that Daniel was good, and Johnny was bad, this show gives us a very different point of view. It’s a world where we’re never sure who to root for. In this season, we even see Hawk make a return to the “good guys” side after giving up his spot at Cobra Kai.

With Eagle Fang (Johnny’s new dojo) and Miyagi-Do teaming up, the kids – and the adults – have to learn to work together. Of course, complications ensue. Johnny becomes jealous of what he perceives as Miguel’s preference for Daniel over him. Sam wants to learn both her dad’s karate style and Johnny’s, despite her father’s discouragement. Meanwhile, at Cobra Kai, Kreese is losing his grip on the dojo. His former war buddy, Terry Silver, puts off a rather benign appearance in episode one, growing more and more evil with each episode.

This season is lacking in many of the big fight scenes of the previous seasons, instead choosing to focus their energy on the characters. The All Valley Tournament features several great karate matches and offers a satisfying conclusion to Johnny and Daniel’s arc. In the end, Cobra Kai takes the tournament win, but Johnny and Daniel have reached an understanding.

New champions

Tori defeats Sam to take the women’s All Valley trophy but later overhears her sensei paying off one of the referees. It’s clear that Cobra Kai has pulled yet another fast one. But the season ends on an even more ominous – and unexpected – note. Terry Silver assaults the over-aged former Cobra Kai member, Stingray, sending him to the hospital. He then makes a deal with Stingray to blame the crime on Kreese. We end the season with Kreese in handcuffs, Terry Silver set to take over Cobra Kai, and the future of Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do uncertain. In a last shocking twist, Miguel leaves town in search of his biological father.

Although some may miss the school hallway throw downs, I found this one satisfying in a different way. It just goes to show that the ever-expanding Cobra Kai universe can keep bringing surprises season after season.


CULTURE CROSSING SCORE 9/10


Thank you for reading our review of Cobra Kai season four. Do you agree or disagree with our points or have anything to add? If so, leave us a comment below.


Check out our Hawkeye episode one and two review HERE.

Read IMDB information about Spider-Man: No Way Home HERE.

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