Stranger Things Series Finale, with Brad Birzer (10x7)

About this episode

Dr. Brad Birzer discusses the themes and cultural significance of the Stranger Things series finale.

Dr. Brad Birzer of Hillsdale College analyzes the Stranger Things series finale. Birzer argues that Stranger Things is a mythology of the 1980s, and he thinks the finale episode wraps up the series well. The younger generations of kids, the older generation heading to college, small town life, the Upside Down, hatred of the military, music of the 1980s - we discuss it all! This is definitely a spoiler-ridden episode, so if you haven't watched the finale, do that first. We also get into the controversy around Will Byers 6-minute coming out scene. By the end of the conversation, both Birzer and Herring argue this is a show about friendship and coming-of-age in a certain era of American life mostly lost to the present. Brad Birzer's Wall Street Journal article about Stranger Things (free on Substack): https://substack.com/@bradleyjbirzer/p-187969433 Josh Herring's book Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis's Images of Gender - https://davenantinstitute.org/sons-of-adam-daughters-of-eve

People in this episode

Host: OptimisticCurmudgeon2021

Guest: Dr. Brad Birzer

Topics covered

• Stranger Things
• 1980s mythology
• coming-of-age
• friendship
• small town life
• cultural analysis

Keywords

• Stranger Things
• series finale
• Brad Birzer
• 1980s
• coming out
• friendship
• mythology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hillsdale College, Wall Street Journal, Substack

Books & works: Stranger Things, Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve: C.S. Lewis's Images of Gender

Places: America

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