3 Minutes
Cast Hot Seat: How the Stranger Things actors rank the seasons
When Vanity Fair put the Stranger Things ensemble into a Hot Seat ahead of the release of Stranger Things 5, the conversation got refreshingly honest. Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink and Finn Wolfhard each faced a single, simple prompt: rank the seasons from best to worst. What followed were personal takes that underline how a long-running Netflix phenomenon can mean different things to the cast who grew up on set.
Millie Bobby Brown’s choice stopped the cameras: she put Season 1 at the top for its nostalgia and personal impact, then Season 5, Season 3, Season 4 and surprisingly Season 2 at the bottom. Brown explained Season 1’s appeal as “the most nostalgic” and “the most exciting” chapter of her life, while calling Season 5 visually and narratively spectacular. On Season 2 she joked that she barely remembers much of it — adding an eyebrow-raising aside about fans’ dislike for Episode Seven (the divisive Eleven-centric installment).
Not everyone agreed. Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo pushed back, defending Season 2 as underrated and richer than many give it credit for. That split reflects a broader fan debate: critics and viewers have long argued over pacing and tonal shifts across seasons, especially when a show evolves from a small-town supernatural mystery into high-stakes sci-fi spectacle.
Where Stranger Things sits in the streaming era
Stranger Things helped define Netflix’s 2010s identity alongside other nostalgic, genre-blending hits. Its mix of 1980s pop-culture callbacks, synth-heavy score and character-driven drama echoes patterns seen in series like Twin Peaks or later cult hits on streaming platforms. As the Duffer Brothers expanded the canvas, the show shifted from intimate mystery to blockbuster-scale storytelling — a trajectory similar to other long-running franchises that recalibrate to meet audience expectations.
Behind the scenes trivia: many of the Hawkins exterior scenes were filmed in and around Atlanta, Georgia, and the show is peppered with Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans — callbacks that the cast sometimes only noticed in re-watch sessions. Community reaction has kept the debate alive online, with forums dissecting everything from costume choices to the fate of supporting characters.
Finally, for fans tracking the endgame: Stranger Things 5 continues to roll out in parts — Part 2 releases on December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day) and Part 3 arrives December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve), promising a cinematic finale to the series. Whether you align with Millie’s list or prefer another ranking, these conversations show how a single series can mean many different things to those who make it — and those who love it.
A short note: ranking seasons is as much about personal memory and the cast’s experience as it is about plot. That makes every list worth debating.
Leave a Comment