Starcourt Mall – Inspired by Stranger Things

Stranger Things is set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the early 1980s. The nearby Hawkins National Laboratory ostensibly performs scientific research for the United States Department of Energy, but secretly does experiments into the paranormal and supernatural, including those that involve human test subjects. Inadvertently, they have created a portal to an alternate dimension called “the Upside Down”. The influence of the Upside Down starts to affect the unknowing residents of Hawkins in calamitous ways.

The first season begins in November 1983, when Will Byers is abducted by a creature from the Upside Down. His mother, Joyce, and the town’s police chief, Jim Hopper, search for Will. At the same time, a young psychokinetic girl called Eleven escapes from the laboratory and assists Will’s friends, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, in their own efforts to find Will.

The second season is set a year later, starting in October 1984. Will has been rescued, but few know of the details of the events. When it is discovered that Will is still being influenced by entities from the Upside Down, his friends and family learn there is a larger threat to their universe from the Upside Down.

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Joyce Byers – Mom of the Year 1984 : Inspired By Stranger Things

Maybe I am a mess, maybe I’m crazy, maybe I’m out of my mind! But, God help me, I will keep these lights up until the day I die, if I think there’s a chance that Will’s still out there!	”
–Joyce Byers, November 11, 1983

Joyce Byers, portrayed by Winona Ryder, is a major character in the first season. The financially poor single mother of Will and Jonathan Byers, Joyce works as a retail clerk and relies on help from her eldest to make ends meet.

After Will mysteriously disappeared, Joyce was certain that he was communicating with her through the lights in her house. Despite everyone treating her as if she was having a mental breakdown, Joyce refused to believe that Will was dead, even after his alleged corpse was found. Through co-operation with her friend and local police chief Jim Hopper, Will’s friends, and Jonathan, she eventually uncovered the circumstances of her son’s disappearance and entered the Upside Down to rescue him.

A year after the mysterious tragedy of her son, Joyce helps her son with another issue following the events of first season. Towards the end, she, Jonathan and Nancy assisted in removing Will from the possession of the Mind Flayer.

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Mind Flayer : Inspired By Stranger Things

The Mind Flayer, also known as the Shadow Monster or the Brain, is a malevolent entity inhabiting the Upside Down. He was introduced in Stranger Things’s second season, and is considered one of the show’s main antagonists.

The history of the Mind Flayer prior to October 1984 remains a mystery. Exactly how long he had existed for, and how and why he came into existence, is unknown.

In November 1983, an inter-dimensional gate was opened at Hawkins Lab, allowing the Upside Down to begin to spread through. It is not known if the Mind Flayer was present within the Upside Down at this time.

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Hawkins Babysitting Club : Inspired by Stranger Things

“I may be a pretty shitty boyfriend, but it turns out I’m actually a pretty damn good babysitter.”

–Steve Harrington, “The Gate”

Steve Harrington is a recurring character in the first season and a main character in the second season of Stranger Things. He is portrayed by starring cast member Joe Keery.

Steve is a student at Hawkins High School, friends with the bullies Tommy H. and Carol and dating the brainy and innocent Nancy Wheeler. When Nancy’s best friend disappeared, she became distant and Steve thought she was cheating with Jonathan Byers.

Following a few stupid actions, Steve had a change of heart, told his friends off and set out to make things right. By coincidence, he ended up heroically saving the day and reconciled with his girlfriend.

In Season 2, Steve becomes a proper ally to the main cast, especially Dustin, with whom he forms an unlikely friendship. He becomes a sort of father figure for the party and solidifies himself into becoming a major player in the battle against the Mind Flayer.

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Hawkins Middle Snow Ball ’84 : Inspired by Stranger Things

The Snow Ball was a festive school dance held annually at Hawkins Middle School.

History

Season One

Mike Wheeler called the dance “cheesy” and had never gone, but decided to attend for the first time after meeting Eleven. He invited Eleven to be his partner to the Ball and she accepted. Their plans never came to fruition as Eleven vanished before the Ball took place.

Sesaon Two

Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will all go to the Snow Ball, with Lucas dancing with Max, Mike dancing with Eleven, Will dancing with another girl and Nancy Wheeler inviting Dustin to dance.

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Hawkins Police Department : Inspired by Stranger Things

The Hawkins Police Station is the police station in the city of Hawkins, Indiana and the headquarters of the Hawkins Police Department. A small-scale and modest building, it houses a reception, a common room, and offices.

Police Chief Hopper started working at the police station in 1979. He has stated the worst thing to happen during his employment was “when an owl attacked Eleanor Gillespie’s head because he thought it was a nest.

The police officers wear light blue button-up shirts with the United States flag on the right shoulder and the Hawkins Police patch on the left. The Chief is distinguished in that he wears a beige shirt and pants.

Each officer wears a metallic silver badge on their left chest, with the writing “Hawkins Police” followed by the seal of Hawkins and “Officer” and their badge number written on the bottom. The chief’s badge is gold and says “Chief.”

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Hawkins Phys. Ed : Inspired by Stranger Things

Hawkins High School is the high school in the town of Hawkins. It is located next to Hawkins Middle School. Its football team is the Tigers, corresponding to the middle school’s team, the Cubs.

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Palace Arcade : Inspired by Stranger Things

The Palace was a local arcade in Hawkins. It featured a variety of games, including Dragon’s Lair, Dig Dug, Galaga, and Pac-Man, as well as several pinball games. Keith worked at the arcade.

Behind the scenes

The Duffer Brothers revealed that their very first idea for the second season was to introduce a local arcade, stating that “We love board games but in truth have spent more time playing video games, so we wanted to weave them into the fabric of the show.

The filming location for the arcade was an old laundromat located on 6500 Church Street in Douglasville, Georgia. The laundromat was renovated and converted into an arcade for the show.

All the games on set were playable, so the cast and crew were able to play them between takes

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