Every generation has a story that becomes a doorway into imagination and friendship. In the early 2000s, that doorway was Hogwarts. Today, it’s Hawkins.
The final season of Stranger Things is here.
As Season 5, Part 1, premiered on November 26, 2025, it marked the beginning of the end for this awesome series. If you’re like me, you’ve been counting down the days, or years! I have to say I’m incredibly grateful to have grown up alongside this show and sad thatit has come to an end.
The show premiered in 2016, when I was in high school, and now I’m navigating crazy adulthood with the little bit of my inner child still left. In height of the recent priemere, I had a thought on how the culutral impact of this series very closely resemble the Harry Potter series.
Unfortunately, I was too young when the first Harry Potter movie came out, but I do remember the hype surrounding allthe movies. Eventually, I watched the entire series as I grew older, and now that Stranger Things is taking its final leap, I decided to write about it.
It’s been made clear that the Harry Potter series made its mark as the defining cinematic masterpiece for teens and young adults in the early 2000s. Harry Potter gave audiences a sense of realism in a fantastical world, promising a new adventure just behind a brick wall in a train station. For millennials, this time was epic! It was the bridge that connected book nerds and film geeks, allowing each other to explore a new world on the big screen.
Now, fast forward to today. Stranger Things, on the other hand, gives us a supernatural, sci-fi horror experience: the Upside Down, an alternate dimension lurking beneath the surface of small-town Hawkins, Indiana. But here is the key similarity I find: both worlds feel expansive, rule-bound, and immersive, but in a thrilling way. They feel like places we can accidentally stumble into if we take the wrong turn on our bike or push the wrong door in our basement. Both works became intriguing, fantastical myths for their audiences, and this is why they feel so familiar. It’s as if they are almost pieces of history.
Myths aren’t just stories we read; they are maps for navigating our own lives, for understanding courage, friendship, and fear. Harry Potter came at a time when the world was transitioning toward imagination and wonder. Stranger Things arrived when we were ready to embrace the past and find wonder in the familiar.
One of Harry Potter’s most groundbreaking qualities was that the early millennial audience practically grew up with the characters. This shared journey is what makes these franchises so nostalgic to us. Watching young actors grow into themselves and improve their craft in acting is surreal. It’s like watching your friends grow up alongside you.
As the world of Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew darker and bolder, viewers were allowed to grow up, too.
Stranger Things captures this perfectly, as well. Will, Mike, Eleven, Lucas, Dustin, and Max are the epitome of lifelong friendship goals. I can picture them older in their 40s, reflecting on the time they fought a fleshy demon in another dimension. Their future selves would probably be shocked that it actually happened.
They are the imaginary friends we all wish we had, or at least for me. Watching them evolve from awkward middle schoolers to battle-ready high schoolers mirrors many viewers’ journey through life’s challenges. It’s bittersweet to know that the journeys in both the world of Hogwarts and Hawkins have ended. However, knowing that the characters fulfilled their duties and are happy is more than enough for me to move on.
My generation is lucky enough to experience Stranger Things in its full glory. We, as the audience, saw it as another sci-fi thriller, not realizing we were witnessing a cultural reset. Fantasy was back in, and for us science nerds, it was everything in 2016. Both franchises gave us a universe to play in and create a fan culture that will live on for decades. The true measure of this impact is the sheer volume of fan-created content.
Think about the memes! From “You’re a wizard, Harry!” to Eleven’s mantra, “Friends don’t lie,” these phrases became cultural icons, instantly recognizable among millions of people. This shared language is everywhere, even at conventions like Comic-Con, where the fan community comes alive. The amount of time and energy fans pour into designing their cosplay of famous characters, such as Eleven with her iconic Season 3 bob or Voldemort with an Elder Wand, shows the deep dedication to the impact each series has on people. And of course, the merch.
Who hasn’t spent money on a Funko Pop, a replica wand, or a Hellfire Club t-shirt? This isn’t just about buying stuff; it’s about owning a piece of history. If you’re looking to gain new souvenirs, the Netflix Shop is the primary source for exclusive Stranger Things gear, while the Wizarding World Shop is the go-to for Harry Potter fans.
BoxLunch also hosts fan merch and a variety of other things for fans and newcomers alike. If you would like to check it out, head over to my Benable page, click here!
At the heart of both is the Chosen One trope, where the hero is burdened with responsibilities to do what’s right. In this case. Eleven parallels Harry perfectly; both are outsiders with mysterious pasts, struggling to control their abilities while searching for a family. Their adventures take them into Evil Parallel Worlds, the hidden world of dark magic versus the chilling, decaying reality of the Upside Down. Both worlds are ruled by Villains with near-mythic oppression, the terrifying presence of Vecna vs. Voldemort.
I just realized that both of them are bald and both their names start with the letter “V”. What’s with evil bald villains?
They aren’t superheroes; they are just friends with wands, bikes, and walkie-talkies who happen to be fighting a war.
The impact of these two franchises extends beyond the screen. Harry Potter shaped an entire generation’s worldview, shaping values of tolerance, love, and the power of choice. It defined the early millennial experience. Now, Stranger Things defines Gen Z and younger Millennials. It didn’t just give us a story; it gave us a whole aesthetic. Stranger Things single-handedly revitalized the 80s, launching a massive retro-wave in fashion, music, and media. With the massive resurgence of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” or the rise of synth-wave music. It also launched the careers of its young cast, turning them into global style icons.
We reflect on why stories with magic, monsters, and friends feel so important. My final take: “Harry Potter made an entire generation believe in standing up for what’s right. Stranger Things made another believe in bravery.” Every generation deserves its own story about ordinary kids who do extraordinary things. And if you’re ready to rewatch or watch for the first time, Stranger Things is available on Netflix, while the Harry Potter films are widely available for digital purchase.
Leave a comment below if you’re a fan.
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