‘Stranger Things’ — Eleven, Mike, and Trust

NOTE: This is the fourth part in a series. For parts one through three, which show up top to bottom in reverse order, click here.

As we continue hovering over the Upside Down on the hither side of Hawkins, Indiana, let’s take just a moment to revisit the comparison I made with the New Testament figure Zechariah:

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Asking ‘Stranger Things’ fans for insight…

I apologize, but I need more time for the next segment in my Stranger Things commentary. After some putting in my time and sweat, I came to realize that I needed to change direction a bit in terms of where I was going with part four. I will definitely try to have it ready for next week.

Until then, on one particular item, I will solicit the advice of anyone willing to provide it.

My sense is that Mike Wheeler is the leader of the Hawkins Tweens — the king in the archetypal priest-prophet-king arrangement (cf. part two on Dustin Henderson as the prophet). This will play something of a significant role in part four when it’s ready.

I wanted to get other people’s perspective on this, if any fellow Stranger Things fans are reading and would care to comment.

Would you say this is an accurate assessment?

Or would it be fairer to say that Mike and Lucas share a dual leadership role?

Or do both assessments miss the mark?

Will keep your perspectives in mind when working on this next segment. Again, my apologies for it not being ready yet. Thank you for your patience.

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‘Stranger Things’ — Bauman’s ‘Curtain’ and Taylor’s ‘Buffer’

NOTE: This is the third part in a series. For parts one and two, which show up top to bottom in reverse order, click here.

How about we start with a season two quote from rogue journalist Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman)?

Your priest, your postman, your teacher, the world at large…they won’t believe any of this. (. . .) These people, they’re not wired like you and me. Okay? They don’t spend their lives trying to get a look at what’s behind the curtain. They like the curtain. It provides them stability, comfort, definition. This…this would open the curtain, and open the curtain behind that curtain, okay? So the minute someone with an ounce of authority calls “bullsh**” everyone will nod their head and say, “See? Ha! I knew it! It was bullsh**.” That is, if it even gets their attention at all.

Bauman is talking to Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton), the older siblings of Mike and Will, respectively.

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On ‘Stranger Things’ — Imagination as Preparedness

For part one, click here.

This time we’ll start with the priceless interrogation scene between Hawkins Chief of Police Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and the “Hawkins tweens” (minus Will).

Hopper questions the boys about the route Will took home the night of his disappearance. Mike informs him that when leaving the Wheeler residence for home Will tends to take “Mirkwood,” a road near Hawkins National Laboratory.

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