17-year-old Sonia asks where Netflix show skewed reality
Stas Skarzynski, sociologist and the director of Harbingers’ Project
25 January 2026
‘Stranger Things consciously rewrites the 1980s,’ says sociologist Stas Skarzynski
Stranger Things has become one of the defining cultural representations of the 1980s, blending nostalgia with contemporary storytelling and values. Its portrayal of the decade, however, raises a more complex question: to what extent is it a reflection of the past, and to what extent a reconstruction shaped by present-day perspectives?
In this context, sociologist Stas Skarżyński approaches the series not simply as entertainment, but as a cultural text that reflects broader social change. His reading centres on its depiction of the 1980s – a decade he experienced as a child – and the ways in which it is reinterpreted for modern audiences. What might appear as historical accuracy becomes, in his view, a conscious rewriting informed by current attitudes and expectations.
At the core of this reinterpretation is the evolution of gender roles. Skarżyński points to the character of Eleven as an example of how the series moves beyond traditional archetypes, presenting a protagonist defined not by gender but by humanity. At the same time, he notes tensions within this progress, suggesting that while the show advances more complex female characters, it still reflects a world in which male perspectives and structures remain dominant.
More broadly, his analysis situates Stranger Things within a wider cultural moment. The series becomes a space where social transformation and resistance to it coexist: a narrative that reflects both the progress made in redefining gender and the ongoing backlash against it. Its significance lies not only in what it gets right or wrong about the past, but in how it reveals the unresolved dynamics of the present.
VIDEO
Sonia Rybus: Recently the new season five of Stranger Things has been released. What were your first impressions?
Stas Skarżyński: I’m quite conflicted. I think it’s good that it’s the last one because it feels increasingly difficult for the writers to embed the new story into what has already been said in the previous four seasons. From the writer’s perspective, I have a feeling they’re running into trouble maintaining freshness. There are things that I love, but the storyline feels more constrained than before.
Speaking of Eleven as the main protagonist — how would you interpret the Duffer Brothers’ choice of choosing Eleven as this driving force, especially since female protagonists weren’t that common before?
I don’t think they started with the idea of developing a female superhero. They started with a child character who happened to be a girl — maybe because it felt more innocent. Over the last decade, society changed massively in how we perceive women. Eleven grew into a female superhero. What’s interesting is that she isn’t driven by sexuality. She’s a human being first, who happens to be female.
Do you think this difference in how we view the show stems from a generational difference?
Yes, absolutely. I partially grew up in the 1980s, and I notice inaccuracies and cultural changes that are more than just technical mistakes. The portrayal of relationships, women, even something like Dungeons & Dragons — it was a deeply misogynistic world back then. What Stranger Things does is consciously rewrite the 1980s from the perspective of today. For your generation, this portrayal feels obvious. For me, it’s a visible change within my lifetime.
Even though the female characters are strong, everything they do still revolves around men and male validation. Do you see that, or do you focus more on the positive breakthrough?
I think you might be right. Where I see progress, you might see inconsistencies. Seasons three and four allowed women to move to the front. But in this season, something is happening — men seem more prominent again.
Hopper, Will, Dustin might reflect the world we live in, still dominated by men. Whether it’s subconscious or intentional from the Duffer Brothers, both options are possible.
Over your experience — from comic books and series of your childhood to now — can you clearly see the evolution of female characters becoming simply superheroes, not “female” superheroes?
Yes, I think there is a massive change. If you compare something like Harry Potter to Stranger Things, the difference is striking. Harry Potter is defined by fate and lineage. Stranger Things removes that elitist idea. There’s no concept of “Muggles.” Superheroes here are just people. Female characters aren’t defined by men anymore — they are human beings first. That shift is enormous.
Do you think society is actually evolving, and are we seeing backlash reflected in culture like Stranger Things?
I believe massive change has happened for the better, but we are witnessing backlash. Entrenched masculinity is trying to defend itself. Masculinity used to define itself through dominance; now it has to reinvent itself.
In culture, we see experimentation — strong female leaders, independent characters. The question is whether men will genuinely support that change. Real transformation happens when those on the other side support it.
