Why Stranger Things Is Unlike Other Shows, According To One Actor

stranger things

Netflix hit gold this year with the sci-fi drama Stranger Things, which was the breakout series from the this past summer. The series has become pop culture gold, with audiences absolutely adoring the motley crew of protagonists who inhabit Hawkins, Indiana. In fact, it's the delightfully weird characters that make the show what it is, according to one actor.

Stranger Things actor David Harbour (aka Jim Hopper) recently spoke to the good folks about Vanity Fair regarding his role in the Netflix series. When discussing what makes the drama so great, he referred largely to the unique and real characters. While most TV shows and movies contain beautiful people leading the way, Stranger Things has actors who aren't typical Hollywood beauties. Habour said,

And one of the great things about our cast is that I've got the love handles, and other cast members are skinny and weird-looking---we're all kind of freaks who wind up fighting a monster and doing wonderful things. And I want to watch that arc on television.

David Harbour certainly seems to have a point. The Stranger Things cast don't have superhero bodies, and therefore the action of the series feels more relatable. Sure, there are strange monsters and telekinetic little girls, but the residents of the town feel like living, breathing, people.

Of course, Stranger Things wasn't without its conventional beauties. Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler, is as stunning as she is captivating on screen- even covered in gross Upside Down goo. And Nancy and Mike's mother played by Cara Buono always has her glorious 80's hair done perfectly.

But David Harbour has a point. He's essentially the leading man of the series, and he's not rocking a typical six pack and giant chest. Habour kept his natural body, making Hopper as real as him. In a TV series which has a ton of fantastical concepts, having actors who aren't stunners helps center the world of the narrative.

It should be interesting to see how things continue with Season 2 of Stranger Things. The Duffer Brothers, as well as some cast members, have stated that the series' sophomore season will be absolutely bonkers. With the central characters all aware of the supernatural and scientific experiments occurring at Hawkins Lab, it seems unlikely that things will truly ever be the same. How will the ensemble attempt to live a normal life after seeing The Upside Down and the Demogorgon?

Plus, there's the case of Will Byers' return, which doesn't seem all peaches and cream. The final moments from Season 1 saw Will still very much affected by his time in the Upside Down. He's still coughing up slug creatures, and seems to even move within the two realities without trying. Needless to say, he's not out of the woods yet.

Stranger Things Season 2 doesn't have a release date yet, but be sure to check in with us at CinemaBlend for updates on the popular series.

Corey Chichizola
Movies Editor

Corey was born and raised in New Jersey. Graduated with degrees theater and literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. He's since been able to work himself up to reviews, phoners, and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his favorite actors... just not as he would have predicted as a kid. He's particularly proud of covering horror franchises like Scream and Halloween, as well as movie musicals like West Side Story. Favorite interviews include Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.