I think we’re way past the show being acceptable for kids to watch. But have you noticed how…sucky all of the authority figures are in Stranger Things 4? And have you considered how irresponsible and what poor taste that’s in?
Hopper straight-up says “she needed me to get out of her way so she could grow beyond me.” Um, yeah, Hopper, she needed you to stop protecting her and keeping the monsters and government officials from snatching her. She needed you to quit showing her what a real, affectionate, sacrificial dad was like. Yeah, that sounds right.
Joyce, who straight-up wielded motherly attention and love like a superpower in Season 1, just…dipped, and left her emotionally unstable son and daughter to go chase a super-dangerous rumor in Russia, without even having the presence of mind to notice that Jonathan’s been checking out and ignoring his problems with the help of friendly neighborhood weed for the past few weeks?! What?
And the kids have ALWAYS lied and stolen and shut the authority figures in their lives out, in every season, and it’s always been portrayed as a good thing. A necessary thing. Parents are no help, guys. They just want to get in your way and stop you from helping your friends. They won’t believe you if you tell them what you think and feel. Even the best of them, the ones who punch their way into alternate dimensions to save you and can see right through slimy would-be boys who aren’t mature enough to protect your heart? Those well-meaning parents are just meddlesome, pesky steps on the staircase of life. Plant your converse sneakers on their faces on your way to better and more free, progressive, autonomous Things.
I might be overstating it but GOSH, point to literally one adult, one parent, one authority figure in this show that is either helping to save the world or protecting a kid effectively. I said EFFECTIVELY.
