hi!!! i LOVED rebel robin so so much, it was so fun, but i haven't actually gotten the chance to watch past season one of stranger things. how did you make sure that the show would be enjoyable to everyone, even those unfamiliar with the franchise? also, did you add any nods to things in-universe for those who have watched the full show?
oh gosh, hello friend, I'm so sorry I didn't answer this before you deactivated, but perhaps you'll see this someday!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the podcast even without the context of the whole tv show (though tbf, the podcast takes place during season 1, so technically you don't need more context).
this is a great question - I think, for me, it was actually pretty easy to make it accessible to folks who weren't deep in on Stranger Things because ST is so much about the Upside Down and this ragtag bunch of people who have their lives thrown into chaos because of it, and where Robin is in the podcast, she's completely outside of that. it was both very hard and very fun to write a Stranger Things show that still felt like Stranger Things but had absolutely no contact with the supernatural whatsoever.
but, at the end of the day, one of the things that makes Stranger Things so wonderful to watch is its strong sense of character and the impeccable found family vibes. not to mention, the ways in which ST represents the struggles of adolescence and being different through the lens of science fiction (in particular with Will of course). so that's what I focused on--Robin is such a rich character already, and getting to dig deeper into her was such a treat. and with the Mr. Hauser relationship, I got to lean into that found family/cross-generational friendship theme that is so intrinsic to ST. and I think all those things are really universally appealing, which is why the podcast (hopefully) works for those who aren't into ST! everyone can relate to feeling lonely and weird as a teenager, and the relief that comes with maybe finding someone who understands.
in terms of nods to canon, there's a whole bunch. an incomplete list:
a mention of Will's memorial service and then Will turning up okay
Steve going from someone who is messing around with Tommy Hagan in the first episode to someone who is being sweet with Nancy in the final episode
Barb going missing
Nancy asks for an extension on an English paper because "things are really hard right now" aka she's been fighting demogorgans
Steve and Robin being in the same history class and Steve being pretty oblivious to that fact (writing all the Steve and Robin interactions was both my favorite and so hard because I love their friendship so much and had to write them not liking each other at all)
Steve scrubbing the graffiti off the movie theater marquis
Robin saying "dingus"
Joyce working at the general store in town
