Is Netflix’s Stranger Things a “homework” show?

The plot of Stranger Things can be confusing at times, and that didn’t change in season three. Do viewers care enough to seek answers?

To put it lightly, Netflix’s Stranger Things is a popular show. Nielsen reported that ~26.4 million U.S. viewers watched the new season over the 4th of July weekend. Netflix announced ~40.7 million global household accounts watched the show over the same time span.

Stranger Things has a lot of factors that resonate with people: eighties nostalgia, talented young actors, scary monsters, fantasy elements and an interesting mystery.

But how do viewers interact with the show? First, a quick detour.

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I’m in the middle of season two of HBO’s Westworld, and I’ve found myself doing a fair amount of “homework,” reading several articles after each episode to help understand what’s going on (the show can be a bit complex to put it lightly).

I’m really enjoying the show and am more than happy to read recaps and analysis, but the point remains. It’s not a “casual” watch; it’s a “homework” watch.

A “homework” watch is a show that has complex and/or confusing plots that requires outside research to fully comprehend and appreciate. Many people love these shows, but it’s nice to balance them out with more “casual” watches, where too much thinking isn’t required (most shows probably fall under this category).

This brings me to the main question I’ve been struggling with: is Stranger Things a “homework” show?

The mystery and fantasy elements have produced a plot that can be confusing at times. When it comes to the Gate, the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer, the Demogorgon and Demo-dogs, I don’t always know what’s going on.

Some of this confusion is surely intentional, and things will likely be answered/explained in the coming seasons. But some of the confusion feels similar to Westworld: the answers/explanations are already out there. One just has to do a little digging (through recaps, analysis, etc.).

I can only assume this is the case, however, because I haven’t done any digging myself (yet) when it comes to Stranger Things. A part of me wants to fill in some of my “understanding gaps,” but I’ve found enough enjoyment from other parts of the show that it hasn’t felt necessary.

For me, Stranger Things has been almost a “casual watch.” I’ve just kicked back and enjoyed the humor, the interactions of the kids, the spooky dynamics and the general mystery. The “confusing” parts of the show have thrown me off a bit, but they haven’t significantly hindered my enjoyment of the show.

People have surely enjoyed Stranger Things in a variety of ways, and this speaks to what make it a special show. Still, I’m curious as to whether people are using one approach more than the other. Has the show been a “casual” watch or a “homework” watch?

Have you done "homework" as a Stranger Things viewer?

Let us know below! For the purposes of the poll, answer “Yes” if you’ve done “homework” for the show even once.