If you’ve never heard of the Netflix original series "Stranger Things" then I have to ask, have you been living under a rock? "Stranger Things" follows the lives of a group of young kids in a small fictional Indiana town as they uncover mysterious government secrets and an unknown supernatural world. "Stranger Things 1" was released in July 2016 with "Stranger Things 2" following in October 2017. The show has quickly gone from becoming just another show on Netflix to one of Netflix’s most successful series thanks to the following reasons:
The '80s Theme
From the clothes to the movie references, "Stranger Things" brings the time period of the '80s alive. Nancy rocks the typical '80s fashions and the kids are always playing the most popular video games from the time period. The show also takes inspiration from many movies of its time like ET, Ghostbusters, The Goonies, and much more. Overall, the '80s theme differentiates the show from other TV shows on the air right now and makes it much more fun to watch!
Relatable for all age groups
One of the unique things about "Stranger Things" is that anyone can relate and enjoy the show. Unlike other Netflix originals like Orange is the New Black or House of Cards, the show is appealing to all age groups. It’s clean enough for children yet complex enough to be enjoyed by adults.
The perfect combination of romance, adventure, action, friendship
"Stranger Things" offers a balance between the various aspects of TV. For example, the romance between Steve and Nancy in the first season never overshadows the friendship between the four boys. However, this friendship and romance is never weighed more than the actual adventure or action in the plot. This perfect balance allows the show to stay exciting and interesting and never bores the viewers.
Binge watching
To watch both seasons of "Stranger Things" (without breaks!) it would exactly 14 hours and 10 minutes. This means the show is easy to binge watch once you're hooked onto to it. This is extremely beneficial for the success of the show. Netflix recognizes that people enjoy binge watching. This strategy also offers Netflix a competitive advantage against regular TV shows and even other streaming sites like Amazon that opt to release their shows one episode at a time. It is much more exciting to watch a show that has all its episodes available as it keeps your interest whereas episodes that are released one by one risk losing viewers.