Trauma and Choice
The first three seasons of Stranger Things saw the main characters battling the otherworldly monsters terrorizing the residents of Hawkins, Indiana. In season four, we are introduced to the character orchestrating it all: Vecna, aka Henry Creel. We learn about Henry’s troubled childhood, that he was subjected to secret government tests, and how he eventually became the monstrous Vecna. Season five reveals more of his backstory, about how he received his powers and first came in contact with the Mind Flayer. It initially seems that Henry was controlled by the Mind Flayer all along. However, when Will pleads with Henry to reject the Mind Flayer’s control, Henry says, “It has never controlled me. And I never controlled it.” He says he could have resisted it, but chose instead to become one with the Mind Flayer. Henry’s trauma fuels his rage against humanity and his desire to destroy it. But Henry is still human. Neither his victimhood nor the Mind Flayer forces him to become a villain—he chooses it.
While the characters from Stranger Things are battling monsters from another dimension, they also face many personal traumas: the loss of loved ones, bullying, abandonment, abuse. Many of us have struggled with the same kinds of things. As terrible as these things are, we all still have a choice of how to respond. In the series finale, Hopper learns that Eleven plans to sacrifice herself to end the constant pain and suffering brought on by Vecna and the secret government testing. She tells him, “I have to break the cycle.” While she was speaking of events in the show, she may as well have been discussing the cycle of pain and trauma that people face in their lifetime or from one generation to the next. Hopper tells her she will break the cycle, but not with more violence and pain. He lists the many ways Eleven has been hurt from birth, telling her how unfair life has been for her. Then he praises her, saying her pain has never broken her. The same can be true of us; no matter how unfair life may be for us, we always have a choice. It’s not always easy, but we can choose not to let ourselves be defined by our trauma or to lash out in anger against an unfair world. No matter how difficult it is, we can choose to break the cycle. Our upbringing, life experiences, social status, and many other factors may influence us, but they don’t control us. We must always remember who we are in Christ. Amidst all of our troubles and struggles, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). That’s the true key to overcoming our trauma. We don’t face it on our own or through our own force of willpower. Jesus is our comfort and strength.
Love and Friendship
Henry and Eleven both experience similar suffering and supernatural powers, yet Henry becomes a villain and Eleven a hero. What is the key difference between the two? Maybe it’s because Henry suffered alone while Eleven discovered love and friendship. Henry is taken by the government and used for experiments. He isn’t loved, he’s used. Eleven has a deeply troubling beginning, but when she escapes captivity, she is found by people who take her in and care for her. Hopper and the rest of the Hawkins gang make her their family. Eleven learns to harness her powers for good and to love and trust others. The importance of family and community cannot be underestimated or overstated. Many of the characters are abandoned or abused by their blood family, but find friends who become a new family. Vecna taps into people’s trauma to isolate and control them, but those who resist his manipulation do so by remembering their bonds of love and friendship. This shows us the importance of friendship and community in our own lives. The Bible tells us it is not good to be alone (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12). Our friends strengthen us and support us in times of trouble (Proverbs 17:17, 27:17). The greatest act of love is to give our lives for our friends, which is what Jesus did for us (John 15:13).
“I Believe”
One of the most controversial aspects of Stranger Things’s finale is the ultimate fate of Eleven. After the gang defeats Vecna and saves the world, she chooses to sacrifice herself to prevent future suffering. However, after the crew plays one final game of Dungeons and Dragons, Mike crafts a plausible scenario in which Eleven had merely faked her death and began a new life, free from the threat of danger. When asked whether this is just a theory and how they could know if it’s true, Mike responds, “We don’t. Not for sure. But I choose to believe that it is.” Each of the friends then declares one by one, “I believe.” This makes us wonder, what is the nature of belief? Is a belief something we simply choose to hold as true because we want it to be, or is there more to our beliefs?
As we will see, this is especially important in worldview formation. Do Christians blindly choose to believe in Christianity as opposed to Islam, Hinduism, or any other religion? Is religion a fairy tale or wishful thinking for a life after death? Mike and his friends choosing to believe that Eleven is still alive may seem like a coping mechanism to some people. Yet they did not merely choose to believe without reason. Mike lays out an entirely plausible explanation of how Eleven escapes safely from harm and tricks everyone into believing she died. The friends, along with many Stranger Things fans, do not blindly choose to believe that Eleven is alive; they have good reason to believe. The same goes for Christianity. The Bible tells us that God’s existence is evident from his creation (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:18–20) and from his moral code written on our hearts (Romans 2:14–15). God has also revealed himself to us through prophets and, ultimately, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–2). There is an entire field of studies called Christian apologetics dedicated to giving reasons why we believe Christianity is true. Our faith is not merely a way of coping with the troubles of life; Christianity is rooted in reality. Whether you are an unbeliever or a Christian struggling with doubt, we invite you to explore the evidence for the Christian faith. We think we have good reasons to say, “I believe.”
The Rightside Up
Stranger Things may have concluded, but fans of the cultural phenomenon will continue to discuss and debate the show while anxiously awaiting any spin-offs or further stories in its universe. Like any television show or movie, the show is a mix of good and bad. It has images, elements, and language that should concern discerning Christians. But the show also portrays important themes such as trust, courage, and friendship. The final season especially deals with overcoming trauma, the importance of choice, and the nature of belief. These are not just popular story tropes but are universal themes in the real world, which is God’s grand story. We all have the choice to fall victim to or be victors over our trauma. Yet, we don’t have to struggle alone; we can seek friends and loved ones to help us. Jesus is the ultimate friend who suffered and died for us, and he walks alongside us through our struggles. We also know that no matter what we go through in this life, we will gain our happy ending in the life to come. There will be no more death, tears, or pain (Revelation 21:4), and all that is upside down in this world will be made right-side up forevermore.