STRANGER THINGS: Season 1: The Monster
An excellent, intensifying episode about friendship against evil.
Should You Watch It?
This episode earns its four-star entertainment rating by deepening the friendships while raising the danger. Eleven’s backstory begins to explain her powers and the opening of the “Upside Down,” while Nancy, Jonathan, Joyce, and Sheriff Hopper continue confronting the mystery surrounding the monster and the science lab.
The episode presents a strong moral conflict between good and evil, and the characters’ love for one another gives them courage to continue. But the content becomes more intense, with 11 obscenities, stronger violence, a frightening creature, telekinetic harm, smoking, and light occult elements.
If you are a discerning adult who can engage those concerns thoughtfully, this is worth watching. It is not appropriate for children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESNancy and Jonathan prepare to attack the monster connected to Will and Barb, while Joyce and Sheriff Hopper investigate suspicious activity at the science lab. Eleven disappears after arguing with the boys about the search for the portal door, sending them into the forest after her. As the episode unfolds, the friends learn more about her powers and the danger surrounding their town.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this episode is excellent entertainment. It continues revealing Eleven’s backstory, establishes that her powers result from science experiments, and connects those experiments to the opening of the “Upside Down.”
The episode also strengthens the characters’ friendships while increasing the stakes. Nancy and Jonathan’s plan, the boys’ search for Eleven, and Joyce and Sheriff Hopper’s investigation give the story several connected sources of tension. The episode’s chief weakness, according to the source review, is its more intense violence and increased obscenity.
The Worldview
The episode has a strong moral worldview. Its protagonists continue fighting evil powers attacking a town in Indiana, with the “bad guys” being overcome by the “good guys.” The love the friends have for one another is powerful enough to keep them in the fight.
It also contains a light occult element: a girl possesses telekinetic powers that allow her to control things and people. The episode explains these powers as the result of science experiments, rather than presenting them as explicitly supernatural. Viewers should still weigh that imagery carefully.
The episode’s central picture is a community resisting evil through courage and loyalty. Scripture reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
<p class="SingleSpacepara">CONTENT: (BB, O, LL, VV, D, MM):</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
</b> Strong moral worldview as the protagonists continue to fight the evil powers that are attacking the town in Indiana, the “bad guys” are being overcome by the “good guys,” and the love that the friends have for each other is powerful enough to keep the fight going, plus light occult element as a girl possesses telekinetic powers that allows her to control things and people, but this is explained to be a result of science experiments;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b><span lang="IT">
Foul Language
</span></b>11 obscenities and one light profanity, plus some crude name calling;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b><span lang="FR">
Violence
</span></b> Strong and light violence includes a flashback of a previously shown scene where two men are killed by telekinesis, two teenage boys get into a fist fight with minimal blood, school bullies come after the boys, and one boy holds a knife to someone’s throat, a scary creature is shown eating a living being, girl breaks one bully’s arm with her mind, her nose bleeds when she uses her mind powers;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Sex
</b><span lang="DE"> No sex;</span></p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Nudity
</b> No nudity but girl is shown in the shower, only from the shoulders up;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Alcohol Use
</b><span lang="IT"> No alcohol use;</span></p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
</b> A few main characters smoke cigarettes; and,</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Miscellaneous Immorality
</b> Strong miscellaneous immorality, such as an example of stealing without consequence, elements of revenge, and disturbing images.</p>
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The friends keep going because they love one another. How can love give people courage when they are facing evil or fear?
John 15:12–13 · 1 John 4:18The episode presents a struggle between good and evil. How does Scripture describe the way Christians should stand against evil?
Ephesians 6:10–18 · Romans 12:21Eleven’s powers are explained as the result of science experiments. How should we think carefully about extraordinary abilities and the difference between scientific claims and spiritual claims?
1 Thessalonians 5:21 · 1 John 4:1The characters face growing danger while investigating suspicious activity. When should courage lead us forward, and when should wisdom tell us to be cautious?
Proverbs 14:16 · James 1:5The Final Word
This is excellent television with a strong moral conflict and meaningful friendships. Its stronger violence, obscenity, smoking, disturbing images, and light occult element make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH WATCHING — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, consider.
