If you’ve watched “Stranger Things” Season 3, you probably have a good idea what this Stranger Things hangover is all about. We waited for almost two years for this epic season. Then in one snap, we’ve already gone through all 8 episodes. And it has left us craving for more – the 80s nostalgia and culture, the kids, the music, and the overall vibe of the show. It was a great and satisfying season. But of course, the Duffer brothers just had to leave loose ends and that mind-boggling mid-credits scene to keep us on our toes. Now, we have to wait for maybe another year before we get our action-packed, 80s themed, sci-fi fix of “Stranger Things.”
One easy fix for this hangover is to rewatch the series. But, for those who don’t want to spoil the show’s spark, worry not because we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 shows you can watch to cure your Stranger Things hangover:
1. The OA
If you’re missing El and her badass abilities, ‘The OA” might be a great fit for you. It centers around a girl who mysteriously returns after being missing for 7 years. And that’s not even the weirdest point. Before she disappeared, she was blind. When she returned, she can already see. It turns out, she became an experiment for a mad scientist. And she’s not the only one. Now, she needs to save others like her. And she can do that by opening portals to other dimensions. If that doesn’t remind you of El at all, I don’t know what can. It also features sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy elements that are strongly reminiscent of “Stranger Things” minus the out of this world monsters.
2. The Goldbergs
If it’s the 80s vibe and look that you’re missing, there’s a handful of options for you with “The Goldbergs” being one of the best. It’ll immediately remind you of the lighter side of “Stranger Things.” Take the light-hearted family squabbles of the Byers or the Wheelers and even Hopper’s odd parenting for example. “The Goldbergs” takes after that kind of humor and set up. It’s a family comedy loosely based on one of the show creator’s childhood set in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. And it features the reality of the 80s through the eyes of a young boy. After the emotional finale of “Stranger Things” Season 3, this will surely lift your spirits up.
3. Twin Peaks
“Twin Peaks” is an oldie but pure goodie. And it features a small-town mystery with the odd and the supernatural sprinkled in very much like “Stranger Things.” The series follows FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper as he looks into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks, Washington. As the investigation gets deeper, Cooper discovers that there’s a whole other slew of problems crawling through the town that he has to get through to solve his case. And in the midst of it all are the supernatural that comes knocking in his dreams. Unlike “Stranger Things,” the culprit and the problem are slowly uncovered. But, the twists and thrills will keep you addicted to it until you reach its satisfying end.
4. Wayward Pines
Another one for the sci-fi seekers out there is “Wayward Pines.” It’s basically like a grown-up version of “Stranger Things” without the monsters and powers but definitely with the small-town thrill and mystery. And it also has the Duffer brothers all over it who have directed and written some episodes of the series. Somewhat like “Twin Peaks,” “Wayward Pines” begins with a mysterious death and mysterious circumstances. While investigating the sudden disappearance of two U.S. Secret Service agents in Wayward Pines, Idaho, Ethan Burke meets a car accident. When he wakes up, he finds himself trapped in the town unable to contact the outside world. In addition to that, he finds that one of the agents he was looking for was dead and the other has seemingly settled into the town. If anyone tries to escape the town, they’re punished by a public execution known as the reckoning. And it’s left to Burke to figure out the truth of what’s happening in there.
5. Dark
Last but not least is the Netflix German sci-fi series “Dark.” This series centers around the concept of time travel and it would definitely force you to think and wonder. It starts when children start disappearing in the fictional town of Winden, Germany. And as people start investigating these, a sinister time travel conspiracy starts to unfurl the secrets and connections among four estranged families in Winden. This time travel scene spans across three generations and four timelines – 2019, 1986, 1953, and 2052. And the mysteries just keep piling up. “Dark” has earned great praise from critics with most of them even comparing it to “Stranger Things.” So, if you’re up for a mind-boggler to cure your hangover, just hit play on “Dark” and let it pull you in.