Every episode of ‘Stranger Things,’ ranked

Stranger Things whirled into Netflix in the summer of 2016, slowly but surely gaining heavy momentum before turning into a massive hit for the streaming platform. Before you knew it, terms like “friends don’t lie” and “mouth-breather” became part of our pop culture vocabulary.

The sci-fi thriller is a perfect dose of nostalgia not only because it’s set in the ’80s and stars the glorious Winona Ryder, but because it borrows elements from classic films of the era. The focus on the well-cast child characters — with Millie Bobby Brown as a solid breakout — made it relatable to millennials who loved stuff like “Dungeons & Dragons” while growing up but also to the teens of this generation. It’s a show appealing to all demographics. 

No wonder we can’t wait for Season 3 to drop July 4 after a long wait.

As the anticipation continues, we binged and ranked every episode of Stranger Things thus far. It’s important to note that barring the weak seventh episode of Season 2, every other outing has mostly remarkable moments and only a few dull spots. 

That’s right, Stranger Things has pretty much figured out how to deliver with every episode. Let’s hope the streak continues. 

17. “The Lost Sister” (Season 2, Chapter 7)

Image: courtesy of netflix

I’ll admit I didn’t mind the idea of the episode — a standalone about Eleven connecting with Kali and her group of misguided thieves, showing us the life she would’ve probably led if she hadn’t met Mike, Hopper, and the rest — but devoting an entire 40 minutes to it wasn’t smart, especially not toward the end of Season 2. It heavily slowed down the momentum and lessened the impact of the two fantastic outings that came after.

16. “Dig Dug” (Season 2, Chapter 5)

No one cares about Nancy and Jonathan as much as Stranger Things thinks we do. We get it, they’re internally heaving for each other. “Dig Dug” spends too much time with them and with Hopper’s solo hijinks in the tunnel that get him trapped. However, the episode’s winning moments come through Bob and Max, the two newbies who get clued into what’s been happening in their town. The final shot of Hopper’s rescue and Will convulsing because the monster is hurt sets up the last half of the season well. 

15. “MADMAX” (Season 2, Chapter 1)

Understandably, the first episode of the second season was limited to a reintroduction to Hawkins after the events of Season 1. We met Max, Billy, Bob and witnessed how Will was acclimating to being out of the upside down (not well!). We get an update on Eleven’s whereabouts only in the closing moments, but at least it’s exciting to get a confirmation that she is alive. 

14. Trick or Treat, Freak (Season 2, Chapter 2)

Image: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Stranger Things finally did a Halloween episode! The kids got to dress up as the Ghostbusters, Will admits to Mike he still has real-ish nightmares, and D’artagnan shows up in a trash can. It’s a filler episode but a fun continuation to “MADMAX” so no complains here. 

13. “Will the Wise” (Season 2, Chapter 4)

“Will the Wise” is a fine enough episode because it acts as a throwback to Season 1’s best bits in which Joyce decorated her house endlessly with Christmas lights. Here, Will does the same with his drawings of the vines laid out as a map all over, which leads to Hopper figuring out something is definitely up under the destroyed pumpkin farms. The other big thing that happens is Dart devours Dustin’s cat, ensuring that we know this is no ordinary pet. 

12. The Flea and the Acrobat (Season 1, Chapter 5)

There are definitely some great scenes in this episode but the most important of all is when the boys figure out Will is trapped in an alternate Hawkins; one that is cold, dreary, empty and run by monsters. Eleven calls it the Upside Down and another phrase is coined into our cultural consciousness forever. 

11. The Pollywog (Season 2, Chapter 3)

Listen, “The Pollywog” will go down in the show’s history for giving us the famous Hopper dance moves. For that alone, I’d say this was a good episode. Plus, the final shot of the monster clawing its way into Will after Dustin loses D’art at school is excellent, showing us the full effect the Demogorgon has on the young boy even now. 

10. The Weirdo on Maple Street (Season 1, Chapter 2)

We knew El was capable of mind tricks but we found out the extent — literally — when she locked the door with her mind to stop the boys from informing on her to Mike’s parents. It was a cool revelation, adding to the build up of what’s about to come. “The Weirdo on Maple Street” is a good continuation to the very strong pilot episode, cementing the start of the kids’ friendship and of course, marking the last time we see Barb (RIP, Barb!) in the flesh. 

9. The Body (Season 1, Chapter 4)

“The Body” is an intense episode for several reasons. Hopper infiltrates the Department of Energy building, Joyce axes her own wall while El taps into her conversation with Will to prove to her new friends that he’s alive. A lot happens! It’s all good. Well, I’m not going to count the Nancy and Steve angst because again, we did not care for it as much as the show thinks we did. 

8. The Spy (Season 2, Chapter 6)

An underrated episode of Stranger Things, “The Spy” is actually pretty great and sets up a good mystery (only to be ruined by the episode after). Dustin and Steve tag along in the woods to catch D’art, sharing bad dating advice and good hairspray tips. Along with Lucas and Max, they get stuck in a junkyard as demodogs attack. Meanwhile in the Hawkins lab, we learn Will is now a spy for the monster and has lied to Dr. Owens, leading several men to their deaths. We close at every single monster finally surrounding and infiltrating the DOE building. 

7. The Monster (Season 1, Chapter 6) 

Image: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

“She’s our friend and she’s crazy!” Dustin yells in the closing moments of “The Monster,” leading to a memorable hug between him, Mike, and El after she saves Mike’s life from bullies. It is without a doubt the most-used Stranger Things image. It ends a wonderful episode in which we uncover the truth about Jane “Eleven” Ives through her mother Terry, tracked down by Joyce and Hopper. Yes, there’s even more unnecessary drama with Nancy and Steve, who was a douche back then, but luckily it doesn’t bring the episode down. 

6. The Gate (Season 2, Chapter 9)

We wrapped up the second season with nice, tidy bow…or so it seems. After a quick reunion, El shut the gate to the Upside Down, Will is free from evil, and the Dustin/Steve friendship is still going strong. Even Joyce and Hopper share a parking lot cigarette, igniting the shippers post-Bob. However, the final shot of the shadow monster lurking in Hawkins is enough to let us know the danger is far from gone. Cue the countdown to Season 3! 

5. Holly Jolly (Season 1, Chapter 3)

Image: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

We’re in the top 5 category now, people. “Holly Jolly” is a memorable episode especially because Joyce goes kinda nuts, setting up dozens of Christmas lights in an effort to communicate with Will. No one believes her but the flashing lights say otherwise. Also, this is the episode in which Hopper questions those working at the Hawkins lab and realizes something is amiss, starting off an unofficial investigation into their shady work. El leads the dudes on a wild goose chase but it ends when they land up at the Quarry to see a fake body being pulled out of the water. 

4. The Bathtub (Season 1, Chapter 7)

Looks like Game of Thrones isn’t the only show to do penultimate episodes like a boss. “The Bathtub” is a terrific, engrossing hour because it’s the first time our whole crew bands together to destroy the demons. They meet in the school to make a sensory deprivation tank for El, so she can search for Will and Barb in the Upside Down. We get confirmation that the former is alive in Castle Byers but the latter has a slug crawling out of her very dead mouth. Basically, this episode does what a second-to-last one should do: make you immediately press play on the next episode. 

3. The Upside Down (Season 1, Chapter 8 )

Speaking of the finale, “The Upside Down” is an excellent closer to Season 1. Joyce and Hopper venture into the Upside Down and rescue Will, El defeats her papa and his lackeys to save her friends but vanishes in the process, and we see that not all is right with Will as he vomits a slug. The biggest twist? Nancy and Steve are still together. Luckily that doesn’t last and Steve’s personality gets a much-needed makeover…but more on that in a second. 

2. “The Mind Flayer” (Season 2, Chapter 8 )

Image: COURTESY OF NETFLIX

This one was a much-needed reprieve from “The Lost Sister”; it leaned into sci-fi tropes, and ended with the overdue reunion of Eleven with the whole crew. What’s not to love?

I know the tragic death of Bob Newby (superhero!) still stings, but “The Mind Flayers” plays out like a horror escape heist in the first half as Mike, Hopper, Joyce, an unconscious Will, and Bob try to escape the Hawkins lab building once the monsters attack. The second half is devoted to everyone isolating Will to save him before the mind flayer takes over completely. It’s an exciting, even emotional penultimate episode. Noah Schnapp and Winona Ryder are aces. And as for the Steve makeover, he encourages Nancy to go with Jonathan and admits he makes a damn good babysitter, which is correct. 

1. “The Vanishing of Will Byers” (Season 1, Chapter 1) 

Not a lot of television shows nail their very first episode so it’s a testament to the cast and crew of Stranger Things that “The Vanishing of Will Byers” is pretty much perfect. 

There are just enough teases about what’s to come to get viewers invested, the characterization game is already strong, and it does indulge in the nostalgia effect to entice you but it works. Will disappears, El bumps into her new buddies in the rainy woods, Hopper drinks coffee and contemplates, and electricity helps Joyce in figuring out her son isn’t dead just yet. 

Everything about the first episode of Stranger Things is an intriguing invitation into the world that’s about to unravel deeply. It’s an automatic win! 

Stranger Things Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 arrives on July 4.