If you’ve just finished watching Stranger Things, then kudos for being part of popular culture and for finishing one of the best original shows modern TV can offer. But am I the only one to feel a twinge of regret as the show finally wrapped its final season?

I'm going to miss this show. Aside from being a cultural phenomenon, one reason it connected is that it made me nostalgic about the 80’s. Season 5 timeline specifically places it around 1987 and that would place me in high school, just a few years above the characters of ‘Delightful Derek’ and Holly Wheeler, but just a year below the ‘original party’ of Dustin, Lucas, Mike, Will, Max and Eleven who are all in their sophomore year (by show timeline approximation). Thinking in that context, then the much older teens Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Steve Harrington and Jonathan Byers are practically grownups in my eyes. I’d crush hard on Rockin’ Robin (Maya Hawke) but she’d be untouchable for her sheer coolness. Come to think of it, I would probably be attracted to Mrs. Byers (Winona Rider) or Mrs. Wheeler (Cara Buono) for that matter. Yeah, the ladies are hot! But that’s just my imagination running away with me. Which is to say, that’s another fine quality of the show. It was relatable. There’s something in it whether you’re a kid wanting an adventure, or in your teens trying to figure things out, an adult in the thick of living life like me getting a pleasant flashback triggered by the show.  

Also a big part of why Stranger Things became a success – apart from the sci-fi theme set in the 80’s – is the music. The sounds of Season 5 alone are practically the soundtrack of my youth. Holly Wheeler grooving to Tiffany’s version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” on a small cassette player is practically me back in 1987 (minus the pigtails) where there’s always a tune playing from a tape deck (sometimes vinyl) sound tripping in my room. The show was certainly instrumental in resurrecting gems: we’ve seen Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” or Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets” resurgence in the charts after considerable exposure from the show. This time’s no different; we saw iconic music from the likes of Prince whose songs were deemed worthy by "The Squawk” DJ Rockin’ Robin as the soundtrack that should be playing at world’s end. Case in point, “Purple Rain” plays as the upside-down dimension blows up. “Heroes” by David Bowie was a welcome, if not an obvious choice as well, used in the graduation scene of Class ‘89 of Hawkins Highschool. A side note, both Prince and David Bowie passed away in 2016, the same year the first season of Stranger Things aired. A decade after the fact, both artists' music is resurging and is reintroduced to a new audience. That’s a nice little bookend for the show, I think.

It was also nice to hear The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go,” “Sweet Jane” by The Cowboy Junkies, “Here Comes Your Man” by The Pixies, “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, Diana Ross’ aptly titled “Upside Down,” The Jackson 5’s “Rockin’ Robin” and even ABBA’s “Fernando” on various episodes of the final season.

In a fascinating case of life imitating art, Joe (Steve) Keery hit #1 on the charts with his band Djo on their song “End of Beginning” during the buildup and release of the final season.

Given the show’s popularity, that won't be the strangest thing to happen at all.