most entertaining and popular shows in the history of Netflix, and there are so many things that the sci-fi show gets right. However, there are unfortunately a lot of elements of the show that don't quite work or just don't make sense, and that push the bounds of suspension of disbelief too far.
Many aspects of the show can be overlooked just because it makes Stranger Things more fun to watch, but certain plot points or character developments throughout the series simply don't make any sense, and it seems like fans of the show intentionally ignore it to not ruin the magic.
The Christmas Lights
Obviously the Christmas light communication system between Joyce and Will looked really cool, and it became one of the most iconic elements of Stranger Things as a series. However, there's no explanation for how it actually works.
There have been plenty of theories bandied about regarding how such communication would even be possible, but the fact that Joyce figured out such a strange method of communication and Will somehow figured out how to use it flawlessly really stretches the bounds of believability.
Hopper's Super Skills
Not to impugn Jim Hopper's exceptional police skills, as he's clearly the sheriff in Hawkins for a reason, and he appears to have been a capable big-city cop prior to his return to Indiana.
But even taking that into consideration, it's a little insane that he single-handedly manages to outwit an entire government operation that has successfully kept itself hidden in Hawkins for years, and it's even more impressive that he faces off against so many brilliant experts and almost always wins.
Eleven Staying Hidden
While Eleven's presumed death may have put any government baddies off of her trail, given what a powerful person she was and what a huge investment she'd been for so long, it's odd that Hopper just manages to hide her in Hawkins for months without anyone being suspicious or even looking into it.
Surely when an asset as important as Eleven goes missing or seems to be dead, people will double-check to make sure she's actually gone.
Children Outfoxing Government Agents
Hopper becoming a one-man army against a massive and sophisticated black-ops government organization is one thing, but the fact that the kids of Stranger Things are so masterful at defeating these special agents, doctors, and operatives is beyond belief.
Yes, that's part of the fun of Stranger Things, and it's clearly a nod to classic '80s flicks that ask audiences to engage in the same suspension of disbelief, but obviously, this is a consistent plot point that doesn't hold up to any scrutiny.
The Russian Secret Facility
It's one thing for the American government to abandon its exploration into the Upside Down or to end its research into super-powered children, but it's quite another for them to not even notice that Russian agents are building an entire facility right on top of an interdimensional tear.
The notion that no one from the US government would even keep an eye on Hawkins closely enough to notice a minor Russian invasion is nuts.
Unresolved Trauma
This is more an issue of character development than it is a factual or logical problem, however, a lot of the characters of Stranger Things have experienced extreme trauma and don't seem to be very inconveniently affected by it.
The show does a decent job of exploring Will's post-trauma experience, but Hopper has lost a child and El has spent a lifetime being abused, and they both seem unbelievably well-adjusted given those circumstances.
Constantly Evolving Enemies
First came the Demogorgon, then there were the Demodogs, and then there was the Mind Flayer.
While it's to be expected that any series is going to continually up the ante when it comes to threats that the main characters have to face, it's awfully narratively convenient that every time the Stranger Things squad seems to squash one enemy, another bigger, badder, and stronger villain pops up in the next season.
Interdimensional Travel
The Upside Down is one of the coolest and most unique aspects of Stranger Things, but the way it actually works seems to be wildly inconsistent.
Some gateways between the Upside Down and the real world seem to vanish on their own, some stick around, and some have to be psychically sealed by someone like Eleven. And the connection between the Upside Down and this world seemed to stem from El somehow astrally projecting herself into it, but when she touched the Demogorgon, it actually sensed her. So was she somehow physically there, or not?
A Habitable Alternate Dimension
Given that there is an obvious strong connection between the Upside Down and this world, it's not completely unbelievable that humans would be able to survive there for long periods of time. However, it does seem extremely unlikely.
Earth's atmosphere is a very delicate and specific balance, so the fact that a place as drastically environmentally different as the Upside Down is a place where humans can even breathe is odd.
A Copy Of This World
What makes the Upside Down so unique and memorable is that it's a warped copy of the real world. But the question is, why is that?
Perhaps an explanation of the nature of the Upside Down will come before Stranger Things ends, but the existence of a physically identical alternate dimension right next to our own is very strange and hard to believe.