The email arrived at 3:00 AM: “They’re doing what to Stranger Things?” I bolted upright, heart hammering, already composing a scathing tweet in my head. Then I saw it—‘SNL’ had finally gone there, and my knee-jerk outrage softened into morbid curiosity. Turns out, the secret ninth episode wasn’t so secret after all.
Weeks after the Stranger Things finale (and the internet’s collective meltdown about the *real* finale that *must* exist), Saturday Night Live decided to weigh in.
Finn Wolfhard hosted the show’s post-holiday return, and the writers took aim at the Netflix juggernaut. Wolfhard, along with Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin, even reprised their iconic roles in a sketch that sent the Hawkins crew to Iceland, where Mike believes Eleven has landed after defeating Vecna. And yes, the reveal of who plays Eleven is pretty good.
Before the grand Iceland reveal, the sketch skewers Netflix’s attempt to franchise Stranger Things into oblivion. To hear someone say, “This is our Star Wars” is, frankly, terrifying, but the sketch leans into it, presenting a parade of “sequels, prequels, requels, and spinoffs.” Some hit close to home with jokes about the show’s extended run and aging characters; others riff on 90s nostalgia and familiar TV tropes. (Mike, Lucas, and Dustin in a Sex & the City parody? Inspired.) As for Will’s absence from the spinoff bonanza? He’s still in the middle of a heart-to-heart with the gang, and he has yet to catch up with his friends.
The Upside Down Meets Reality
I remember waiting in line for The Phantom Menace, buzzing with anticipation, only to walk out three hours later feeling…hollow. That’s the tightrope act any franchise faces: How do you recapture the magic without becoming a parody of yourself?
The SNL sketch suggests Netflix is throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. The parody concepts poke fun at the show’s longevity, its characters, and the very idea of endless spinoffs. It’s like watching a funhouse mirror reflection of a show you love—distorted, exaggerated, but still recognizable.
How Many ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoffs Are Too Many?
That’s the million-dollar (€920,000) question, isn’t it? The sketch floats possibilities ranging from a gritty 90s-set prequel to a Golden Girls-esque retirement home drama featuring the older cast members. The line between homage and cash grab blurs.
Think of the Stranger Things universe as a balloon. Inflate it too much, and it’s bound to burst. Expand it carefully, with well-crafted stories that honor the source material, and it might just float.
Stranger Things has been skewered by SNL before. One sketch mocked the absence of Lucas’s parents in season one, while another “previewed” the then-upcoming third season. During his opening monologue, Wolfhard cracked jokes about the show’s conclusion, including jabs at his own expense (“400 million [people got to] watch me go through puberty”). McLaughlin and Matarazzo joined in for that bit, celebrating the fact that they’ve grown up.
What Does the Cast Think About the Show Ending?
Judging by Wolfhard’s monologue, there’s a mix of relief and nostalgia. They’ve spent their formative years on screen, which is something most actors can only dream of. For them, the end is less about saying goodbye to the characters and more about moving on to new roles.
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Will There Ever Be a ‘Stranger Things’ Reunion?
I remember the Friends reunion special; it had me in tears, but it also felt…strange. Seeing the cast together again, older but still trying to recapture that old spark, was bittersweet. It can be tough to recapture lighting in a bottle.
It’s too soon to say if the cast will ever reunite on screen, but it’s possible. TV is a business, and nostalgia sells. In the meantime, we’ll have to settle for SNL sketches that offer a glimpse into the bizarre alternate realities of Hawkins, Indiana.
Is The SNL Sketch Accurate?
Maybe. Probably. The writers understand the show’s appeal. The jokes land, and the satire is sharp, but the question remains: Are we laughing with the show or at it? Considering the franchise’s trajectory, does it even matter?
What’s the statute of limitations on referencing the Upside Down?