This letter is mostly spoiler-free! I think you need a bit of context but other than that, I think you’ll be able to mostly understand the letter without having watched the show :] It's so crazy that Stranger Things is ending, after all these years. I was way too young to watch it when it first came out, it's been a decade since then and I really just want to see more of the show, it felt like it would never end (turn around, look at what you see-). I first watched Stranger Things in June, so l'm much newer than most fans, but nevertheless this show found a place in my heart. I started watching the show because my friend and her family recommended it to me, and my family finally let me(l used to be really scared of things when I was younger, but I was over it by then). I was mad at that friend at the time, so I was reluctant to start watching it. But once I did start... I wouldn't have admitted it then, but I was immediately compelled. By the time I'd first finished the show, I was more into it than my friend was. And the next time I saw her, I was just anxious to talk about Stranger Things. We're good friends again, so Stranger Things literally repaired a strained relationship I'd had, and even strengthened bonds that were perfectly stable. This show has brought me so many emotions- sadness, excitement, fear, even frustration and anger- but more than anything, happiness and comfort. I am going to be disappointed if Byler doesn't happen, I've learned that from vol. 2, but no matter what happens in the end, I'll still love this show no matter how I feel in the moment. And someone l'm very grateful for- I mean, I really owe so much to him- is Will Byers. Other than Ena Shinonome, I relate to Will more than any other character. Will's a character I can find comfort in, even when my favorite character was Dustin- who still means a lot to me- I still found Will extremely relatable and important to me. l have a soft spot for artists and canonically queer characters in media, so he was immediately among my favorites, and he only went up the list once I finally clocked him in season 4. I found so many of my own character traits in Will, so he really means a lot to me. Thank you, Will. I want to thank so many other characters from this show- Robin, Dustin, Mike, Eddie, the list goes on. All these characters have taught me that it's okay to be different, it's okay to be a freak, it's okay to be weird. A show about outcasts, a show against forced conformity- I really needed something like that in my life. And I still do. I'll be watching Stranger Things again and again, this show will never lose its charm. Stranger Things has had me crying so much in the past, from just tearing up to straight up sobbing right in front of my family. The story, the characters, the acting, I mean, even the music, it's all just so beautiful. I could spend the rest of my life expressing how much I love Stranger Things and I'm not even sure it would be enough. I'm gonna miss it when it's over, but at the same time, I'll keep it in my life because even if it's going to be over, it'll never be gone. Who knows how many times I'll rewatch it? Anyway, I'll always love this show so much. From the bottom of my heart... Thank you, Stranger Things. - Ena
Audio- Kids by Kyle Dixon Goodbye, Stranger Things <3
