The Antagonism of Blackness in Netflix ‘Stranger Issues | Black Writers Week

“Stranger Issues” has develop into a phenomenon over the course of its six-year run, beating out exhibits like “Squid Sport” as Netflix’s high collection, and it has rightly deserved that spot. Season 1 got here out on the good time, within the midst of an 80s nostalgia revival additionally pushed by movies just like the “It” reboot and the now canceled “Glow,” giving each adults and Gen Z a glimpse again into the previous. Regardless of the present’s creativity, it has failed its black characters and its black viewers time and time once more.

Because the present has progressed, and with the Quantity 1 premiere of season 4, it’s clear after six years that the Duffer brothers nonetheless have no idea what to line up with Lucas. In season three, this was apparent, however within the newest collection, it’s disgusting. Instantly, Lucas turns into a idiot for his buddy Mike and Dustin, prioritizing his new basketball profession over enjoying Dungeons & Dragons together with his associates. It isn’t that he has misplaced curiosity in his friends, it’s that he needs to be well-liked. “I’m uninterested in being a loser,” he states, and Mike and Dustin take a look at him with delicate disgust. For, after all, it will be unacceptable for a black individual to be uninterested in being bullied, known as “midnight” and bodily assaulted by racists like his girlfriend Max’s older brother, Billy.

They don’t present up for his basketball recreation, however as an alternative take Lucas’ sister, Erica, to switch him for his or her marketing campaign. By swapping their buddy out together with his sister, we get an perception into Erica’s world, however nonetheless it’s not sufficient. Erica joined “Stranger Issues” in season two, to my shock, because it was not beforehand identified that Lucas had a sister. Her first scene again in 2017 exhibits her listening to Lucas’ non-public walkie-talkie dialog as the 2 share chatty phrases and nothing extra. That is how Erica’s character stays, years later. Except for a quick keep that helps Steve, Dustin and Robin escape Russian forces in season three, Erica at all times exhibits up briefly and never and not using a witty comeback.

She’s enjoyable to look at at occasions, and that’s all about Priah Ferguson’s charisma, however the jokes get outdated as time goes on. Who’s Erica actually and what’s her objective on this story? Is she a stand-in for her brother’s associates? Is she solely useful as a serving to hand when the older crew wants her assist (however nonetheless manages to maintain her out of the loop)? There’s additionally an odd sense of nationalism with Erica’s character, with a proud assertion “You cannot spell America with out Erica!” is one among her defining traces in season three. In season 4, she strides proudly down the aisle of the varsity, carrying an American flag round her shoulders, dragging after her like a cloak or a beacon of hope. “Stranger Issues” and its nationalism within the wake of Hawkins being invaded by Russian forces is just not essentially new, however having your whole black feminine character’s persona constructed across the love of America is tone deaf in the very best of occasions, however particularly in the present day .