Have we hit Stranger Things saturation yet? Since the sleeper hit of the summer first hit Netflix, the internet at large has fallen head over heels for the show’s many mysteries, ’80s coming-of-age and horror film pastiche, and of course, those adorable child actors at the heart of the story. We may be at least a year away from season two, but while we rewatch the show and analyze the showrunners’ interviews for clues about what’s next, we also are happily engulfed in a wave of Stranger Things obsession. The kids are absolutely everywhere–passing out sandwiches at the Emmys, coming up with lyrics for the show’s synthy theme music, reacting to toys from the 80s and 90s–while the conspiracy theory surrounding Stranger Things‘ high school heartthrob Steve and Parks and Recreation‘s Jean Ralphio have come to a boiling point. We’re getting a vinyl soundtrack of the amazing score, have perused endless memes and fan art inspired by the characters (especially Queen Barb), and now, the mash-ups have arrived (pugs, Twin Peaks). We’ve hit peak Stranger Things and to be honest, we’re not mad about it.
In this particularly apt mash-up, YouTube user Tony Harley has combined the characters of Stranger Things with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer intro credits, and it’s so damn perfect I can’t believe no one thought of it sooner. I mean, think about it: a group of lovable young weirdos band together to solve a supernatural mystery and defeat monsters? If that’s not the Scooby Gang from Buffy, I don’t know what is. But the parallels go further than that. Eleven, played to perfection by Millie Bobbie Brown, is the obvious choice for Buffy, not just because she’s the complicated young woman at the center of the story, but because she is tormented by her own powers. And much like Buffy, Eleven (spoilers) has to sacrifice herself to save her friends and the world. But who else would everyone be?
Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is clearly the Giles in this crossover universe (and we’d love to see him interact with the kids more in season two, just to keep this comparison going), and I SUPPOSE Joyce would be Joyce, although I never felt like Buffy-Joyce supported and believed in Buffy the way Winona-Joyce believes in her missing son. Brooding brother Jonathan reminds me of mopey ol’ Angel, so maybe Steve is Spike? As for the kids, well, that’s where things get tricky. Ultimately I think Mike is Willow (which yes, corresponds with some popular Buffy fanfic out there), Dustin is Xander, and Lucas is Cordelia. That leaves Tara for Nancy, which shakes out nicely. Ok, so the parallels aren’t THAT direct but you get the picture.
But we want to know what you think! Which Buffy characters correspond to their Stranger Things counterparts? What’s your favorite mash-up you’ve seen so far? Let us know in the comments below!
We’ve got some theories about what’s next Stranger Things season two…
Rachel Heine is Nerdist’s Editor-in-Chief and resident Buffy aficionado. Follow her on Twitter @RachelHeine!
