Stranger Things and It are set in two different universes and follow distinct themes. While the former is more of a science fiction tale, the latter is a brilliant adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic horror classic. However, did you ever notice the key element that makes them similar? Well, believe it or not, Stranger Things and IT are actually very similar, mainly because of how they started.
The Story of Stranger Things and It Starts With the Disappearances of…
Stranger Things Season 1 takes us back to 1983; it’s the month of November, and suddenly, a kid named Will Byers disappears from his own home. The trail of gruesome events and the arrival of the outerworldly creatures in Hawkins begin after the tragic incident that took Will away from his family.
Meanwhile, in IT Chapter 1, we see a kid named Georgie insisting on his elder brother to play with him. However, after being neglected, he leaves his home and does not return. Well, while Will returns home alive, Georgie doesn’t make it home because he gets killed by the terrifying creature he met after his paper boat floats into a sewer.
The disappearances of the naive kids eventually become the driving force of the storylines. In Stranger Things, Will’s family and friends come together to fight the sinister force that abducts their friend. It: Chapter One sees Georgie’s brother, William, and his friends step forward to fight the monster that haunts their town.
Both stories get extremely terrifying when the kids discover that there is a supernatural entity behind the disappearances of their loved ones. Despite knowing that they will always fall short in strength and powers to fight these creatures, our lead crew doesn’t hesitate to give it their all. In the path, they sometimes get discouraged by their own fears and past trauma, but nothing can stop them from heading further.
Now, there’s one more thing that is common in the two television shows- Finn Wolfhard. In Stranger Things, he appears as Mike Wheeler, and in IT: Chapter One, he portrays Ritchie Tozier. In several interviews, the Duffer Brothers have revealed that Stephen King has been one of their inspirations while making the sci-fi television show, making the similarity no coincidence.
Also, digging deeper, we can say that the similarities shape the emotional cores of It and Stranger Things. It allows fans to witness that, no matter what form evil takes, it’s one’s courage and belief that show them the path for sure. Since Pennywise and Vecna hide under the surface of Derry and Hawkins, it’s always the unity of our heroes that helps them win the deadliest battles with these supernatural enemies.
