Watch With Me: Stranger Things Chapter 2

Warning: Spoilers

Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street aka How did we know Barb was going next?

Chivalry is NOT dead, ladies. These 12 year-olds (I assume they are 12) won’t let the lady undress in front of them. Good on you.

Cue Theme Music

“What… is… friend?” As cheesy as that line wasn’t supposed to be, I couldn’t help but chuckle remembering when a fellow grad student, from Korea, asked me, “What is snuggle?”

How did we know Barb was going next?

One broad question that media psychologists seek to answer is, “Why do we like what we like?” What attracts us to particular narratives? I’m a sucker for dramas with high production value, witty comedies, terrible rom coms… That describes most of the stories out there right now, actually. But I contrast myself with my research teammate, Josie, who loves horror. Dark thrillers, in particular. She is also a metal head, frequents concerts that feature large mosh pits, and her wardrobe is mostly black.

She’s the nicest person I know.

Why are we attracted to such different stories when it comes to our entertainment preferences? We connect on so many things, but if I’m at a concert it is most likely featuring two unknowns in a room looping some folksy tunes.

You can find me in the back sipping coffee.

To study why audiences are attracted to particular narratives, scholars have begun to draw on research from evolutionary and moral psychology. Our innate senses of morality and our moral judgment allows us to evaluate characters, identify good from evil, and can even attract or repel us from a narrative depending on if the story upholds or violates our strongest values.

How does this relate to Barb?

Every major character in Episode 2 demonstrated some level of moral transgression. Examples include Jonathan playing the voyeur, Hopper again being callous toward Joyce, and both Mike and Nancy lying to their parents. Barb, however, spent the episode trying to cock block Steve Harrington. Bitch.

Just kidding- she was doing the right thing THE WHOLE TIME. She was altruistically looking out for her friend at a cost to herself.

The price? TAKEN. And Liam Neeson won’t be there to rescue her until 2008.

Episode winners-

1st place: Mike’s Yoda impression.

Last place: Steve Harrington’s friend who stroked (tickled?) Barb’s ear…what?