1. The Mind Flayer is one of the missing children
The Mind Flayer, the creepy shadow monster lurking in the Upside-Down, is one of the most enigmatic aspects of Stranger Things, and fans have been going crazy since the show's release trying to work out what its origins are. But what if the Mind Flayer isn't actually extra-dimensional? What if it's one of the missing children who, like Eleven, the government experimented on? Bear with me here. In season two, Eleven meets Kali, the eighth psychic child that was experimented on, which means that there are another nine kids unaccounted for. These psychics all have incredible abilities, and are able to tap into the Upside-Down. Perhaps number one, the first child experimented on, was the most powerful of all, but was lost in the strange dimension and turned into the Mind-Flayer. The Mind-Flayer could be wreaking havoc as a result of the child's fury over the experimentation and torture he/she endured at the hands of scientists.2. Bob Newby is a secret agent
Bob Newby is an awesome character: a dorky, yet kindhearted, father figure for Will, and someone who brings joy into Joyce's life. Not only that, but his BASIC skills help to save everyone trapped in the research laboratory at a critical moment. But is there more to him than meets the eye? He almost seemed a little too familiar with the digital security system at the lab, disabling it in moments. Could it be that he was actually a government operative, perhaps the head of security with full clearance? Maybe he was a mole, designed to infiltrate the Byer's family and keep a closer eye on Will? I certainly don't want to believe it, since Bob was so sweet: but you never know.3. The Upside-Down is Earth in the future
Most people up till now have assumed that the Upside-Down is a parallel dimension, but is there another explanation? Stranger Things appears to be set during the height of the Cold War, when the possibility of nuclear Armageddon seemed imminent. Furthermore, the blue glow seen there is similar to the blue glow of radioactive materials. Could it be that the Upside-Down is actually an alternate future? A timeline where Eleven became too powerful, and the government had to nuke Hawkins out of desperation? Or is it a future reality where America and the Soviets attacked each other, and the Demogorgons and the Mind Flayer are actually mutants? Maybe the secret experiments didn't actually tear a hole between dimensions, but in the fabric of space and time.4. The Upside-Down monsters are all fungal
If you pay close attention during scenes set in the Upside-Down, you might notice that Hopper and Dustin inhale strange spores when they traverse the tunnels, and weird creepers cover the cave network below. Furthermore, The Mind Flayer is capable of possessing Will in a process that's stated to be similar to a viral infection. Could it be that the floating particles of white in the Upside-Down are actually fungal spores, and that the monsters are actually like mushrooms? They even have a hive mind, much like the honey fungus, and thrive in dark, damp environments. Furthermore, we see that video games lead to foreshadowing in Stranger Things. In the arcade Lucas and Dustin play Dragon's Lair, which foreshadows their rivalry over Max, and the game Dig Dug foreshadows their escapades in the tunnels. Season three will be set in 1985, the same year that the NES games console was released alongside Super Mario Bros, which prominently features mushrooms as a power-up. Coincidence? I think not.5. The characters all embody Dungeons and Dragons characters
In season two Mike states that each of the characters embodies a Dungeons and Dragons class: "I’m our paladin, Will’s our cleric, Dustin’s our bard, Lucas is our ranger, and El is our Mage." It seems like a throwaway joke, but it's actually a very insightful comment about the nature of the young cast. Mike is the paladin: he's kind-hearted and loyal with a strong moral compass. He even wields a trophy in the final episode, not unlike a holy grail. Will is the cleric, with soothsayer powers and control over life and death. Dustin is the bard: a joker and storyteller, who manages to befriend and control the Demogorgon. Lucas is a ranger, since he's good at scouting and uses binoculars and a catapult. Eleven is the mage (for obvious reasons) while Mad Max works as a rogue, since we see her picking locks at one point and she sneaks out of her house periodically. Steve is a barbarian, wielding a spiked club as a weapon, while Nancy is likely a fighter because of her proficiency with firearms, and Jonathan is a monk who excels at unarmed combat. Only time will tell whether these fan-made theories are legit, or completely bogus. They're all plausible though, right? Unfortunately, season three is still a long way away, so you'll have to be patient if you're already hankering for your next fix of 80s nostalgia. Until the new season premieres, why not entertain yourself by checking out the 12 classic movies that inspired the show.
