"Stranger Things" will return to our screens on November 27th for its final season. This series, which has broken audience records and captivated audiences, seems to be pure fiction. Yet, there is a grain of truth in this story that exists between two worlds. Rest assured, the Demogorgons of the Upside Down never existed; however, Hawkins National Laboratory, where Eleven was held captive, is inspired by real events.
A series inspired by a secret project
The "Stranger Things" series is coming to an end, and fans are already lamenting it. While everyone is speculating about this final season and trying to come up with a plausible storyline, no one knows the truth about this anthology series. Except perhaps for the die-hard fans who wake up to the sound of Kate Bush and have shelves full of "Stranger Things" merchandise.
This series, which features a group of teenagers in a chaotic world populated by sinister creatures, seems more like a nasty case of sleep paralysis than reality . Yet, even though it leans more towards dystopia than a simple news story, it finds some echoes in our world. Admittedly, Hawkins is a fictional town and Eleven is too superhuman to be real, but the core of the plot has some similarities with a secret CIA program. Its name? Project MK-Ultra. What lies behind this "forbidden" file is chilling.
In the 1950s, the American intelligence agency conducted experiments similar to those of "Dad" in "Stranger Things," but less "trashy." The goal? To control the minds of these human guinea pigs by subjecting them to doses of LSD. As mentioned in an article in The Guardian , this project aimed to further develop mind control, telepathy, the sixth sense, psychological warfare, and remote viewing. If you've seen the early seasons of "Stranger Things," you'll probably have a few flashbacks of Eleven crushing Coca-Cola cans.
These theories are causing a stir online.
In the labyrinth of the internet, theories surrounding this project have proliferated, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Internet users, playing detective, haven't been satisfied with this sealed-off case. The most skeptical among them believe that "Stranger Things" has its origins in Project Montauk. An isolated former military site, strange testimonies, experiments allegedly conducted on children… This, they claim, is the backbone of the series.
In the 1980s and 90s, a man named Preston Nichols published a series of books claiming to have participated in a secret program conducted at the Montauk military base. According to his account, scientists there tested advanced technologies: mind control, telekinesis, memory manipulation, interdimensional travel… and even the use of children with psychic abilities. It's difficult to separate fact from fiction in these accounts, but one thing is certain: this dark world, straddling science and the paranormal , undoubtedly provided fertile ground for "Stranger Things." The series was even originally going to be called Montauk!
Eleven, a child reduced to a mere number and used as a weapon of psychological destruction, would thus be the mirror of a sordid military strategy. Ultimately, monsters don't always look like Vecna or the Demogorgons. They sometimes wear suits and ties.
"Stranger Things", season 5, the final farewell
This lively group, whose adolescence was anything but ordinary and who grew up under constant threat, will return on November 27th. A date many of us will be eagerly awaiting. The trailer already promises a wild season, packed with action and plot twists.
But fans, who will be spending the holidays with Eleven, Mike, Will, and the rest of the gang, are convinced: there won't be a happy ending. Given the direction the series has taken, the town of Hawkins will face even darker times. They should prepare themselves for more deaths (and not just those of the Demogorgons).
Whatever happens in this final installment, "Stranger Things" remains a timeless series that is watched by generations. In a few years, Eleven and her friends will still be riding bikes on our screens and serving as role models for our children.
