Entertainment

Stranger Things 3: Breaking stereotypes and empowering women

There’s more than just killing the Mind Flayer

Published

July 27, 2019

Vincenz

Fans know that all seasons of the Stranger Things were set during the 1980s. It’s also a time period where women were rarely given the chance to stand up and speak for themselves.

Fast forward today, some people still think it’s a privilege rather than a basic human right — but the latest season proves otherwise.

This article contains spoilers so it’s better to stay away if you haven’t seen Stranger Things 3 yet.

El (Eleven)

Although Eleven is quite literally the most powerful woman on this list, younger El was timid and socially inept in the first two seasons due to all the traumatizing experiments performed on her by Hawkins Lab. This season, she’s all about discovering her other powers — that she’s someone who knows and believes in herself. She’s more than just “dumping your ass!” She’s bitchin’ more than ever!

Max Mayfield

Aside from being exasperated and having issues with her stepbrother Billy Hargrove from last season, Eleven and Max also had an awkward relationship, especially because they were introduced to each other unintentionally.

This season changed her a lot. She’s instrumental to El finding her own style and voice. After discovering what happened between El and Mike, Max took her out of her comfort zone, took her shopping, and introduced her to Wonder Woman. She started teaching her to do things on her own — that girls should not always rely on their lousy (ex) boyfriends just to feel better. The boys’ friendship is great, but showing female characters develop as friends, and not just as love interests to the boys is important, too.

Nancy Wheeler

We’ve seen Nancy gradually grow into a brave young woman for the last two seasons of Stranger Things — from someone who’s hesitant to party on a Tuesday night to someone who’s brave enough to face the Demogorgon.

In Season 3 we find Nancy working at the Hawkins Post as an intern. The workplace being full of men, which includes her boyfriend Jonathan Byers, she was expected to have a minor role of serving co-workers coffee or lunch.

She was humiliated for not remembering what an employee wanted in his sandwich. She was also pranked toy rat by her co-workers for trying to pursue a story of an old woman who complained about the unusual rat in her house eating fertilizers and other chemicals.

Unfazed by her colleagues’ misogyny and her boyfriend’s disapproval, she pursued the story that helped unravel and solve more mysteries in Hawkins. In the end, her dedication paid off and helped the gang defeat the monsters that haunted them. If only the men listened to her much earlier.

Karen Wheeler

Also known as Mrs. Wheeler, she is the mother of Mike, Nancy, and Holly, her youngest daughter. Her character was pretty questionable at the start of the season when she started flirting with Billy Hargrove.

The motel meet-up did not push through — Billy was “flayed” while she felt resentful about her actions. She chose to keep her family’s reputation in tact.

One of the most powerful scenes this season was when she gave Nancy a pep talk:

It’s not easy out there Nancy. People are always saying you can’t and you shouldn’t; that you’re not smart enough, not good enough. This world it beats you up again and again until eventually most people they just stop trying. But you’re not like that. You’re a fighter. You always have been.

I felt that.

Robin

Robin’s character was introduced this season as Steve Harrington’s co-worker at Scoops Ahoy. She started as a seemingly anti-social who can’t be bothered, but as the story progressed, she showed us her true side — a funny and smart language whiz who can crack Russian codes instead of a lame dingus.

Throughout the season, Steve saw how fun and witty Robin is that confessed his feelings for her. While they were high from Russian medication, they talked about how obsessed Robin was with him in high school. Robin then admitted it’s not because she had a huge crush on her, but because she envied him as her high school crush — a girl — always stared at him in class.

Although Steve was dumbfounded that she’s gay, it just goes to show that there’s no place for homophobia in this season, as Steve and Robin continued to be friends, closer than ever, even after they defeated the Mind Flayer. 🌈

Erica Sinclair

Saving the best for last, Erica talks and acts as if she’s not 10. Even if she made a short appearance last season as Lucas’ bratty younger sister, she got all the spotlight she deserved this season.

Being young does not stop her from being mature and sassy at the same time. Asked if she loves the country, she responds, “Well you can’t spell America without Erica.”

She accomplished tasks assigned to her with ease for an unlimited supply of Scoops Ahoy. Although she never liked being called a nerd, her intellect proves that young girls are just as smart, if not smarter than their male counterparts.

Who is your favorite Stranger Things character this season? Let us know in the comments section below

Related Topics:Netflix Stranger Things Stranger Things 3

Entertainment

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 premieres in April

The animated series is set between seasons two and three.

Published

February 3, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Stranger Things is over. After years of success, the long-running series finally reached its definitive conclusion. But if you thought Netflix would easily let its biggest cash cow go, then you’d be mistaken. Barely a month after the final episode, the franchise is back with an animated spinoff called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85.

The animated series, which oddly features a new cast to voice the characters, is not a continuation of the concluded story. Rather, it’s a midquel set during the winter between the second and third seasons. Despite closing off a gate to the Upside Down, Eleven and the gang discover that some monsters are still lurking around in their world.

Because we already know what happens up until the very end, there’s hardly any tension. That said, and based on the show’s subtitle, the animated series might be a creature-of-the-week adventure. However, Eric Robles, who will run the series, says that saving Hawkins is still a major plot point.

The Duffer Brothers, who will be executive producers, says that it was a challenge to feature monsters after the events of the main show’s second season. The show will still have a substantial story, though.

For now, we’ll have a bit of a reprieve from everything Stranger Things (or time to catch up with everything, if you prefer). Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will premiere on April 23.

Entertainment

BTS returns with global live comeback event on Netflix this March

BTS reunites live worldwide

Published

February 3, 2026

GadgetMatch

Netflix has officially announced BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG, a global livestream event set for March 21, 2026. This marks the group’s first full reunion performance since completing South Korea’s mandatory military service.

Streaming live exclusively on Netflix, the event will air at 8 PM KST (or 4 AM PST and 7 AM EST). It will broadcast worldwide from the historic Gwanghwamun in Seoul. The performance celebrates the release of BTS’ fifth studio album, ARIRANG.

Netflix partnered with HYBE to bring the seven-member group back to the stage. This is being positioned as a landmark global comeback. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook will reunite onstage for the first time as a complete group since their hiatus.

The live special will be directed by Hamish Hamilton and produced by Done + Dusted, with executive producers including HYBE, BIGHIT MUSIC, Guy Carrington, Garrett English, and Kevin Hermanson. Netflix confirmed that the event will be ticketed, with further details to be announced at a later date.

A symbolic return in Seoul

The choice of Gwanghwamun as the livestream location adds symbolic weight to the comeback. One of Seoul’s most historic public spaces, the setting reflects the themes explored in ARIRANG. It is an album described as deeply reflective and rooted in identity, heritage, and renewal.

The album announcement arrives alongside confirmation of the ARIRANG World Tour, scheduled to run from 2026 to 2027. The tour will span 34 regions and include 82 shows. This will happen across Asia, North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and additional territories.

Together, the album and live event mark the start of a new chapter for BTS. This follows years of solo activities and military enlistment. The comeback positions the group not just as returning idols, but as artists re-entering the global stage with a renewed sense of perspective.

Netflix expands its live ambitions

BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG also represents a milestone for Netflix. It will be the platform’s first-ever live global broadcast originating from South Korea, further expanding its growing slate of live programming.

The event joins a lineup that already includes live specials. These are Skyscraper Live, Star Search, Jake vs Joshua, WWE Raw, NFL Christmas Gameday, and major boxing and sports events. Netflix has also confirmed upcoming live coverage of MLB games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and The Actor Awards.

With BTS leading the charge, Netflix continues to test the limits of live global entertainment beyond traditional sports and reality formats.

A documentary follows days later

Just days after the livestream, Netflix will release BTS: THE RETURN, a feature-length documentary premiering on March 27, 2026.

Directed by Bao Nguyen, the film chronicles the group’s long-awaited reunion and the making of ARIRANG. The documentary follows BTS as they reunite in Los Angeles. Watch as they create new music, navigating personal change, shared history, and the challenge of beginning again after time apart.

Produced by This Machine, HYBE, and EAST Films, the documentary promises unprecedented access to the group’s creative process. It explores moments of doubt, reflection, and rediscovery as BTS shape what is positioned as a defining album of their career.

Intimate and emotional in tone, BTS: THE RETURN frames the comeback not just as a pop culture moment, but as a story of resilience, brotherhood, and reinvention—one shaped by time, growth, and the weight of global expectation.

For millions of fans worldwide, March 2026 marks not just a return, but the beginning of BTS’ next era.

Entertainment

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord to premiere on April 6

New animated series on Disney Plus

Published

February 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

One of the most iconic franchise villains is making a major comeback as Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is premiering on April 6 on Disney+.

Two episodes from the all-new Lucasfilm animated series will premiere each week. The final two will air right in time for the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th.

Set after the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the adventure finds Maul plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire.

There, he crosses paths with a disillusioned young Jedi Padawan who could be the apprentice he is seeking to aid him in his relentless pursuit for revenge.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is created by Dave Filoni, based on Star Wars and characters created by George Lucas.

The series is developed by Dave Filoni and Matt Michnovetz, with Brad Rau as supervising director. The three are also joined by Athena Yvette Portillo, Carrie Beck, and Josh Rimes as executive producers, with Alex Spotswood as co-executive producer.

The voice cast includes: