Sean McDowell Weighs In on ‘Stranger Things,’ Its Worldview, and the Show’s Controversial Final Season

Sean McDowell
Sean and Scottie McDowell (screengrab via YouTube / @Sean McDowell)

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Apologist Dr. Sean McDowell has weighed in with his opinion on the ending of Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things” in a review alongside his son, Scottie. 

Editor’s note: This article contains spoilers for “Stranger Things.”

Sean McDowell is the son of famed evangelist Josh McDowell and an associate professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California. He is also a popular YouTuber, podcaster, and author, who speaks often about Christian apologetics. 

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The final season of “Stranger Things” was released in three batches during the holiday season. The final episode was released on New Year’s Eve, bringing to a close a show that has been a topic of conversation since its first season released in 2016. 

The show, which was created by brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, centers on a group of teens in the 1980s who interact with supernatural forces and uncover other dimensions and government conspiracies.

Sean noted the cultural impact of the show, referring to it as “Netflix’s most popular TV series ever with over 1.2 billion views.”

“Why has the show been so popular? What did it get right? What did it get wrong?” mused Sean. “Given that the show was made for Gen X and for Gen Z, I thought I’d bring my son on to break it down with me.”

Sean and Scottie McDowell Explore the ‘Worldview’ Behind ‘Stranger Things’

Sean McDowell and his son Scottie both praised “Stranger Things,” particularly for the first three seasons, although they expressed disappointment with its final two seasons. While the McDowells expressed their love for the characters and the mystery of the show, they also felt that the long time gaps between seasons and the way the show ended ultimately hampered the show’s emotional resonance. 

RELATED: Can You Sin in Heaven?—Apologist Sean McDowell Gives Surprising View

Shifting the conversation to the “worldview” behind the show, Sean said that he had “a take” that he hadn’t “heard a lot of people giving.” 

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Dale Chamberlain
Dale Chamberlain (M.Div) is Content Manager for ChurchLeaders. With experience in pastoral ministry as well as the corporate marketing world, he is also an author and podcaster who is passionate about helping people tackle ancient truths in everyday settings. Dale lives in Southern California with his wife Tamara and their three sons.

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