'Stranger Things' Fans Ask if There Are Double Standards in New Teaser
By Ryan Carroll
The newest teaser for the highly anticipated third season of Stranger Things premiered this week, fanning the flames of excitement among fans. Some, however, were troubled by the new clip, and questioned whether it was an example of improper behavior or double standards. In particular, they raised concerns over the flirtation between Billy Hargrove and Mrs. Wheeler.
A Reddit thread on the topic raised the issue, suggesting that fans should stop viewing the relationship as “anywhere near okay.” As users noted, Billy was 17 years old as of last season and Mrs. Wheeler is a middle-aged mother, and their flirtation, they argued, would not have been considered acceptable if it were a 17-year-old girl flirting with an older man.
The issue does not seem to be a legal one—according to another user, the age of consent in Indiana (where the show takes place) at the time was 16—but rather one of representation and behavior. While many users found the depiction of the character to be realistic and appropriate, others questioned whether such realism was necessary. As one user remarked, “The show is made in 2019. It would cost zero dollars” to not play into the tropes of older individuals inappropriately lusting after younger individuals.
Another issue, of course, is the tension between the events of the show and the way the show depicts them. One user noted that Billy is a “terrible, racist bully,” opening up the question of whether he’s manipulating Mrs. Wheeler—or, if he is not manipulating her, whether the show should depict a problematic character in such a way or not.
In any case, we’re interested to see where the storyline goes and how the Duffer Brothers will be able to depict the dynamics of Hawkins, Indiana. Stranger Things Season 3 premieres on July 4, and we’ll be watching every episode eagerly.