Stranger Things and the Rules of Friendship

Tiny Spoiler Alert: I'm not going to discuss any big events or describe characters.  But I am going to talk about one moment.  Ready?

At one point in Stranger Things, two friends have had a falling out, and a third friend goes to one of them and says, 'You know what you have to do.  You have to put your hand out first'.

I gasped.  Then I told the screen how awesome that was.  Because that one line told you everything you needed to know.  It told you that these guys had rules - a code of conduct, if you will.  And one of those rules was that if you were the one who screwed up or acted poorly or whatever, then it was on you to make the first move towards reconciliation.  More than that, it is understood that each of them has a responsibility to put the friendship above their own pride or ego.

Wow.  There are several rules like this that come up during the season.  Friends always tell the truth.  Friends don't break promises.  And, because they're human, they do end up lying and breaking promises.  But that higher standard is always in play.  They always have to go back and apologize or make things right.

And that's one of the things I love the most about Stranger Things (and there's a lot to love).  The great message about the rules of friendship.

Friends always tell the truth.  Friends don't break promises.  Friends put the friendship above their own pride.  Friends sacrifice for each other.