Stranger Things Finale Praised By Hideo Kojima

Hideo Kojima sure loves movies. He loves them so much, he partly models his games after them, and whether you love, hate, or simply tolerate his writing style, it’s hard to deny the man has a passion for cinematic flair.

He also enjoys television, evidently, including Stranger Things. If you’ve been under a rock, you might not be aware that Netflix’s massively popular show closed its door with a series finale just a few nights back. The reception online seems to have been rather divisive – full disclosure, I’m weird and not big on the show so I went ahead and read spoilers and reviews before writing this. Kojima himself, however, has been effusive in his praise.

A Very Special Drama Series

“Stranger Things has reached its finale,” Kojima wrote on Twitter, which, yes, I’m still calling Twitter. “For me, it was actually a very special drama series.” He openly admits to having experienced a “difficult time” in his life back when the show premiered nine years ago, “a period filled with anxiety and loneliness.” That’s rough, man.

I think the thing in Kojima’s message that has struck the loudest chord among readers, however, is this one simple sentence: “This isn’t a story about saying goodbye.” Pointing out Stranger Things’ D&D-inspired narrative, the gaming industry legend goes on to explain that, in his view, “the story already lives within all of us.” Given how much of what happens to the people of Hawkins, Indiana which is rooted in Dungeons & Dragons setting – and the impact it has on the core cast – I would wager that Kojima is reminiscing on this beautiful notion that the show’s own plot lies dormant within us all.

Netflix

Hideo Kojima is the sort of gaming household name whose opinions can’t help but prompt articles like this one. His words reach a vast audience, from Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding fans to myriad filmmakers and more. I’m not sure whether Stranger Things’ creators will take notice of his warm message, and I certainly recognize that the phenomenon’s grand finale ruffled more than a few feathers out there. But it’s cool to see him going to bat for it, I guess, and neat to know how much Eleven meant to him. Might not be my cup of tea, but she and other Hawkins stalwarts left a big mark on millions, and hey. Rad.