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Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ ‘Dungeons And Dragons’ References, An Old Radio Show Pilot, Planned ‘D&D’ Movie, And Cartoon Episode Resurrect 80s Pop Culture Game

By Tony Smejek
Published on: 06:32 PST, Aug 26, 2016

Netflix’s Stranger Things’ Dungeons and Dragons references hit the nostalgia button for 80s pop culture fans. Beyond that, things like an old radio show pilot popping up, a planned D&D movie, an uncovered “Requiem” cartoon episode, and other activities referencing the game have revived the 80s pop culture fantasy genre. There are even celebrities admitting that they have played or are currently playing the RPG phenomena as well.

Stranger Things’ 80s Pop Culture References

Netflix’s hit eight-episode horror series features a ton of 80s pop culture movie and Dungeons and Dragons references. The show opens with young boys playing the game, which nicely sets the tone for the audience.

Scientists of the local facility unleashed an otherworldly threat that keeps popping in and out the town, and the boys of the community come across a powerful girl with telekinetic abilities. One of the boys, Finn, named her “Eleven.”

During the show, they utilize D&D sources to draw relationships between the community’s threat and the fictional-based RPG game. This is mainly because Eleven/Jane Ives, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is trying to communicate with her new friends and, by doing so, makes references to the game.

In Stranger Things, the monster Demogorgon is used to describe this threat. The Dungeons and Dragons game board was flipped over and was referred to as the “Upside Down.” This is the world in which the Demogorgon exists and is also referred to as the Vale of Shadows.

This realm is basically a mirror of the current world, but gray, dark, and sinister. Game Banshee has a description.

“The Vale of Shadows lies only a few hours northeast of Kuldahar — the Vale is a great canyon of crypts and tombs, some of them dating back centuries. Shadows cling to the walls of the canyon, even in the brightest day, and some of the shadows walk, carrying their burden of hated and hungers with them. Beware this place.”

Stranger Things Pays Homage To 80s Movies

Beyond Dungeons and Dragons references in Stranger Things is a side-by-side comparison in different scenes of the Netflix series that pays homage to many scenes in 80s flicks. The big ones that stick out are E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Goonies. It’s fun to see how the kids in the 2016 show partake in collaborative efforts and use bikes as their only mode of transport much like the aforementioned 80s movies.

Show creators Matt and Ross Duffer talk about the homage they paid in their creation, according to Entertainment Weekly.

“If you’ve watched the first episode of our show (and we assume you have if you’re reading this!), it’s probably clear to you that we love the films of the ’70s and ’80s. We grew up particularly obsessed with the movies of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter, as well as the novels of Stephen King.”

Such an example was given via a side-by-side comparison as the characters go through similar motions that practically mimic the classics.

Welcome to Dungeons And Dragons Radio

At the beginning of this month, an interesting audio piece of a D&D classic radio show pilot was revealed. Playing at the World posted the YouTube and SoundCloud links for a listen. It was uploaded via Jon Peterson, an RPG historian and a fantasy role-playing enthusiast.

In the 80s, the D&D game was in its prime as TSR promoted the brand big time. The end result was an animated cartoon, but other types of media didn’t wind up going public. The 2000 movie didn’t do so well either.

Enter the lost pilot radio episode that didn’t make it into the main stream. It was named, Dungeons and Dragons Radio Pilot Adventure.

Peter wrote Playing at the World, which gives an in-depth analysis of the paper and pencil fantasy entertainment industry.

Future D&D Movie In The Works

According to a press release published earlier this month, Greg Silverman of Warner Bros. announced that a Dungeons and Dragons movie will be making its way to theaters. It won’t be a video game-based film and instead will follow the RPG. Even though the pilot radio show didn’t make it big, it seems the big wigs at the studios will be doing something similar based on the game itself.

In fact, it already has a script.

“We are so excited about bringing the world of Dungeons & Dragons to life on the big screen. This is far and away the most well-known brand in fantasy, which is the genre that drives the most passionate film followings. D&D has endless creative possibilities, giving our filmmakers immense opportunities to delight and thrill both fans and moviegoers new to the property.”

Unused “Requiem” Cartoon Episode Revealed

Last year, a Dungeons and Dragons cartoon episode surfaced that didn’t make it to TV. A collaboration to create the “Requiem Audiovisual Series Finale” was made with the original 1985 script, 2006 DVD radio show, a fan-made Portuguese comic book, and last year’s typesetting. This was all coined from an unproduced series finale to the Saturday 80s cartoon.

So, is Netflix’s Stranger Things’ Dungeons and Dragons references teasing you to jump on the D&D bandwagon? Even if you haven’t played the 80s RPG, here’s an opportunity to jump on this trending fun-filled fantasy game.

Will Stranger Things Season 2 make way for more 80s flashbacks?

[Photo by Eric Charbonnea/AP Images]

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