The shocking case of series which began and concluded between ‘Stranger Things’ long run

Stranger Things captivated audiences with its nostalgia induced visuals and fresh vibes when it arrived on Netflix in the summer of 2016.

Featuring noteworthy performances from a bunch of young actors, all stars in the making, the show also became an instant hit partly because of its more seasoned cast — stars who started out in the ‘80s, the decade which served as the main backdrop for the series, Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine turned in thrilling performances in its debut season.

As the show kept growing in scale and more stars were tipped to become part of it over the course of many years, it feels like Stranger Things has been around since forever. And in many ways, it has.

Though with the show’s conclusion scheduled for later this year, close to a decade after it premiered, it only boasts four seasons for now and the fifth one is going to be its final.

However, has its long disappearance from screens everywhere created a bit of fatigue for the viewers?

The online blog, Discussing Film, noted on X (formerly Twitter) that a host of series began and ended between the extensively delayed run of Stranger Things. 

Sharing a long list of titles, the amusing observation serves as a reminder of how the popular sci-fi epic may have fumbled its audience’s interest — of course, the final verdict remains to be seen, as the show comes out in two volumes, on November 26 and December 25.

In the meantime, let’s take you through the dates when some of the TV shows on Discussing Film’s list were released and concluded.

You

Premiered: September 9, 2018

Ended: April 24, 2025

Riverdale

Premiered: January 26, 2017

Ended: August 23, 2023

Dark

Premiered: December 1, 2017

Ended: June 27, 2020

Ozark

Premiered: July 21, 2017

Ended: April 29, 2022

This Is Us

Premiered: September 20, 2016

Ended: May 24, 2022

Cobra Kai

Premiered: May 2, 2018

Ended: February 13, 2025

The Crown

Premiered: November 4, 2016

Ended: December 14, 2023

13 Reasons Why

Premiered: March 31, 2017

Ended: June 5, 2020

Succession

Premiered: June 3, 2018

Ended: May 28, 2023

The Umbrella Academy

Premiered: February 15, 2019

Ended: August 8, 2024