Stranger Things: The REAL Upside Down Could Be Weirder Than You Think
We’re looking at whether the science and story logic behind the Upside Down from Netflix’s Stranger Things could work!
Subscribe to Does It Fly? Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1
The final season of Stranger Things has finally arrived on Netflix, and we know it was worth the wait. Stranger Things season 5 might be the most anticipated new season of a Netflix series in history. And with good reason. An instant sensation from when it first premiered in 2016, the kids from Hawkins have captivated new audiences and nostalgia enthusiasts alike with their unique blend of prestige TV storytelling and nods to classic directors like Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, and more.
And central to Stranger Things lore is the Upside Down, the weird parallel dimension that lurks alongside the fictional Hawkins, Indiana. So how does this relate to hard science concepts like string theory, dark matter, or the fundamental forces of the universe? And since one of the reasons Stranger Things has endured for nearly a decade is just how well the lore works, we’ll take a deep dive into the concepts and behind-the-scenes facts that make it all hang together.
Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? to learn more!
SUGGESTED VIEWING
We won’t lie, we love almost every episode of every season of Stranger Things. But to really dive in to today’s topic, these were the episodes we watched to give us the best sense of how the Upside Down could (or should) work:
Season 1, Episode 3 – “Holly Jolly”
Season 1, Episode 5 – “The Flea and the Acrobat”
Season 1, Episode 6 – “The Monster”
Season 4, Episode 7 – “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab”
Season 4, Episode 9 – “The Piggyback”
But with Stranger Things season 5 now on Netflix, go ahead and just binge it all again!
FURTHER READING
Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do!
Hyperspace
No, not the usual sci-fi stuff, the sci-fact (mostly) stuff! Hakeem recommends Hyperspace by Michio Kaku as both an intro to the concept of alternate dimensions as well as the fundamental forces of the universe.
Speaking of…let’s get into the potential ingredients of the Upside Down
The Four Forces
This sounds like a cool tokusatsu show, but no! We’re talking about the four fundamental forces of the universe: gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak nuclear. Read more here!
String Theory
How have we done this many episodes of Does it Fly? and not gotten to String Theory somehow?!? Please read more here, because summarizing it neatly in a sentence or two is a recipe for madness.
Dark Matter
An invisible but ever-present physical manifestation of the universe that exists alongside our own? Tell us more…
The Brane
The idea that our universe is merely one brane of a larger dimensional framework known as the Bulk is something that feels a little Upside Down-ish, doesn’t it? Read lots more here.
Designing the Upside Down
Tamara quotes from an interview with Stranger Things production designer Chris Trujillo, who spoke extensively about the unique look of the Upside Down here.
Trust us, all of the above (more or less) add up to the Upside Down!
WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?
Wicked: For Good is now in theaters and we are unpacking some iconic elements of the land of Oz right here.
Want more Netflix goodness? Check out our episode on The Witcher!
FOLLOW US!
Stay in the loop! Follow DOES IT FLY? on:
♦ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1
♦ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@doesitflypod
And don’t forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment for more sci-fi insights:
♦ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial/
♦ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roddenberry
♦ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.social
For Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.com
Produced by: Kelsey Goldberg
Technical Director: Andrew Halley
RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT | 2025
MORE EPISODES
The Real Magic of the Original Crow Movie
The concept of the magical familiar is a common one in fantasy fiction, but it was used to unique effect in 1994’s The Crow movie. As it turns out, if you’re looking to pick a familiar, crows might just be the ones you want watching your back!
Can We Create Black Mirror’s San Junipero in Real Life?
We explore the science, morality, and story logic behind one of Black Mirror’s most celebrated episodes, the mysterious San Junipero.
Don’t Hold Your Breath for Real Transformers
Just what would it take for a car to turn into a robot (and vice versa) anyway? That’s the central concept of the Transformers franchise, and that’s what we’re tackling today!
