For as much as has already happened in the 2026 TV schedule, it can be easy to forget that Stranger Things came to an end just one month ago. The finale is likely going to go down as one of the most divisive in recent years, with some fans so disappointed that they created an elaborate conspiracy theory and others debated whether Eleven is alive or dead. The frenzy has been over for some time now, so I was surprised to sign in with my Netflix subscription on Friday night and discover one way that the Duffer Brothers' series is still on top.
I got back into Bridgerton in time for Season 4 to release streaming this week, so I naturally signed into Netflix on this ice-cold Friday night to start the new season. I wasn’t expecting any kind of reminder of Stranger Things today other than when “Purple Rain” started playing on my music shuffle. But when I glanced at Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. today, I made an unexpected discovery: there is one way that Stranger Things is beating the competition while ranking tenth.
