List Of 80s References In 'Holly, Jolly' - Stranger Things, Episode 3

July 17, 2016 8:00 PM ‐ Television • Stranger Things • Netflix

This article is more than eight years old and was last updated in August 2020.

Stranger Things - Holly, Jolly - Episode 3

After reeling off a list of 80s confectionary, including Nutty Bars, PEZ, Smarties, Bazooka, Pringles and Nilla Wafers, Dustin holds a Millennium Falcon toy from 'Star Wars' in front of Eleven in the hopes that she will make is levitate with her powers.

A little while later while Eleven is home alone at Mike's, she turns on the television and flicks through the channels. We briefly see a snatch of Ronald Reagan's speech regarding events in Lebanon and Grenada, followed by the opening titles for 'He-Man' and a retro Coca-Cola advert.

When Nancy is asking her classmate if she has seen Barbara, a poster with the word "nevermore" is visible behind them. This is a reference to Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Raven', which could be a clue to the fact that Barb is already dead and Nancy would never see her again, like the main character of the poem would not be able to see his beloved Lenore again.

We see a poster of 80s megastar Tom Cruise on the wall while Eleven explores Nancy Wheeler's bedroom. Later in a scene featuring Nancy music can be heard that is very similar to that used in the 1983 Cruise movie, 'Risky Business'.

When Hopper is researching Hawkins National Laboratory at the towmn's library, he stumbles across information that links the lab's boss, Dr. Brenner, to the secretive MKULTRA Project. This is a reference to a real CIA project that was set up to research telekinesis and other forms of mind control and psychic abilities.

Poltergeist

More From 'Stranger Things'

There's loads more from Hawkins on our 'Stranger Things' pages including playlists of music from the show, and you can test your knowledge of 'Stranger Things' with our trivia quizzes. Plus check out our complete 'Stranger Things' episode guide for all four seasons.

When Mike's younger sister Holly is at Joyce's house she is drawn towards a wall the a demogorgon is hiding behind. The way the scene is shot is very similar to the famous scene with the ghosts in the television in the 1982 supernatural movie, 'Poltergeist'.

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Music

'Waiting For A Girl Like You' - Foreigner

This 1981 hit plays while Nancy and Steve are getting intimate in his bedroom. Meanwhile, Barb's life is coming to an end following an encounter with a demogorgon.

'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' - The Joel Evans Quartet

Joyce realises she doesn't have enough lights, so returns to her workplace to buy more lights. This festive song is playing in the store.

'Lullaby' - Johannes Brahms

The song the music box plays when Eleven opens it is by composer Johannes Brahms.

'Heroes' - Peter Gabriel

This song plays as the body is taken away and roles into the episode's end credits.

On To Chapter Four

S01E04

80s References In Stranger Things, Episode 4

July 18, 2016

A complete list of 80s easter eggs and pop culture references in the fourth episode of season one of the supernatural Netflix series, Stranger Things.

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