Stranger Things director Shawn Levy reveals his favourite scene from the entire franchise 

In a recent interview, Shawn Levy, the director and executive producer of Stranger Things, expressed that the one scene in the entire series that stands out to him. Levy has had involvement in many of the most memorable scenes throughout the show's history. He expressed how proud he is to have contributed to the evolution of the show into an international phenomenon. Although he felt an overwhelming attachment to many of the moments in the show, when he began to narrow down his choices, there were still several key moments that continued to play a huge role in what the show was able to achieve.

Shawn Levy discussed this topic during an interview with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan. He eventually pointed to the powerful ending of the season 4 episode "Dear Billy." The scene focuses on Max, played by Sadie Sink, as she tries to escape Vecna. Levy said those last minutes of the episode connected with people on a very large scale. Shawn Levy explained that the impact of "Dear Billy" was special because of the way it spread across the world. He felt that the way the episode reached audiences showed how powerful the show had become.

Shawn Levy also reflects on a key scene from Stranger Things season 1

After speaking about "Dear Billy," Shawn Levy looked back at the earlier seasons of the show. He described it as one of the key moments from the first season of Stranger Things, which has always been memorable. It is the climactic ending of the episode "The Monster." It was when Mike, played by actor Finn Wolfhard, was pushed off a cliff by some bullies. Thankfully, Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, intervenes at exactly the right moment and saves him. Levy stated that this moment represented "insane storytelling" since it showed how far these young characters cared for one another.

Levy discussed how the moment represents the first sign of the strong connection between Eleven and Mike. He also mentioned that the interesting part of this scene was the emotional transition from fear to a feeling of comfort, as exemplified by the group hug between Mike, El and friends after experiencing something scary. For Levy, these softer moments between the characters are some of his favourite parts of the entire show.

This season 1 quarry scene also played an important role in the early story. At this point in the season, the group was facing growing tension. Mike and Lucas had strong disagreements about Eleven and her connection to Will's disappearance. Even so, Mike and Dustin chose to look for her. Eleven then saved them at the quarry and later shared her guilt about opening the gate to the Upside Down. The moment helped build trust between the characters and brought them closer together.

Stranger Things' most memorable scenes continue to shape its legacy

Stranger Things has created many moments that fans still remember today. These examples of certain scenes in Season 1 through Season 3 of the series include the scene where Eleven flips the Hawkins Lab van, Joyce using Christmas lights to communicate with Will throughout his disappearance, and Hopper's sacrifice to save Eleven at the end of Season 3. Because of this, the series has developed a reputation for its ability for imagery and visual storytelling evoke emotions for a long period of time after viewing.

However, the conclusion of "Dear Billy" stands out as one of the most discussed and praised scenes throughout the entire series. This single episode has affected pop culture even further by bringing revived attention to Kate Bush's song "Running Up That Hill." After the release of this episode, "Running Up That Hill" not only rose back up the charts but also had an explosion of views. Many fans of the series linked the strength and fear Max represented during this episode with the song, thus giving meaning to this emotional moment.

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Shawn Levy's choice of both the "Dear Billy" ending and the season 1 quarry scene shows the range of scenes that define Stranger Things. Some scenes carry intense action and danger, while others focus on friendship and support. Shawn Levy said these different tones are what make the show special. He feels that the mix of dark storytelling and warm character moments is at the centre of the series.

Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 arrives on November 26 on Netflix. Volume 2 will follow on December 25, and the final event will come on December 31. Fans around the world are waiting to see how the story concludes and what final moments may join Shawn Levy's list of favourite scenes in the years ahead.

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