Stranger Things Season 5 steals a key scene from The Umbrella Academy
In the realm of television, certain shows become synonymous with specific songs, embedding them into the cultural consciousness of their audiences. A prime example is Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” which is forever linked to *Lost*, or Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” which resonates with fans of *Black Mirror’s* poignant episode “San Junipero.” The emotional weight of music in storytelling is further exemplified in *The Last of Us*, where Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time” serves as a haunting backdrop to pivotal moments. *Stranger Things* has masterfully crafted its own musical identity over its five-season run, with tracks like The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” becoming iconic anthems tied to the show’s narrative arcs. However, in its latest season, *Stranger Things* attempts to incorporate Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now,” a song that many viewers instantly associate with *The Umbrella Academy*, raising eyebrows about originality and homage in the crowded Netflix landscape.
In Season 5, Episode 3 of *Stranger Things*, the song plays during a montage featuring Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) as she dances through the eerie Creel House, reminiscent of a similar scene in *The Umbrella Academy*, where the Hargreeves siblings joyfully dance to the same tune in their family mansion. This parallel is striking and raises questions about the creative choices made by the *Stranger Things* team. While the montage is undeniably charming, the visual and thematic similarities to *The Umbrella Academy* are too pronounced to ignore, suggesting a potential homage or an attempt to evoke the same sense of joy and nostalgia. However, this raises the concern of whether such a direct borrowing dilutes the uniqueness of both shows, especially when *Stranger Things* has previously excelled in crafting its own distinctive soundscape.
Despite the similarities, it’s essential to recognize that recontextualizing songs for different narratives can lead to fresh interpretations. Other Netflix shows, such as *Sex Education* and *Yellowjackets*, have successfully used “I Think We’re Alone Now” in ways that honor its original intent while offering new perspectives. The challenge for *Stranger Things* lies in its reliance on a well-trodden scene that may feel uninspired in contrast to its innovative musical history. As fans eagerly await the conclusion of the series, which will air its final episodes on December 25 and December 31, it becomes clear that while nostalgic references can enhance storytelling, they should also strive for originality to maintain the magic that has defined *Stranger Things* from the beginning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T96rbM6FBWE
Some TV shows just
own
certain songs, delivering unforgettable needle drops that you can’t hear without thinking of the show itself.
SEE ALSO:
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 review: I’m already exhausted, but can’t wait for more
For example, long before it became a TikTok meme thanks to 2022’s
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
, Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music” was inextricable from
Lost.
Elsewhere,
Black Mirror
‘s “San Junipero” is forever associated with Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” while
The Last of Us
made heartbreaking use of
Linda Ronstadt’s “Long Long Time.”
Over its five-season run,
Stranger Things
has similarly taken honorary ownership of several songs. The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” proved a memorable bonding moment for Jonathan and Will Byers (Charlie Heaton and Noah Schnapp). Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” became
Eddie Munson
‘s (Joseph Quinn) anthem, so much so that
Quinn actually jammed out with Metallica himself
. And of course,
Stranger Things
Season 4 sent
Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” back to the top of the charts
, over 35 years after its initial release.
In Season 5, though,
Stranger Things
tries to take hold of a song that another Netflix show owns so thoroughly and completely, I’m shocked any other series would try to use it. I’m talking, of course, about Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now,” which, let’s be real, belongs to
The Umbrella Academy
.
The song appears in
The Umbrella Academy
‘s first-ever episode
, when the Hargreeves siblings, fresh off their father’s death, dance along to it by themselves in their mansion. It’s the first image that pops into my head when I think of the show: the massive cross-section of the Umbrella Academy, with each of the Hargreeves letting loose in their own section of the house. It’s freeing, fun, and the perfect setup for
The Umbrella Academy
‘s offbeat tone (and killer soundtrack). Yet I fear
Stranger Things
tries to copy its magic in Season 5, episode 3.
SEE ALSO:
11 burning questions we have for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5, Volume 2
Stranger Things
‘ take on “I Think We’re Alone Now” comes after Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) steals Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) away to a memory of the Creel House. Here, he gifts her pancake breakfasts, cute dresses, and a Tiffany cassette tape that plays — what else? — “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Cue a montage where Holly bakes herself a cake, tries on several outfits, and dances through Creel House.
Yes, the montage is undeniably adorable, but it’s also eerily reminiscent of the scene from
The Umbrella Academy
. Huge mansion? Check. Solo dance sequence? Check. The sweet, sweet sounds of Tiffany? Check. All on a big Netflix genre show? Check.
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The similarities are downright blatant, to the point that I wondered if this was a bizarre
Umbrella Academy
homage meant to create synergy between two major Netflix IPs. After all,
Stranger Things
loves an homage… but mostly to ’80s nostalgia, not to a 21st-century show that just ended.
Here’s the thing: Just because
The Umbrella Academy
deployed “I Think We’re Alone Now” to perfection doesn’t mean it should be off the table for other shows to use in their own soundtrack. Netflix’s own
Sex Education
used The Rubinoos’ version of the song in its sex-fueled Season 3
opening. An “epic” version by Hidden Citizens made a memorable appearance in
Paradise
. Tiffany’s version also found its way into
Yellowjackets
Season 3
, for a lovey-dovey montage that ends with a
very
abrupt death.
Each of these use cases recontextualizes “I Think We’re Alone Now,” often bringing in new covers. (Tiffany’s recording is itself a cover of the original by Tommy James & The Shondells.) Contrast that with
Stranger Things
, which makes the exact same use of the song as
The Umbrella Academy
.
Look, none of this is the end of the world. It’s just one needle drop! Yet for a show that has often featured some fun, inventive soundtrack choices — including an inspired use of Diana Ross’ “Upside Down,” whose title alone makes its pairing with
Stranger Things
inevitable — this one fell oddly flat. Maybe it’s time to leave onscreen solo dance parties set to “I Think We’re Alone Now” truly alone.
Volume 1 of
Stranger Things
Season
5
is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.
