Stranger Things VS Labyrinth: Toy Symbolism (The Teddy Bear)(long)
(This analysis is part of a larger theory which you can read here. Skip to the end if you just want to see my prediction about The Return of The Teddy Bear™)
Both Labyrinth and Stranger Things utilize toys to foreshadow characters and monsters the will appear later:
but thats just a surface level observation. Now lets examine the purpose of toys within their respective narratives, because they both fall under a shared theme:
TOY SYMBOLISM
Sarah's journey through The Labyrinth is an allegory for growing up, with a focus on puberty and the discovery of her sexuality:
When her step-mom implies that she should "have dates" by now, it causes her to angrily storm up to her room which is filled with toys.
This shows how in the beginning, Sarah doesn't want to become an adult by letting go of her childhood. This changes by the end of the movie, as represented by her departure from toys and her decision to finally "grow up".
For Mike, toys also represent his evolving outlook as to what it means to "grow up" throughout the seasons.
In season 1: Mike is still a child, meaning that he can enjoy D&D and play with his toys without shame.
In season 2: Mike starts being told that he needs to conform and "grow up" by society. This is illustrated by his attachment to toys, and the conversation surrounding them at dinner.
Mike's parents want him to get rid of his toys, despite Mike still liking them. Only because adults/authority don't recognize their value, is Mike forced to get rid of them.
Sarah on the other hand, refuses to get rid of any toys, which is why her room is still cluttered with them as a teenager. It's implied that this will change after the movie ends, because making her way through The Labyrinth forces her to come to terms with growing up by accepting the harsh realities of life.
Sarah's flaw was that she refused to "grow up", whereas Mike's flaw is that he tries to force himself to:
season 3:
Mike's attempt at "growing up" in s3 by "moving on" from D&D is proven to be inauthentic by his return to D&D in s4:
The fact that Mike was putting up a facade in s3 is further illustrated by his initial excitement over Christmas and the idea of playing with toys. But because Mike is with El, he immediately feels ashamed by the admission and tries to hide his true feelings.
Only after El tells him that she likes presents too, does he admit to still liking them.
Deep down, Mike still wants to play games like D&D and Nintendo. He wants to sit in his basement and play games with Will for the rest of his life, but he doesn't think that it's realistic. To him, growing up also means growing out of those feelings because the alternative is not socially acceptable. He HAS to have a girlfriend, and he HAS tell her he loves her, because it's something "OLD PEOPLE" inevitably say and do.
He struggles to say the word "love" to El because its not true. Friends aren't supposed to lie. Trying to "grow up" by conforming is what prevents Mike from becoming his true self, thus completing his character arc. Unlike the movie Labyrinth, Stranger Things is about the power of love and friendship. His character doesn't have to "grow up" and learn that "life isn't fair" like Sarah did. What Mike needs to do is accept every part of himself even if society doesn't. In the end, Mike needs to embrace his "childish" and "nerdy" interests, as well as his sexuality.
Stranger Things 5 will be about Mike's path to acceptance of his sexuality and inner child. In the end, Mike will choose to play D&D and Nintendo together with his childhood bestie forever, despite also "growing up".
Unlike Mike, Sarah's refusal to conform is framed as a flaw because it prevents her from moving on from her mother's death. She can't become her true self until she lets go of her childhood and toys.
This is why the resolution of Sarah's internal conflict, is also the inciting incident of Mike's. In the end, Sarah must get rid of her toys.
When Sarah becomes trapped in her fantasy, she forgets her mission. The Junk Lady tries to take advantage of her memory loss. She tries to distract her by piling toys into her hands:
But in this moment, Sarah actually remembers her purpose. She no longer cares about her toys, and is able to realize that "it's all just junk"
Sarah's journey takes her down a different path but ultimately leads her to the same conclusion. For her, growing up is what leads to accepting herself, thus growing as a person.
Despite "growing up" in the end, the characters from her fantasy still reappear in the last few minutes. This shows us that Sarah can both grow up and be herself at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive:
The Teddy Bear:
(I think this movie might be why the writers specifically introduced Teddy Bear Symbolism in stranger things. If that makes me delusional, so be it)
Sarah's teddy bear, Lancelot, is what sets the movie's entire conflict into motion.
After realizing that her teddy bear was missing, she finds it in her baby brother Toby's room:
THIS MAKES HER FUCKING LIVID. For some reason she blames the literal BABY and wishes for him to be taken by Goblin's.
and then when he actually is, she has the audacity to be ungrateful!?
You might be wondering why this teddy bear was so important to her. It's because the teddy bear is a symbol of Sarah's childhood, as well as a person (her dead ass mother).
In Stranger Things, a teddy bear is ALSO a symbol of childhood, and a person (Will)
(@beepboop358 300+ Byler Proof Slides)
At the end of season 3, Mike grabs The Teddy Bear(Will) out from INSIDE THE CLOSET and gives it to Eleven.
Then El confesses her love and Mike still can't say it back. When she kisses him, The Teddy Bear(Will) is literally BETWEEN THEM and his eyes stay open the entire time.
As she walks away with a look of excitement, Mike's face is in stark contrast. He's framed directly in front of the open closet as a look of realization crosses his face. This is when Mike realized that he's gay. Eleven then takes the Teddy Bear(Will) away from Mike, and with her to California.
She's also taking away with her A TOY, which is symbol of Mike's childhood innocence/naïvety. Why? because Mike just fully realized his sexuality. (and it’s confirmed that the s3 monster represented puberty)
At the end of the movie, Sarah gives the Teddy Bear to her baby brother Toby. This action also carries a lot of meaning, as it shows that she's moved passed her animosity/jealousy of Toby. It also represents her moving on from childhood. Toby is the physical embodiment of her younger self, and the teddy bear represents the memory of her mother/her childhood innocence. By giving the teddy bear to Toby, she is both letting go of and holding on to her childhood and mother's memory.
hmmm. So what if this scene were to be paralleled somehow in s5? What if the Stranger Things Teddy Bear Symbolism™ makes a return in the final season....maybe something related to time travel, with Sarah being s5 Mike, the Teddy Bear being Will/childhood, and the baby being s1 Mike? But i digress....lets move on to another potential parallel,
Forgotten Teddy Bear Parallel
Right after Sarah escapes from her fantasy of the ball, she falls down a black void.
idk maybe Stranger Things could reference this in season 5? something something about Whiterabbitgate and how the Sarah's fall is a reference to Alice in Wonderland
she lands in a junkyard, but still can't remember anything
I'm guessing that Mike will have his memories stolen/altered at some point because of Birthdaygate.
The ONE THING Sarah can remember is The Teddy Bear
In Stranger Things ,The Teddy Bear=Will. So maybe this scene will be referenced in s5 because THE ONE THING Mike will be able to remember is Will. The line: "i can remember standing by the wall" is in Heroes. This could refer to when Mike REMEMBERS the moment Will admitted "it was a 7"? because they were standing by a wall during that? hahah idk that was a reaaaaach.
