Entertainment
Netflix Is Finally Giving Stranger Things Fans What They Want
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
Stranger Things finally ended late last year, to a mixed reception from fans, some of whom were holding out hope for a secret final episode that would give them the real ending. That never happened, but instead, rumors are circulating that Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the Broadway play about Vecna’s early life, will be filmed this week for a future release on Netflix. The streamer has yet to officially confirm the rumors originally reported by Collider, but if true, this is the strangest release strategy possible.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow Breaks Free Of Containment
Stranger Things: The First Shadow premiered in London’s West End back in 2023. At the time, the Duffer brothers explained that the play would be considered canon, which turned out to be true when the finale referenced the play within the play, “Dark of the Moon,” Henry Creel’s time as a student at Hawkins High, and most importantly, Henry’s experience in the cave. Viewers watching the finale didn’t know why the cave was so terrifying to Henry, who the man was with the case inside it, and why that rock was so important. Now, months after the finale, fans unable to attend the play will be able to connect the dots.
As the final season aired, fans on social media complained that only a small fraction could watch the play and understand key lore, leaving many feeling the season was incomplete. Stranger Things: The First Shadow was a unique way to introduce Henry’s background and expand on the origins of the Upside Down with a wild new twist that ,again, the Duffers have said will be vitally important to the franchise going forward. It’s understandable that Netflix would finally relent and allow the play to be filmed for the streaming service since the upcoming prequel goes deep into what started this mess in the first place.
No one has said which of the Stranger Things: The First Shadow casts will perform in the filmed version, and again, it hasn’t been officially confirmed, but the play did black out time this month, which is highly unusual while a performance is running. Ever since it was first announced, rumors swirled that the play would eventually be streamable, but at this point, it feels like any rumor about the franchise’s future could be true. Or none of them.
The Murky Future Of Stranger Things
Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, the upcoming animated series set between Seasons 2 and 3 and based on the canceled video game, is the only spin-off confirmed to be coming anytime soon. The upcoming spin-off set in a different decade with an entirely different cast is rumored to center on the mysterious stone, the establishment of the Nevada research lab, and how the Philadelphia Experiment ties into the arrival of the Mind Flayer. Then again, it’s also rumored to be set in the 90s with a different generation of kids battling a re-emergence of the Mind Flayer.
The big question is, will any of this satisfy Stranger Things fans who were let down by the final season? The answer is no, because in today’s world, fandoms of all types run away with their own headcanon and theories about what should really happen, though in their defense, some fans have fantastic and creative ideas that really do outshine canon. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, finally getting a wide release months after it mattered, will be salt in the wounds of the series’ biggest fans.
Entertainment
BookCon 2026: Authors Rachel Reid, Stephanie Archer talk hockey romance and how it could change the sport for the better
With the fervor of Heated Rivalry, there’s a fierce desire among book readers for even more hockey. On Sunday, April 19, at BookCon, the “You Had Me at Hockey: A Look at One of Sports Romance’s Hottest Genres”, authors Rachel Reid (Heated Rivalry, Game Changer), Emily Rath (Pucking Around), Ngozi Ukazu (Check Please), Stephanie Archer (The Wild Card), and Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat & Darcy) were joined by moderator and fellow author Bal Khabra (Collide) to discuss the rise and continued success of hockey romance.
Khabra kicked off the panel, asking just how hockey became so popular. Ukazu joked that it was as if the genre “escaped containment,” like when the Omegaverse went mainstream, while Reid described the mystery around hockey, saying, “what [the players] are doing seems impossible.” Archer also added that the sport itself is exceptionally hard on the body, and the celebrity around players, especially in Canada, is fun to play with.
But there’s more to the genre’s success than the tropes. “It has to be said,” Rath argued, “that the cornerstone of why this is so popular in publishing is racism.” She went on to say that straight, white women’s voices dominated the romance genre for so long, pointing out that hockey is also the whitest sport. Among major league sports, the NHL is the most predominantly white. In 2022, ESPN reported that 83.6% of league players and staff were white, compared to the NFL, where 25-27% of players are white, or the NBA, where white players make up 17.5% of the league.
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Zooming into the genre, the authors also spoke about the writing process. They dove into the deeper aspects of their work, even the smut. Rath said, “I think the least sexy thing you can ever do is write a sex scene.” A similar sentiment came up during Reid’s Saturday panel, where she described using the sex scenes to further the emotional arc. When readers ask authors if they can skip the spice, Archer says of her own books, “No, you can’t skip the sex scenes. You’re missing so much character development if you don’t go on the journey with them.”
The panel turned to the future, too. Many of the authors write BIPOC and queer representation into their novels, in a genre that often centers on whiteness and homophobia. “We’re writing the world as we want it to be,” Rath said.
Reid has found that there is progress toward a future that these authors and their readers want to see, saying that the NHL is interested in working with them. “People on the inside, they really want to work toward change and want to make this happen.”
With the hockey fandom at an all-time high, there’s a whole team behind these authors ready to drive change.
Entertainment
Save on gas (and everything else) with a $15 BJ’s membership
TL;DR: Score a one-year BJ’s membership for $15 (reg. $60) and save up to 20¢/gal. on gas through April 30 — just in time for spring shopping and road trips.
Credit: BJ’s Wholesale Club
The warmer weather tends to sneak up fast, and so do those grocery bills and gas receipts. A one-year membership to BJ’s Wholesale Club is one of those simple upgrades that can make everyday shopping feel a little more manageable.
You can currently grab a Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for just $15 (reg. $60) through April 30, which opens the door to savings across groceries, household essentials, and even your weekend cookout prep.
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Let’s start with the obvious, though. Gas prices. Members already get everyday savings at BJ’s Gas, but during this promo window, you’ll get an extra 15¢ off per gallon stacked on top of the usual 5¢ discount — bringing your total to 20¢ off per gallon through April 30.
Inside the club, it’s all about stretching your dollar further. BJ’s is known for offering competitive pricing on national brands, plus a wide selection of fresh produce, meats, bakery items, and deli favorites. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, stocking up for a party, or just trying to cut down on weekly grocery runs, buying in bulk can help simplify things.
Mashable Trend Report
There’s also something to be said for convenience. Fewer trips to the store, more options in one place, and access to seasonal items that make spring and summer feel extra special.
Get a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for just $15 (reg. $60) and enjoy an extra 15¢ off per gallon at any of the 199 BJ’s gas stations through April 30.
Grabbing this deal? Build your cart to $100+ and score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 free with code GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) through April 19.
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. Prices subject to change.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $43 bundle quietly upgrades your entire PC experience
TL;DR: This rare Microsoft bundle deal gives you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) through May 17.
$42.97
$418.99
Save $376.02
Looking for an affordable way to make your old PC feel new again? If you don’t have the funds to buy a brand new computer, don’t worry. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license and Windows 11 Pro Bundle is the next best thing, offering your computer a total upgrade for only $42.97 through May 17.
Don’t count out your dusty old PC. This Microsoft bundle is here to give it a total facelift for less than $50. It kicks off with a lifetime license to some of the brand’s most popular tools — Microsoft Office, which you’ll pay for once and enjoy without any subscription fees.
Mashable Deals
You’ll get permanent access to a suite of eight helpful apps with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows. It includes staples that have been around for decades, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You’ll also get newer favorites like Teams, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.
Once you’ve loaded the apps onto your device, you can upgrade your OS to Windows 11 Pro. It’s an operating system made for modern professionals, with tools that support your workflow. Enjoy a more powerful search experience, improved voice typing, a seamless interface, snap layouts, and much more.
You can rest easy knowing Windows 11 Pro takes your cybersecurity seriously. You’ll have biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and advanced antivirus defenses to keep your data secure.
Mashable Deals
Show your PC some love with the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro bundle for only $42.97 (reg. $418.99) now until May 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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