We’re Not Joking, Netflix’s 10/10 Teen Mystery Series Is Even Better Than Stranger Things

Published Jul 25, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Liz Hersey is an Editor and Critic for ScreenRant's TV team, editing, reviewing, writing, and creating content about the iconic shows you love to watch. She began her editing career at ScreenRant in 2019, shortly after joining the site as a Writer that same year. With a passion for all things books, Liz frequently attends Toronto literary events and conferences, and loves interacting with her book lover community. In addition to being an avid reader of the romance and thriller genres, Liz is a writer of several short stories, and is currently at work on a young adult witch novel. When she's not working, reading, or writing, Liz can be found seeing movies at her local cinema, attending live jazz events, or curling up on the couch to binge her favorite TV shows. You can reach her at liz.h@screenrant.com. Stranger Things may be Netflix's most popular show, but the streaming platform has another teen series that's even better. The show that put the Duffer Brothers on the map, Stranger Things was a smash sleeper hit when it premiered in 2016, with audiences instantly connecting with its '80s nostalgia, Stephen King-inspired sci-fi-horror elements, and grounded yet heartfelt coming-of-age story. With each subsequent Stranger Things season, the series got bigger in every sense of the word: scarier monsters, an ever-expanding cast, and a massive scope that grew far past the simple vanishing of Will Byers in season 1. Though many of these changes were met with frustration from audiences and critics alike, they didn't stop the show's success, and it continued to break records right up until its 2025 series finale. While Outer Banks hasn't achieved nearly the success of Stranger Things, the fellow Netflix series has maintained a loyal, high viewership throughout its run. Premiering in 2020, Outer Banks is set in the titular North Carolina coastal town, which is home to a class war between the local working-class "Pogues" and the wealthy, seasonal elite known as the "Kooks." When Pogues leader John B. Routledge discovers the legend of $400 million in sunken gold connected to his missing father, he and his friends embark on the treasure hunt of a lifetime. Like Stranger Things, Outer Banks is set to end at season 5, which premieres on August 20, 2026. For those who felt let down by the former, the latter may be a welcome alternative that surpasses expectations. Stranger Things Is Iconic, But Outer Banks Is A Better Show There's no denying that Stranger Things had one of the best first seasons in television history. Had the show maintained that quality throughout, it would have become even more legendary than it is, but Stranger Things devolved into a caricature of itself thanks to its own success and popularity. Rather than Stranger Things' '80s time period serving the story, the story started serving the decade, dialling up the pop culture references and neon clothing to an 11. With its idyllic ocean setting, summer romance, and reckless teen adventures, Outer Banks also capitalizes on nostalgia, but its approach is so much less brash and in-your-face than Stranger Things'. All of these Outer Banks elements are products of the show's themes of obsession, class division, and found family, not the point of the show itself. Found family is also a big part of Stranger Things, with a group of disparate teens banding together to fight supernatural threats in their hometown. However, by Stranger Things' ending, that group had grown so large that original core characters, like Mike Wheeler, completely had their roles diminished. On the other hand, the main characters in Outer Banks remain a small, tight-knit team, with only a select few welcome additions, like Cleo. The Stranger Things Cast Features A Few Familiar Outer Banks Faces Stranger Things may have been an exercise in diminishing returns, but without it, the Outer Banks we know and love would have looked a lot different. John B. actor Chase Stokes auditioned to play Steve Harrington in Stranger Things, and though he claims he bombed the audition, he was still brought back in a bit-part capacity. Stokes played the one-line role of Reed, an obnoxious teen who mocks Nancy, in season 1. Filming such a small part may not have felt very glamorous, but it was enough for the Stranger Things producers to see something special in Stokes and cast him as the lead actor in Outer Banks four years later. Stokes also isn't the only Outer Banks cast member to appear in the Duffer Brothers series either. Sarah Cameron star Madelyn Cline played Tina, a teenage girl infatuated with Billy in season 2, and Caroline Arapoglou, the actress who played Sarah's stepmother, Rose, appeared as the mayor's wife, Winnie Kline, in Stranger Things season 3. Outer Banks Actors Who Have Starred in Stranger Things Actor Outer Banks character Stranger Things character Chase Stokes John B. Routledge (season 1-present) Reed (season 1) Madelyn Cline Sarah Cameron (season 1-present) Tina (season 2) Caroline Arapoglou Rose Cameron (season 1-3) Winnie Kline (season 3) Whether it's fighting monsters in the Upside Down or combing the Atlantic Ocean for treasure, Netflix knows how to make an edge-of-your-seat teen series. And as we've seen with these Stranger Things-turned-Outer Banks stars, the streaming platform is also a masterclass in casting young talent. Release Date 2020 - 2026-00-00 Showrunner Jonas Pate Directors Jonas Pate Cast Chase Stokes John B. Routledge Madelyn Cline Sarah Cameron Writers Josh Pate Creator(s) Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, Shannon Burke