Stranger Things: The History of the Mind Flayer | Horror History

Like many Stranger Things characters, The Mind Flayer represents the communist struggle that was still taking place in the 1980s. Learn the full meaning behind this monster!

The Mind Flayer is massive, yet elusive monster looming over The Upside Down and eventually Hawkins throughout the first three seasons of Strangers Things. The Mind Flayer first makes contact with Will Byers when he goes into the Upside Down in 1983, and from that point it would slowly build up an army before trying to take over the "Right Side Up" version of the town. But things would not quite go as planned for the behemoth shadow creature...

Just as many horror movie monsters throughout history are a representation of the fears of the time period from which they hail, The Mind Flayer seems to be a symbol of the battle of ideals over which the Cold War was waged and an allegory for the communist leadership from the USSR, which opposed America during that time.

Like the Demogorgon, the creature gets its name from the human children who discovered it, which is inspired from a character in their favorite tabletop game, Dungeons and Dragons.

The Mind Flayer controls it's subjects through what is known as a Hive Mind, so I'll be exploring how this works and how inspiration was drawn through real creatures of our own world.

Moreover, I'll be analyzing the ENTIRE known history of The Mind Flayer from its moves behind the scenes in 1983 to occupation of the Demodogs the following year, its rivalry with Eleven, its quest for revenge, its second takeover in 1985, it's transformation into a physical, gelatinous spider-like monster and finally the epic Battle of Starcourt... as well as what might have become of the monster after the defeat of its physical form.

For this analysis, I'll only be considering the canon material, in this case: the web series Stranger Things and the Stranger Things comics.

#MindFlayer #StrangerThings #Netflix

Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:25 Targeting Will Byers
2:16 The First Storm
2:56 Controlling the Hive Mind
4:32 Communist Tendencies
5:37 Sedating the Chief
6:15 Things Heat Up
7:12 A Boy on the Inside
8:34 The Gate is Closed
9:01 It's A G****** Arms Race
9:40 Building A New Army
10:52 Flaying Billy Hargrove
11:33 Viral Spread
13:10 The Sauna Incident
14:00 Together Is Better
14:40 The Physical Manifestation of the Mind Flayer
17:05 The Mind Flayer vs Eleven
17:51 A New Slug
18:35 The Battle of Starcourt
20:43 The Mind Flayer Returns

About Horror History
Horror History is a series that analyses specific characters, monsters, places or events in the fictional worlds of your favorite horror franchises.

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[IrishTechnicalThinker]

The Mind Flayer attacking Billy wasn't random in my opinion, it targets people who have troubled pasts and traumatic memories. Billy had very little happy memories and was also Max's only true protector. Although he wasn't a nice guy he still had good in his heart and died protecting El.

[jusskb]

It's amazing when after you watch Season 4 and see how it was all Vecna and how he speaks, you see his obvious influence in Billy and all

[cainwallace]

I love the continuity. Vecna repeats to max what billy says to his victims “Itll all be be over soon. Just stay very still”

[loganentertainment]

The Mind Flayer’s flesh body was very creepy, disgusting, but really cool at the same time.

[kerrvyap]

Your script making and skills to put two and two together to summarize things is top notch man!

[entertainment]

I loved the Meatflayer. It’s creation was pretty damn terrifying, especially the implication that it even absorbed children!

[cawsomeaolin]

Tbh Mind Flayer should’ve stayed an eldritch cosmic entity instead of just being a 40 year old man

[scottsnosleepofficial]

It's honestly incredible how many good videos this channel features. I've yet to watch one I actively disliked. It must be hard to keep these videos at such a high quality. Thank you for putting the time, effort, and care into making sure we enjoy our time on this channel.

[kiyan.videos]

Not only is his overall content interesting, but is his STRANGER THINGS Series. WOOO!

[atheropen_]

I do find it hilarious how the mindflayer picks up a radio to scream into instead of just destroying it

[sunsetvibe]

I like the detail of when the Physical form of the Mind Flayer grabs onto a persons face to turn them into the flayed, you can see the shadow like particles that the Mind Flayer was reduced to by the end of season 2 being injected into the victims face by it’s tentacles working as a sort of tube to feed itself into it’s victims kind of like how it possessed Will in Season 2.

[ambereyedbabygirl]

Am I the only one who is rewatching the whole show now to see how well tied together everything was?!

[mayflower]

You would have to do Vecna's time-line along with his connection to the mind flare

[kevinunderwood]

I think when Will enters Hawkins again the mind flayer sends vecna after him or they are still linked which makes Will turn on his friends. Idk I'm jus super excited for part 2!!

[jaskionyt]

This video is so PERFECT in every way possible. It really helped me understand the Stranger Things universe even better.

[vociferateforme]

Ugh I watch that 'we've been building it for you' scene with El and Billy sometimes to get the spooky chills.👻👻

[celianunn]

When I saw the Mind Flayer in the show, I thought of it like a slenderman, except during...that part and wills behavior afterwards. It seemed similar to a certain trauma and response to said trauma.

[crimsonffire]

You have to give credit to the people they choice to play each character, they nail it and you really get the 80s throwback vibes. Even if you didn't grow up in the states. The humour and horror balance out. But get darker each season as the main characters grow up. Because you start to see the world differently the older you get.

Can't wait for an episode on Eddie Munson, person I think his name is a funny nod to Eddie Munster. (Lost boys the attack of Eddie munster)

[elijahmcelroy]

One of the few channels where I'm not upset by the ads and most times I let them play through. The transitions makes it feel like I'm watching daytime TV, instead of them feeling so damn intrusive. Other channels should take note

[Tj-hf]

Czworld can you look at the leprechaun franchise timeline?