The Vanishing of Will Byers
🎞️ S1 E1 🚫 Hard pass

Stranger Things

Is Stranger Things S1 E1 OK for kids?

The Vanishing of Will Byers

On his way home from a friend's house, young Will sees something terrifying. Nearby, a sinister secret lurks in the depths of a government lab.

📺 Where to watch

Netflix, HBO or Disney+ — catalogs differ by country.

🛒 Where to buy

Digital seasons or a box set to keep.

Content guide

👊 Violence
💋 Sex
🙊 Language
⭐ Overall

Skip for under 13

Stranger Things S1 E1, “The Vanishing of Will Byers”, scores 3/5 for violence, 1/5 for sex and 4/5 for language, for an overall kid-rating of 4/5 — Skip for under 13. On his way home from a friend's house, young Will sees something terrifying. Nearby, a sinister secret lurks in the depths of a government lab.

Across the episode we counted 17 flagged moments in 4 themes: Violence & injury (3); Swearing (12); Homophobic jokes (1); Slut-shaming (1). Every moment below is either a direct quote from the episode transcript or a short description of what happens on screen, so you can decide before you press play.

Watch for — every moment, theme by theme

Violence & injury 3 moments

How Violence & injury shows up in Stranger Things S1 E1:

  • ModerateEarly in episode
    [Mike] Something is coming. Something hungry for blood.
  • ModerateMid episode
    guns cocking
  • ModerateMid episode
    Did it have any blood on it, or-- -No, no, no, no, no...

Swearing 12 moments

How Swearing shows up in Stranger Things S1 E1:

  • ModerateEarly in episode
    We're in deep shit. -Will, your action!
  • ModerateEarly in episode
    Oh, shit! -[Lucas] Where'd it go?
  • ModerateEarly in episode
    Son of a bitch.
  • ModerateEarly in episode
    Assholes. -[Mike] I think it's kinda cool.
  • ModerateMid episode
    Bitch! -[Jonathan] Mom.
  • MildEarly in episode
    It's because she's been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington.
  • MildEarly in episode
    [Joyce] Where the hell are they?
  • MildEarly in episode
    [Karen] Oh, Joyce, hi. -What the hell, Mike?
  • MildEarly in episode
    Hey, Chief. -Damn! You look like hell, Chief.
  • MildMid episode
    One at a damn time. You.
  • MildLate in episode
    No! -You're just pissed off
  • MildLate in episode
    Her new boyfriend. -You are such a douchebag, Mike!

Homophobic jokes 1 moment

How Homophobic jokes shows up in Stranger Things S1 E1:

  • ExplicitMid episode
    [softy] Called him a fag.

Slut-shaming 1 moment

How Slut-shaming shows up in Stranger Things S1 E1:

  • ModerateLate in episode
    You mean, you're not a slut.

Watch With The Kids · Your kids — your rules! · Informal parent guidance, not an official rating.