Stranger Things also features more explicitly supernatural content where much of Granite Flats’ mysteries were based on sci-fi tropes, meaning the two series diverge in important details. However, with less of a concentrated focus on sci-fi and more horror, Stranger Things is undeniably a scarier, more violent affair, particularly with the show’s turn toward body horror in season 3. Stranger Things is not all that different from the earlier series in this respect, with the later show featuring scant sexual content thanks to its young cast and fanbase. However, credit where it’s due, Stranger Things subverted Reiser’s slimy screen persona by making his character unexpected decent, whereas Granite Flats relied on Lloyd’s warm charm to give the actor a familiar (but still welcome) role.īeing a BYU production, Granite Falls is a family-friendly affair that steers clear of explicit sex, violence, or adult content. Both series used these character actors to add a sense of nostalgia too. Similarly, Stranger Things soon found roles for Aliens’ Paul Reiser or horror icon Robert Englund as the series grew in popularity and budget.

Related: Stranger Things Confirms Season 4 Is Fixing Its Biggest Mistake The Back to the Future hero played an aging English teacher with a penchant for Shakespeare, and his character acted as a kindly mentor to the show’s ragtag bunch of kid heroes in the same way science teacher Scott Clarke functions on Stranger Things. However, as the show gained popularity and a bigger budget, later seasons included a plum part for '80s genre stalwart Christopher Lloyd.

As a low-budget series, Granite Flats didn’t boast many big names in its season 1 cast unlike Stranger Things, which featured Winona Ryder and Full Metal Jacket star Matthew Modine.

Granite flats episodes in order