Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things‘ became huge the moment it arrived in 2016. People loved the sci-fi, horror, friendship, and those ’80s throwbacks, and suddenly Matt and Ross Duffer were everywhere.
But ‘Stranger Things‘ was not their first time building a creepy, mysterious town. Before Hawkins, the brothers worked on another sci-fi show that most viewers completely missed.
The Duffers Drew Their Experience From ‘Wayward Pines‘
When ‘Stranger Things‘ blew up, many fans said it reminded them of stories told by Stephen King and Steven Spielberg. Those scares, heart, and nostalgia helped turn the young cast into some of Hollywood’s busiest actors. It also made the Duffer Brothers Netflix favorites almost overnight. But rewind to 2015, and the brothers were working on Fox’s sci-fi drama ‘Wayward Pines‘.
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‘Wayward Pines‘ was developed by Chad Hodge and was based on three books by author Blake Crouch. It followed the mystery behind two U.S. Secret Service agents who suddenly went missing, leading to strange events in a quiet Idaho town. Because of its slow-burning tension and spooky atmosphere, the series, which ran from 2015 to 2016 and starred Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, and Jason Patric, soon earned a reputation as an underrated TV thriller.
Why ‘Stranger Things’ Fans Should Watch It Now
Now, here’s where the Duffers come in. Even though they didn’t create Wayward Pines, they helped shape the first season. Their first episode was Episode 5, “The Truth,” which they co-wrote with Blake Crouch. That episode wrapped up the story from Crouch’s 2012 book, Pines, and finally explained what was really happening in the town.
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After that reveal, the brothers continued working on the show. They helped write three more episodes, “Choices,” along with the final two episodes of the season, “A Reckoning” and “Cycle.” Those episodes adapted the remaining books in the trilogy, Wayward and The Last Town, and brought the season’s main storyline to an end. Because ratings were strong during the summer of 2015, Fox renewed the show for a second season. However, the network later canceled it, which explains why many viewers never discovered it.
Today, Wayward Pines feels like a small preview of what the Duffers later created in Stranger Things. It has secrets, suspense, and that same unsettling small-town feeling, just in a different setting. So, if you want to explore their work before the Upside Down existed, go ahead and watch it.
