Chess in the Stream: Stranger Things

[No spoilers.] Stranger Things needs no introduction, being one of Netflix's most popular offerings since 2016. Season 4 was released this week and the first episode features not one, but two instances of chess playing.

The first occurs early on with a flashback to the Hawkins National Laboratory. All the children who are being experimented upon are playing a variety of games, including, of course, chess.

The chess set appears to have a bird of prey motif, but I wouldn't begin to try to guess which pieces are which. That being said, it looks like white might have a material advantage, but black has more space.

Later in the episode, a couple of the main characters are trying find someone to join them for a game of Dungeons & Dragons, but they are rejected by everyone, including the chess club.

Can't judge the position, but it's pretty clear that white is up a pawn here. However, I don't know how black's rook made it over to f7 or e7.

Since The Queen's Gambit was Netflix's greatest viewing and critical success, it's not surprising to see chess make a cameo in another one of its hit series. I've only watched the first two episodes, but I understand there will be more chess later on.