After the release of Volume One of Stranger Things Season 5, the minor character Holly Wheeler gained more attention for her journey in the Upside Down, which draws a compelling parallel to Alice in Wonderland.
Holly, a young girl who initially appeared only briefly in previous seasons, becomes more prominent in Season 5. Her experience in the Upside Down echoes the curious and surreal adventure of Alice falling into Wonderland. Just like Alice, Holly navigates a mysterious and dangerous world filled with strange creatures and unpredictable challenges.
The Upside Down serves as a dark mirror to the real world, much like Wonderland is a fantastical realm paralleling Victorian England. Holly's encounters with sinister beings and eerie landscapes reflect the surreal and often unsettling atmosphere that defines both narratives.
"Holly’s journey through the Upside Down invites viewers to reconsider childhood innocence amid extraordinary danger, much like Alice’s strange voyage through Wonderland."
This connection enriches the storytelling by layering familiar literary themes within the show's supernatural context.
Holly Wheeler’s arc in Season 5 highlights how Stranger Things uses classic literary motifs to deepen its narrative, transforming a once minor character into a symbolic figure of innocence confronting darkness.