The communal experience of cinema took a bizarre turn this week, as screenings of the Stranger Things series finale devolved into unexpected celebrations of the indie game Hollow Knight: Silksong. What should have been a shared moment of suspense and resolution for fans of the hit Netflix show became an arena for raucous gamers. The parking lots may be packed, but for reasons you might not expect.
When Fandoms Collide (Awkwardly)
According to The Verge, the phenomenon was widespread. In Bensalem, Pennsylvania, the AMC movie theater at the Neshaminy Mall—one of the few remaining reasons to visit the struggling shopping center—hosted a viewing. But the anticipated Upside Down thrills were frequently interrupted. Instead of gasps at Vecna's latest plot, attendees reported chants of "Silksong! Silksong!" and spontaneous outbreaks of gamers celebrating the indie title. This behavior reportedly occurred at multiple screenings across the country.
A "Forgone Conclusion" and its Consequences
The fervor stems from Hollow Knight: Silksong's recent triumph at the Steam Awards, also reported by The Verge. The game, released in September to widespread critical acclaim, snagged Game of the Year honors, an outcome described as "something of a forgone conclusion." This victory appears to have emboldened its fanbase, who chose the Stranger Things finale, of all events, as their moment to shine. Whether this was organized, ironic, or merely a spontaneous expression of joy is still unknown. Whatever the reason, it made actually watching the finale difficult.
The Future of Shared Viewing Experiences
While the incidents may seem like isolated outbursts of fandom, they raise questions about the future of shared viewing experiences. Are we entering an era where unexpected, unrelated celebrations can hijack public events? The Stranger Things screenings may be a harbinger of things to come. This reminds me of the early days of deploying deep learning models. Just as we rigorously benchmarked models to ensure they performed as expected, we may need to recalibrate social norms and expectations for public gatherings, especially as online communities increasingly bleed into the physical world. Perhaps, just perhaps, a real-world loss function to minimize unexpected fandom collisions is now a research priority.