Many devoted viewers of the show were unfamiliar with its creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, prior to pressing play on “Stranger Things.” However, the Duffer Brothers didn’t magically appear from the Upside Down with a fully formed script. Their journey began in the world of television with the underrated Fox sci-fi series, “Wayward Pines.”

Following their work on the low-budget film “Hidden,” starring Alexander Skarsgård, the brothers found themselves in the writers’ room of “Wayward Pines.” This series, produced by M. Night Shyamalan, known for “The Sixth Sense,” was based on Blake Crouch’s novels. Featuring stars like Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, and Toby Jones, “Wayward Pines” provided a platform for the Duffers to hone their craft, writing four episodes of its first season, which set the stage for “Stranger Things.”

In “Wayward Pines,” audiences were drawn into a world of mystery under the stewardship of Shyamalan. The series followed U.S. Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke, portrayed by Matt Dillon, as he delved into the enigmatic occurrences within the small town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. As Burke unraveled the town’s secrets, he stumbled upon a conspiracy that challenged the very fabric of reality. Drawing inspiration from classics like “Twin Peaks” and “The X-Files,” the series explored a universe inhabited by genetic mutants known as “Abbies.”

And so, history was made. As “Stranger Things” gears up for its climactic finale, fans hope for a resolution to the mysteries that have captivated them. Unlike “Wayward Pines,” which ended with unresolved questions, there is optimism that “Stranger Things” will provide satisfying answers. For those who crave more of the Duffer Brothers’ storytelling, “Wayward Pines” is currently available for streaming on Hulu.

The Duffer Brothers said goodbye to “Wayward Pines” before the start of its second season, which turned out to be its last. And with this experience, they were able to get to work pitching what would eventually become “Stranger Things,” writing a pilot and 20-page pitch book that, like “Wayward Pines,” leaned heavily on its Stephen King influences. When the pair pitched the series to networks, they said that executives pushed them to change the show to revolve around Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) solving crimes, but they wanted to focus on the perspective of the children, and Netflix eventually agreed.

The rest is, as they say, history. “Stranger Things” is set to come to a dramatic conclusion, and unlike “Wayward Pines,” which ended on a massive cliffhanger, we hope that “Stranger Things” will be able to answer all of the weird questions that linger over its final season. And if you need more Duffer Brothers after “Stranger Things” comes to a close, you can binge watch “Wayward Pines” on Hulu now.