New Orleans-native Peyton Wich recently starred as the bully Troy in the Netflix-original series “Stranger Things.” Wich’s character is a relentless antagonist throughout the series.
“He does more harm than good,” art history freshman Alaina Newell said. “He’s there to add tension and give the characters another common enemy.”
Because “Stranger Things” is such a popular show for the millennial generation, it’s exciting that one of the actors is from Louisiana.
“I think that is amazing, especially for him to be young and local,” biology freshman Destiny Wren said. “He really is making Baton Rouge proud.”
Wich is a 13-year-old boy who has been pursuing acting since he was seven. When he landed this role, he was unsure if it would amount to much However, when the show blew up, Wich was suddenly starring in a hit series at a very young age.
“It’s important for local actors to see that it’s possible to make it big and to not give up on their dreams,” mass communication senior Maddie Neal said.
Because Wich is from Louisiana, he inspires local teens to pursue their dreams of acting. Wich accepted the roles he could get, unsure if the show he starred in would even become popular. Luckily for him, “Stranger Things” is a very distinctive show that captivated its audience immediately.
For those who haven’t seen the show, Wren said it “is a suspenseful sci-fi mystery about a hidden underworld.”
“It’s very ’80s,” Neal said. “The opening credits remind me of a video game, but the show itself has so much suspense that it’s hard to stop watching once you’ve begun.”
The show has intrigued thousands of viewers, and the idea that it became so popular so quickly proves there’s something about it that people love. Many people began watching because the show was garnering so much positive attention.
“It was a FOMO — fear of missing out moment — honestly,” Neal said of the show. “Everyone was talking about it.”
The show has received amazing reviews and so much attention that most people watched it to keep up with the times and their friends. Like so many other University students, Wren said it piqued her interest, so she decided to binge watch it one night in her dorm.
“I started watching it when there was a lot of positive reviews and hype around it,” Newell said. “Also, I wanted to know what was significant about the number eleven.”
What is significant about the number 11? Whatever it is, Louisiana’s own Wich had something to do with it. Wren said, “the scene between [Troy] and Eleven helped showcase her supernatural talent.”
If you’re wondering what the meaning behind the number 11 is, check out “Stranger Things” on Netflix, and support local actor Peyton Wich.