Netflix's "Stranger Things" is unique in more than one way. It is a science fiction drama, but also puts heavy emphasis on supernatural elements.

"Stranger Things" is a nostalgic journey into the 1980s while it explores at the same time, modern day concerns like monitoring of civilians, government conspiracies, and implementation of new technologies.

One of the major highlights of the series is inclusion of the iconic actress, Winona Ryder, as a prominent cast member. Ryder plays the role of a mother whose son goes missing. Afterwards, several supernatural activities occurring in her house lead her to believe that her missing son is trying to contact her.

"Stranger Things" has received mostly positive reviews, both from the critics and the fans, with review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes giving the series an approval rating of 93 percent. If you haven't tuned in to the series yet, here are five of the many reasons that make "Stranger Things" a must-watch and probably one of the best Netflix exclusives so far.

The nostalgic vibes of 1980s movies

Those who have grown up watching Steven Spielberg's movies and reading Stephen King's books will surely find a surge of nostalgia while watching the series. "Stranger Things" has captured all the moments from the past in a beautiful and visually enhanced manner that will surely leave you craving for more.

Debut of Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder is one of the most prominent actresses in Hollywood, having played some iconic roles in movies like "Beetlejuice" (1988), "Heathers" (1988) and "Edward Scissorhands" (1990).

Ryder plays the role of Joyce Byers, a weary single mother whose 12-year-old son, Will Byers, goes missing. After desperately trying to find the whereabouts of Will, she encounters supernatural activities in her home and believes that her son is trying to communicate with her.

In a recent featurette, Ryder said that it was a genre that she hadn't explored before and it was like putting different pieces of a puzzle together.

The theme music and background score

The music in every episode is thrilling and will surely get your pulse running. From the starting credits to the end of each episode, the background score will leave you enthralled and glued to your seat, not letting you leave in the middle of the episode.

The credits scroll

Though not a significant part of the story, the credits of "Stranger Things" definitely help in setting the mood. At the beginning of every episode, it starts with a simple yet captivating sequence, with neon-red shapes against a black background. If you are the person who waits until the last credits roll out in movie theatres, you are surely going to love this one.

Light and dark themes, both at the same time

The theme of "Stranger Things" mostly reminds of the good old happy days, when life was simple and kids used to spend more time outside than being glued to computers and cell phones.

However, at the same time, the series' plot covers various dark elements too, like supernatural phenomena, classified government cover-ups, and several horror-movie moments. Hence, "Stranger Things" is a full package for those who are long time fans of science-fiction, horror, mystery, thrill, suspense, and fantasy genres.

Here is the Winona Ryder featurette from "Stranger Things" where she talks about her role: