There’s a certain kind of project that sparks immediate obsession, the kind that feels tailor-made for rewatches, Reddit threads, and late-night YouTube theory spirals. And with the Duffer Brothers developing The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne for Netflix, that’s exactly the vibe we’re getting.
Known for creating Stranger Things, one of the most culturally defining shows of the past decade, Matt and Ross Duffer have a sixth sense for mining nostalgia, character-driven weirdness, and dark genre storytelling. This new adaptation could easily be their next big swing and maybe their most mature obsession yet.
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Why The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne Is Perfect For Adaptation
Written by Ron Currien and released in 2025, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne is part murder mystery, part thriller/trauma spiral, and entirely unlike anything else on shelves.
This book is a gritty, emotionally charged crime saga set in Waterville, Maine, where Babs, a fiercely loyal Franco‑American matriarch, runs the drug trade through her two troubled daughters while grappling with the devastating disappearance and death of her youngest, Sis.
When a Canadian drug cartel sends a dangerous enforcer known only as “The Man” to investigate, Babs is propelled into a violent confrontation that tests her family bonds, cultural identity, and will to avenge her daughter. If that sounds cinematic, it’s because it is. This story screams adaptation, and the Duffers, masters of retro-tinged tension, are the perfect match.
The Power Of Nostalgia And Ambiguity
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another YA thriller. The novel has been praised for its voice, its dark humor, and the way it weaponizes nostalgia.
It’s about the fantasies we build around the people we lose, and how memory turns them into something larger and stranger than life. That kind of obsession, with the dead, with the past, with the stories we tell ourselves, is exactly what the Duffer Brothers do best.
And for Netflix? This is strategic. With Stranger Things ending, the streamer needs another genre-defying hit with both prestige energy and binge-watch appeal. Babs Dionne is that girl. It has the perfect blend of tragic beauty and unsettling atmosphere.
It’s 90s suburban gothic meets The Virgin Suicides with a splash of Yellowjackets and the emotional rawness of Sharp Objects. Basically, it’s begging for moody lighting, a killer soundtrack, and a fanbase that spirals into Tumblr edits and fashion tributes.
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The casting potential here is undeniable. Babs Dionne is a towering presence, part crime boss, part grieving mother, part myth. demanding a performance that’s both brutal and magnetic. It’s the kind of role that could launch a new star or give a seasoned actor the comeback of a lifetime. With Netflix backing it and the Duffer Brothers’ knack for spotlighting raw, breakout talent, this series is primed to become the next must-watch obsession for audiences and actors alike.
It’s also worth noting that the book doesn’t spoon-feed answers. The tragedy of Babs Dionne isn’t wrapped up neatly or morally resolved; instead, we’re pulled into the chaos of a matriarch fighting to hold her family and identity together in a world built to break her. That refusal to offer a clean closure gives the story its emotional heft. It’s not just about what happened to Babs, it’s about what it cost her daughters, and what it reveals about the systems that devour women like them.
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At a time when audiences are craving more emotionally grounded genre stories, where horror meets heartbreak, and mystery meets meaning, this show could land perfectly. The Duffer Brothers are no strangers to genre-bending narratives. If they stay true to the book’s tone while expanding its cinematic potential, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne could be their most sophisticated project yet.
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So keep your eyes peeled because this isn’t just another adaptation. It’s an obsession in the making.
