From Sassy Ice Cream Taster to Powerful Lady Applejack: How Erica Sinclair of Stranger Things Embraces D&D and Would be an Ideal Dungeon Master

Aug 17

From Sassy Ice Cream Taster to Powerful Lady Applejack: How Erica Sinclair of Stranger Things Embraces D&D and Would be an Ideal Dungeon Master

“Centaurs and castles and dragons and magic are all standard nerd tropes ergo My Little Pony is nerdy ergo you, Erica, are a nerd.”

Guest Blog by: Saffina Jinnah

Until Season 3, Erica Sinclair was just Lucas’ younger annoying sister. Since the beginning of time, this has been a common trope from The Brady Bunch to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Black Panther, annoying sisters have dominated the screen across the globe. But who was once a sassy ice cream sampler turned member of the beloved Scoop Troops, turned Lady Applejack, Erica has developed into a powerful character who is critical to the success of the Party, and even the defeat of Vecna. Her character development throughout the series is strong and watching her grow into an intelligent, complex person who is not only relatable to the average viewer but to girls and women of color is enchanting.

Growing up, games like Dungeons and Dragons or The Legend of Zelda were simply not very accessible to me. This was due to a lack of exposure more than anything else. Mythical fantasy games were just not an interictal part of growing up. Almost every South Asian’s earliest childhood memory is practicing and performing a dance or talent show when guests come over. Or in my, case a Bollywood awards show. Some nights we sit with our parents while they plan Antakshari (an Indian parlour game incorporating Hindi film songs) or model Indian outfits, staying up as late as possible because we definitely do not do sleepovers. Why would you stay at someone else’s home when you have your own? And, well, also that would mean a night of privacy. No privacy until you are married! Anyway, what do you need privacy for when you are busy studying? “Lesson kar, pachi maja (study first, then fun).” So as much as I loved making up routines with my bestie or sipping chai while playing cards late into the night, I did not even know these games exist, full of fantastical adventures with elves and wizards through castles and meadows. Of course, I did have the odd Barbie or Cabbage Patch Kid. But would I have been more enamored by half-orcs and Sigil – The City of Doors? Generations of girls of color will never know.

Now enter, Lady Applejack, “…a chaotic good half-elf rogue level 14…” Dungeons & Dragons player. Until now, Erica was resigned to a pink-wearing, syrup-loving one-liner queen. However, when she takes Lucas’ place in the Hellfire Club, it is clear what her true calling is. Being no less than her authentic self, she schools Eddie as to why she is the ideal member and Erica finally has her moment to shine. Lady Applejack aligns with her character perfectly. As a rogue, she is independent, resourceful, and agile – just as she is in the show. “And I’ll smile as I watch them die a slow, agonizing death,” she explains of her triumphs in D&D. Also extremely fitting for someone who takes so much pleasure in tormenting her brother and his friends through her drop-dead sarcasm and sheer intelligence. And let’s not forget, the final roll of the dice in Eddie's campaign, Erica rolls a 20. A critical hit, the Party wins the campaign.

This “crit hit” solidifies her place in the Hellfire Club. And with the unfortunate passing of Eddie Munson, one has to wonder who the next Dungeon Master will be. Maybe Dustin is the first to come to mind. He certainly has the zeal for it. Or perhaps even Mike. Though he has become somewhat disinterested, he did not join the basketball team. But the truth is Erica Sinclair would be the next best Dungeon Master. Whether she is explaining “Just the facts!” or “sneak[ing] behind any monster you throw [her] way and stab them in the back with [her] poison-soaked kukri,” one really cannot rule out Erica Sinclair. She has the personality and leadership to keep the group in check, either with her quick-witted responses or her easy ability to command a room. She knows what rules to follow but also sets boundaries and stands up for what she believes in, like when she defends Eddie and the Hellfire Club at the town hall meeting. She is goal-oriented and accomplishes what she sets out to do, including crawling through an air vent for a lifetime supply of ice cream. She is incredibly smart; from creating an electrocuting weapon that was used against Steve and Robyn’s captors to being the first to notice that the Upside Down was communicating through light. Most importantly, she is not afraid to create her own story. And to be a Dungeon Master, you must be an excellent storyteller. Suffice it to say she is most definitely entertaining! Clearly, Erica Sinclair possesses the essential qualities of any good Dungeon Master.

For these reasons and more, I hope the Party continues to grow in diversity and Erica continues to shine, hopefully taking on the role of Dungeon Master in the next season. In a show where there are a limited number of people of color, Erica’s development and agency is refreshing.

Erica Sinclair demonstrates the joy girls of color can have playing mythical fantasy role-play games such as Dungeons & Dragons. Seeing someone relatable on the screen will undoubtedly allow girls everywhere to feel seen. Moreover, seeing a girl of color on screen in such a unique and special role will encourage other girls of color to try things we are not usually exposed to, or we so often reserved for boys. Her passion for D&D is a delightful surprise. But as Dustin explains, perhaps it is not surprising at all. My Little Pony, a favorite of little girls everywhere, including one Erica Sinclair, is indeed filled with classic nerd tropes. And looking back on my childhood, I cannot help but think about Cabbage Patch Kids, whose origin story is also steeped in mythical creatures and magic. Perhaps I too was a nerd all along.

Saffina Jinnah is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. You can find her published work here: https://www.saffinajinnah.com/published-freelance-work

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