The Boys Sound Designer Reveals "Stranger Things" Vibe in Fan-Favorite Episode

Even a show as notoriously brutal as The Boys can take cues from unexpected places. Sound designer Russell Topal, a veteran whose diverse resume spans Rick & Morty, BoJack Horseman, and Frozen II, revealed a surprising influence on a memorable Season 5 sequence: Netflix's Stranger Things.

Topal pinpointed the plant-like mutated character Quinn in the episode "King of Hell" as his personal favorite to craft. Trapped to a wall with pulsing veins and flying particles, the visual effects reminded him directly of the Duffer Brothers' sci-fi horror hit. Creating Quinn's rhythmic, breathing sound was a unique challenge. Topal and his team had to keep the sound in sync with constantly evolving visuals, often