SAGs and Stranger Things theory

I think you have something going there about tension between Joyce and Hopper during Season Two. However, I don't think that what happened during the SAG speech was a publicity stunt. First off, the show doesn't need any more publicity. It's already one of the most talked about shows and interest in it is already at fever pitch. Plus, whatever people might think about Harbour's speech, there's no doubt he meant it sincerely. I gotta believe that he's a little peeved at the way that Ryder undercut him the way she did but he's good-natured enough to brush it off.

I kind of agree that it wasn't entirely staged (though it would have been smart to vet that speech beforehand.). David Harbour has already publicly commented on Winona's reaction and although he is very complimentary, he may have felt about Winona's reaction the way she clearly felt about his speech. By now they presumably have talked face-to-face and I'm sure everything is cool between them.

Edit to above. I see Nicolo has already pointed out that the speech was discussed beforehand.

Funny thing about that. Initial reports simply stated that he had discussed the speech with the cast but later reporting provided a more detailed account, specifically that he discussed the speech and changes he had made to it the night before at a dinner with Cara Buono and the teens, presumably Dyer, Heaton, Keery, and maybe Purser. Although I can't imagine that he didn't inform the rest of the cast, at least perfunctorily, that it was going to be a political speech.

So the moment where Ryder looks quizzically at the paper in Barbour's hand might have been genuine confusion although everything else was a deliberate act on her part. It's still unclear whether she was just over-excited or if she was expressing her mocking disapproval of the speech.

After Meryl Streep's speech it doesn't seem like a big deal, plus many people are criticising Trump.

Was she just grandstanding then? Trying to draw attention to herself in a non-speaking way.

Frankly it makes me wonder whether she's still messing around with drugs or she's on strong medication that doesn't go well with alcohol.

Well, there was her rambling tribute to Ethan Hawke at the Independent Film Awards and she did look sorta out of it at the Golden Globes after party.