Stranger Things: Season 3 Review

8.5 / 10. Sci-fi Scoops Ahoy! 1980s set retro humour and horror mixed with a group of loveable nerdy kids*SPOILERS*

Stranger Things is a Netflix Sci-Fi horror TV show created by the Duffer Brothers, set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s. Season 1 focused on the strange disappearance of young Will. His Goonie-esque group of friends investigate, aided by Will’s brother, mam and Sheriff Hopper. Other weird supernatural events and top-secret government experiments abound, and a mysterious girl appears with psychokinetic abilities.

In season 2, the girl, Eleven, now a part of the gang struggles with her abilities and disappears, and Will struggles with the aftereffects of his time in the Upside Down.

Season 3 takes place in the summer of 1985, the Starcourt Mall opens, and the gang must tackle further monsters from the Upside Down, as despite having closed the portal to the other side, Will still feels its presence…

Stranger Things is pitch perfect nostalgia for those that were around in the 1980s and brings its Sci Fi ‘coolness’ to a new age group, with retro humour and horror mixed with a group of loveable nerdy kids. Storylines take inspiration from the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King, retro video games, and ‘real-life’ strange and secret Cold War and government experiments, such as MK Ultra.

There is a different tone to season three, but that’s not a bad thing. Season one was very dark and mysterious, and will always be the best, but things evolve. The kids are older now, there have definitely been some growth spurts, so the group dynamics and interests change – much to Hopper’s dismay, as Mike and Eleven embark on their romantic relationship. There has been no supernatural drama and they are engrossed in normal humorous kid dramas.

The soundtrack, sets and wardrobe are authentic and there are always lots of cool 1980s references and posters; Back to the Future poster at the cinema (maybe time travel could become a part of a future season?), the Terminator, etc. They were missing an Invasion of the Body Snatchers one, which seemed to be an influence on the evolution of the Demogorgon infiltration.

Of course, there are Russian bad guys, it’s set in the 1980s. The inclusion of the mall made for some fun and exciting scenes. The new characters, notably; Robin (Maya Hawke), Bruce (Jake Busey) and Mayor Larry Kline (Cary Elwes) were welcome additions.

Nancy’s (Natalia Dyer) character progression is good each season, she and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) are a more suited couple, and this season also brings them to the same workplace. This leaves Steve (Joe Keery) open to be part of the most enjoyable plot line in his job/amateur espionage fiasco at Scoops Ahoy with Robin, his reunion with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and unlikely alliance with the legend that is Erica (Priah Ferguson). Love her - glad to see her in a larger pivotal role.

Dustin (Dusty Bun) is still adorable, the scene where he finally got through to Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) on the radio and their barn-storming rendition of The Never-Ending Story theme song seemed misplaced at that tense moment, but it worked.

Nice to see Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) bonding with Max (Sadie Sink). Will (Noah Schnapp) is naturally quieter than the rest of the group and was overlooked a bit this season, but his past experiences have given him and important role.

Billy is fantastic (Dacre Montgomery) looking like he’s walked out of a Guns n Roses music video, the ladies at the pool said it all, and he has an integral role this season.

Hopper (David Harbour) seems to have transformed into an aggressive Magnum P.I. (maybe it’s the shirt). I enjoyed Joyce (Winona Ryder) this season. She was more confident and not in full panic mode the whole time. The banter between Joyce and Hopper was great.

Murray (Brett Gelman) was hilarious and embodied the paranoia of the time.  Apparently, you can ring the cell number that he gave out and hear a recorded message by him, which is cool.

The CGI is effective and has become more ambitious, obviously they have more money. The Duffer Brothers have captured the era and nostalgia so well. I loved the fair finale, which went all out, tinged with some expected and unexpected sadness, I’m unsure which direction the next season will head.

The post credits scene was interesting ...it seems the Russian link will continue.  The Chernobyl disaster happened in April 1986, could that be referenced next season?

“Keep the door open three inches.”