After a nearly two-year hiatus, the gang from Hawkins, Indiana are back. This time a little older, a little wiser, and with a whole lot of growing pains still ahead. Set smack in the summer of ’85 with the rapidly approaching Fourth of July celebration, life has returned to normal – normal for Hawkins anyway- since the close of the gate to the Upside Down. But the wounds from that battle are still fresh and quickly reopened anew to bring a serious set of problems and foe unlike any our favorite characters have ever faced before. With it, the series’ best season yet.

After establishing the central story’s setup straightaway, the earlier episodes of this season focus on getting us reacquainted with the characters. With adolescence comes hormones, which means a new set of trials and tribulations for Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max (Sadie Sink). Navigating love at a young age also comes with interesting themes of how they can hinder or help personal growth. Even Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) claims to have his heart set on someone, leaving Will (Noah Schnapp) trying to reconnect with his friends over things they used to cherish. As for the elder Hawkins teens, they’re adjusting to life post high school, i.e. they’ve entered the working world. The resident grownups, namely Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour), are testing the boundaries of their friendship while also leaning on each other for parenting support.

Being that this universe has grown dramatically in scale and scope, a lot of time is dedicated to character development and exposition set up in the front half. That’s not a bad thing; by the third outing these characters are well-lived in and getting caught up with them feels like a warm homecoming with old friends. They’re now all so caught up with their own lives and personal dramas that they’ve splintered a bit. As the characters group off, they’re unwittingly uncovering a portion of the overall storyline. Eventually, they’ll have to come together to face it.

Ultimately, that’s what makes this season the best yet. It’s one cohesive narrative; everything else works in service to that. These characters and their world just become richer along with way because of it. There are no side story detours, like “Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister” in the previous season. This new season is a pinnacle in longform storytelling; every episode, every moment, every character interaction plays an important part in the grand scheme. The stakes are higher than ever before, too.

Whereas season 2 may have felt uneven and unsure in its footing, the Duffer Brothers now demonstrate a clear path forward with a strong grasp of how they want to weave together all of this ever-expanding universe’s moving parts. It’s bolstered by an immeasurable cast, which has always the series’ strongest point. Season 2 gave us the unexpected and brilliant pairing of Dustin and Steve. Season 3 gives us more of that, but it also shows that each actor’s chemistry extends to whoever they’re paired with. Matarazzo spends a lot of time with Priah Ferguson, who plays Lucas’ sassy sister Erica, offering up a new endearing dynamic. Keery’s new partner in crime is Maya Hawke, his Scoops Ahoy co-worker Robin, and their budding friendship gives us both a new character to love and new depth to a fan favorite.

The biggest surprise, though, is that of Dacre Montgomery. Introduced last season as Max’s older stepbrother and resident bad boy Billy Hargrove, it’s clear that Montgomery gives every ounce of himself over to his character and he handles it with aplomb. In an ever-increasing roster of characters to keep track of, all portrayed by brilliant actors, it’s no small feat to stand out among them. Yet Montgomery does. He’s a star on the rise.

It’s impossible to think these characters could embed themselves into our hearts any further, and yet they do. That’s a testament to the Duffer Brothers’ densely packed story and characters as it is the actors that have been tasked to play them. I’ve been purposefully vague about any plot details, because there are so, so many surprises in store. The level of danger is unlike anything before, and the exhilarating thrills have never been more thrilling- particularly in the latter half of the season. This means the losses are keenly felt. It also means the triumphs elicit pure elation. The nostalgia is perfection, as are all of those nods and homages to ‘80s classics we hold dear, but that’s not why we keep tuning in. Stranger Things 3 delivers the requisite holiday fireworks and then some, topping a shaky second season and even the inaugural season that started it all. Above all, it leaves you with that joyous feeling of serious anticipation for what comes next.