Stranger Things seems to be Netflix’s most successful original show. In an endless sea of content, Stranger Things continues to be that thing that gets people talking. Even people who unsubscribed to Netflix resubscribed just for this show.

Season 1 essentially came out of nowhere and blew everyone’s mind because of its amazing production value. It’s a show with well-written characters that constantly pays homage to 1980s culture.

Season 2 went bigger to mostly positive results. There was a controversial episode that had nothing to do with the main plot but it ended on a positive note.

And now there’s Season 3 which released on July 4.

Plot

What’s going on in Hawkins, Indiana this time? This season takes place in the summer of 1985. Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, Max, and Eleven are now dealing with adolescent issues. Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve are now making their way into the working world. Sheriff Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers struggle to express their feelings. That’s where all the characters are at before the strange things (pun intended) start going down.

There’s a new flashy mall in town where something darker involving the Russians is going on.

There’s nothing mindblowing about the plot of this season. It follows the same pattern of the first two seasons which at times can make it predictable. Kids and grownups work together to solve a mystery, an evil monster gets unleashed, dark alternate dimensions (the upside-down) plays a role, and Eleven uses her powers to help. But the way everything’s done with the show’s entertaining characters and artful direction make it a must-watch for anyone with a Netflix subscription.

The Biggest Season Yet

It’s automatically noted how much the budget has increased compared to its first season. Everything from the truly impressive production design, the lighting, and CGI make it comparable to the biggest blockbusters in theaters right now.

In terms of production design, the biggest standout is the meticulously recreated 1980’s shopping mall. It really looks and feels like something of that era with its neon lighting and stores that don’t exist anymore. It was definitely a fun setting with a dark secret underground.

The CGI for the giant Mind Flayer was great and looks better than the monsters in previous seasons. The final battle between the Flayer and the characters in the mall was a bright colorful spectacle that was thrilling from beginning to end. The action scenes overall just feel better with its skillful artistic direction and a renewed sense of intensity.

Nostalgic Charm

The 80s charm is just as prevalent as previous seasons. The show continues to go all out with its familiar but colorful style. Stranger Things never shied away from its influences but it uses the episodic format to its advantage to develop its plot and characters over time. The films of that era didn’t have that luxury, while Stranger Things can implement past and modern techniques into a well-rounded eight-episode season.

Characters

Besides the nostalgia, the entertaining characters all played by talented actors is the show’s biggest draw.

The child actors continue to shine with their confidence and chemistry with each other. It’s so much fun watching them grow from kids to teenagers and how they deal with those problems. Mike and Eleven deal with typical teen relationship problems. Will feels like their issues are ruining the fun. Millie Bobbie Brown as Eleven continues to be a standout. She’s grown a lot from the first season and it was fascinating to see her character experience being a normal teenager.

Joe Keery as Steve Harrington became a fan favorite in Season 2 because they redeemed his character from unlikable to charismatic baby sitter. He continues to be great in this season and he’s paired with Dustin, Lucas’ sassy little sister Erica, and a new character called Robin. Maya Hawke plays Robin and she is the best new addition to this show. At first, she seems like Steve’s snobby but quirky co-worker at the Ice Cream Shop, but then as the story goes along she gets a lot of development and becomes one of the most likable characters on the show. Dustin, Steve, Robin, and Erica make a great team that had great banter.

Dacre Montgomery as Billy was another standout in this season. In the previous season, he was just an unlikeable bully. In this season he’s given some depth and more room to be an interesting character.

David Harbour as Hopper and Winona Ryder as Joyce are good as always, but Harbour most definitely acted his heart out this season with his constant energy.

Conclusion

Overall season 3 of Stranger Things continued to offer a unique experience filled with great characters mixed in with an amazing 80’s atmosphere. It’s a show full of heart, charm, humor, and thrills that can captivate all types of audiences. At times it may not be as fresh or exciting as that first season, but it’s quite possibly the standard all Netflix originals should strive for.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook



Related