This last Fourth of July was one to remember as Netflix debuted season three of everyone’s favorite kids-on-bikes sci-fi television series, Stranger Things. It’s the same old kids in the same small town, but the changes of seasons and scenery lend a feeling of newness and excitement to the season. It’s summer in Hawkins, the new Star Court Mall just opened, and everyone (well, basically everyone except for Will) is enjoying the changes life has brought them.
As per usual, this season tracks several separate stories across town until they eventually converge in a larger than life finale. Joyce ropes Hopper into her investigation of fridge magnets falling off while the kids navigate the treacherous waters of teenage relationships. Steve works in an ice cream shop. But it wouldn’t be Stranger Things without stranger things. So the threat of the Upside Down still looms large, and naturally a new (and Russian) threat has moved into Hawkins. It’s just another day in small town America.
It’s an exciting season to say the least. The plot moves fast, and keeps viewers engaged across every storyline. The evolving relationships are handily woven into the bigger picture, and characters work through their personal problems even when faced with horrific monsters and familiar faces that are seemingly possessed. A few new characters are introduced to flesh out the town, and past favorites make a return in a big way. Most notably, Lucas’s sister Erica and Murray, the conspiracy theorist.
The story pulls inspiration from a variety of 80 movies, and it pieces them together remarkably well. There’s a touch of Red Dawn as Dustin suspects Russians in Hawkins. A new enforcer for the mayor oozes with metallic Terminator vibes. There’s heavy handfuls of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers as the Upside Down continues to terrorize Hawkins. These are just a few examples. The Duffers really had a field day here, but managed to keep it focused and controlled. It’s indulgent without being utterly hedonistic.
The fun and appeal of Stranger Things, however, is not just in its content but in its presentation. Luckily this is another area of success for season three. The cinematography, while not groundbreaking, remains impressive. It both maintains the feel of the first two seasons while improving on them and growing as its own. The score and soundtrack push along with the synthy tones of the decade that viewers have come to expect, and the pop culture references and nostalgic bits of inspiration are present as ever. The home decor, clothing, and especially the mall are expertly done. Star Court nails the look of an 80s mall to an unbelievable degree.
That polished, neon aesthetic aside, there’s a new sort of gruesomeness to this season. If you watched any of the trailers leading up to it, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “meat monster.” Add to that rapid meat-ification, exploding rats, dirt snacks, and lots of drool and viscera. The grotesque demogorgon and demodogs of prior seasons look tame by comparison. The show pushes unexpectedly hard into body horror and refuses to turn the camera away. It’s squirm inducing, but fun to watch.
A final aspect that must be discussed is the chord the show chooses to end on. It is both resolved and open. The story feels finished, but the possibility for more lurks just beneath that surface. That particular cat gets out of the bag just after the credits. While the season’s closing feels final, the post-credit scene raises a lot of questions.
Early on, the Duffer Brothers made it no secret that they had a specific story in mind. This season, perhaps more than any other, drives that idea home. It has a very intentional movement, like a chess player carefully positioning their pieces to draw it all to a close. With the announcement of season four at the end of September, it’s feeling like this story will be drawing to a close. Season three had a part to play, and it played it excellently.