“Stranger Things 3” Review
Arguably one of the most not the most talked about television shows this summer was Netflix's "Stranger Things 3." Matt and Ross Duffer's third outing on the streaming platform released on July 4, an aptly fitting date for this season's setting.
In it, the characters are hanging outside of the school setting and in the hot summer sun as peril once again strikes the small town of Hawkins. Complete with monsters, callbacks to the 1980s and great character development, this newest installment of the "Stranger Things" series is the most fun, whacky and entertaining it has ever been.
"Stranger Things" picks up half a year after we last saw our heroes. Mike and Eleven are finally dating, as are Max and Lucas. Dustin returns home from summer camp to his friends wanting to ditch him and Will almost feels the same way as Dustin, though a tiny bit different. Everyone is moving on and growing up and Dustin just wants to hang out with his friends.
Also appearing are Nancy and Jonathan, who have dedicated their summer to working at the local newspaper, where the odds in the office are against them as interns. Fan favorites Steve and newcomer Robin is at the helm of the ship at Scoops Ahoy, the ice cream parlor in the newly built Starcourt Mall (a place of major importance in the season). Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers are also put together for a majority of the time this season, dealing with the struggles of being parental figures for their kids and finding a balance between them.
The Mind Flayer, as previously seen to not have been completely slayed, returns as the main antagonist for the season. Its presence is hinted at very early on and it is behind more of the supernatural happenings in Hawkins, such as people becoming "flayed," or part of its army. Lead by resident bully-turned-monster Billy, the Mind Flayer possesses new abilities and has new tricks up its sleeve as it attempts to wipe Hawkins off the map.
At the same time, the presence of Russian scientists keeps our cast of heroes on their toes as they dive into the underground of the Mall to see their scientific advancement. This addition to the lore of "Stranger Things" can seem a little jarring at first, but one must remember that the Russians were commonly associated as the villains in most products of the 1980s at the time, reflecting the cold war. It adds to the accuracy of the callbacks to the 1980s more than ever in this third outing.
"Stranger Things 3" is one of the most fun, entertaining and colorful seasons of television ever. Departing from the horror-based style of storytelling from the first two seasons, it appears to have taken up a more fun and caricature-like version of its style, though it is not unwelcome. By embracing the campiness that the 1980s has to offer, "Stranger Things" gives us a wild, fun set of episodes for us to froth over for many summers to come.
Rating: 8/10
Jack Grossman is a senior majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jackdgrossman@gmail.com.
