Released: 4th July 2019 (All regions)
Created by: The Duffer Brothers
Number of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobbie Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery and Maya Hawke
Following on from its first two seasons, Stranger Things has become the most high profile and popular series on Netflix; for its third entry, The Duffer Brothers have upped both the scale and emotional weight of the characters we’ve grown so attached to.
In the summer of 1985, the band of kids are getting on with their lives and enjoying the holidays as best they can around Hawkins; Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown) and Will (Noah Schnapp) start to feel a sinister presence again and as it turns out, the terrors of the upside down are still endangering the small town and the crew all set out to investigate. True to its namesake, we have three main plotlines unfolding; there’s the town itself where Eleven, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will, Max (Sadie Sink), Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathon (Charlie Heaton) uncover suspicious activities among the townsfolk, a dark secret lurking beneath the new Starcourt Shopping Mall unearthed by Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery), Erica (Priah Ferguson) and newcomer Robin (Maya Hawke) and finally an unexpected road trip in which Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) stumble across some invaders in America’s midst. The first few episodes do start off slow, gradually easing you into the central plot but once episode 4 comes around, things kick into high gear. As these stories gradually converge, we’re treated to a flurry of action scenes and horror elements as the episodes deftly cut between the different groups of characters; you’ll be just as thrilled as I was all the way to the finish.
With some brilliant characters firmly established, the third outing of Stranger Things works to put them through bigger challenges; it’s a big cast at this point but things never become unbalanced. All the child actors remain spot on, particularly Millie Bobbie Brown, who is once again phenomenal as Eleven, providing some an incredibly visceral and believable performance throughout the eight episodes; that’s something that can be said for many of the characters in season 3. There are some incredibly emotional moments from many members of the cast, a good portion of them coming from the themes of growing up alongside the ups and downs of teenage relationships. The series has done a fantastic job of conveying these elements and without giving anything away, the final moments of the season were often heart-wrenching. With that said, the series still balances things out with its wacky humour and sci-fi trappings while also giving side characters much more to do. Joyce and Hopper’s road trip results in some very funny moments and Dacre Montgomery’s Billy (the nasty older brother of Max) is given massive amounts of development to deepen his backstory and make him far more sympathetic. More eighties veterans join the cast most notably Carey Elwes as the Mayor Larry Kline and Jake Busey as the slimy journalist Bruce. With these additions to the cast, things feel much larger and far-reaching than previous seasons.
Matching the uptake in supporting characters, the production design on Stranger Things season 3 has really been taken up a notch for the third season; the big centrepiece this time is the Starcourt Mall, which the producers went to great lengths to create an authentic eighties setting. Many of the sets are bursting with colour, especially a flashy fun fair that marks the season’s climax; all the flashing neon lights and fireworks give off that summer feel, as does the soundtrack which once again boasts a brilliant selection of classic tracks that pulls the audience in at every turn. The attention to detail in both the effects and cinematography remains excellent, the rapid scene transitions always keeping things flowing along smoothly. The Duffer Brothers should once again be commended for their unwavering commitment to crafting a believable, nostalgic setting while also following up with story and characters.
With its increased scale, rapid pacing and emotional weight, Stranger Things Season 3 is a thrilling ride, its lovable characters and stellar production values making it one of the finest offerings not just on Netflix but the small screen in general. It takes a little while to get going but just like the first two seasons, you won’t be able to tear yourself away from this dazzling romp.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Brilliant)