Stranger Things Indeed
A Review of ‘Stranger Things’ season three
Netflix reigns as the supreme streaming platform by producing a bevy of original programs and offering up something for everyone in any household. One of the most surprising and successful shows to date is ‘Stranger Things.’ Whether or not you are a science-fiction fan, this show certainly expands beyond the traditional formula. The show is a window into the life of adolescents in the 1980s and does a fantastic job encapsulating the “feel” of the 1980’s.
The Party: Where are They Now?
In season three, we are immediately pulled back into the lives of the show’s central characters: Will, Lucas, Max, Dustin, Mike, and Eleven. Most of the kids stayed home for the summer––except Dustin, who spent the majority of his summer at science camp. We soon realize that their interests have shifted dramatically from Dungeons & Dragons to girls. All the main characters, aside from Will (who has no love interest yet), are experiencing their first loves. We find Eleven and Mike making up excuses to stray from their previously inseparable group, and opting instead to make-out. Lucas and Max continue to nag each other, and even Dustin has come back from science camp with a girlfriend. Things have changed, and the person most affected seems to be Hopper, who can’t seem to face the fact that his surrogate daughter Eleven is growing up.
Music, Montages, & Malls
This season does its best to take advantage of its setting in the 1980s, where anything was possible. Theatrical releases changed the way people looked at the film (Back to the Future, Day of the Dead), and the implications of the Cold War set the tone for a more nuanced plot. We also have music. Several montages (often in slow motion) allow pockets of epic scenes, where the action on the screen becomes a pantomime to “Teenage Wasteland.” These moments allow a comedic break from the tense, foreboding atmosphere set by the show. These coming-of-age moments make us feel closer to the characters on screen. Cultural references humanize the cast so that even though a “mind flayer” has never stalked us, it’s relatable.
Starcourt (filmed at the newly renovated Gwinnett Place Mall) is where Steve serves ice cream at “Scoops Ahoy.” Within it, there is a palpable message about hindsight, miscommunication, and, moreover, the American dream.
So Much More than TV
Stranger Things has been building for three seasons to a final fourth installment, which will be released sometime in 2020 (fingers crossed). It is more than a science-fiction show or a horror series––it is a brilliantly plotted epic, brimming with intimate moments, comedy, nostalgia, and innovation. If you haven’t checked out ‘Stranger Things’ on Netflix yet, this is the time. You will not be disappointed!
