The third season of the series was released on the fourth of July, but there I was sitting on my couch next to my mom on July 8th ready to binge. I had to wait four days. That was agonizing, because I like participating with all the keeners online right from the get-go. Give me all the memes and gifs. Instead I boycotted anywhere on the internet I might have something spoiled for me. So…everywhere, essentially. Great time to tidy up my house!
Alas, my mom and I enjoy binging the series together, so it was worth the wait. First of all, we ordered sushi, right? Sushi makes everything better. And chocolate cake. Costco Tuxedo cake. You know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout?
Yes there will be spoilers ahead. Look away now if you’re stronger than me and holding on to the season by viewing an episode a week like a normal human being with self-restraint.
So, Cat, was this season any good?
YES IT WAS GOOD. It was the best in the series yet, for numerous reasons, but mainly because 1. There were basically NO filler scenes, 2. The storyline was interesting, engaging and just kept going and going 3. The characters. More importantly, the actors who played the characters. This cast is incredible and the newcomers fit in seamlessly; like you’ve known them since season 1.
Season 2 was not my season. I wasn’t a fan of the subplot of Eleven finding her “sister” (as touching as that was…I guess). The idea of all those other kids having unique powers was borderline too comic-booky for my liking. Especially since I started watching the series because I had heard it had ‘The Goonies’ (one of my all-time favourite films) vibes. However, that said, I think it would be really neat to recruit them all in a final battle for the last season. I just didn’t care to learn about them… I know, it doesn’t make sense. Forgive me, I’m weird. I also found myself bored at times watching season 2. I have re-watched season 1, and yes, I’ve already re-watched season 3. I have no desire to re-watch season 2 other than for the scenes where Steve is babysitting, because frankly, that’s probably the reason I didn’t abandon the show. Yeah Steve! Go you and your baseball bat and your sassy mom-like qualities.
At first I wasn’t a fan of how broken up the group was this season. You have five different plotlines to keep track of. You’ve got Steve, Robin, Erica and Dustin vs. The Russians storyline. You’ve got Hopper and Joyce teamed up with Murray and Alexei trying to figure out just what IS wrong with those darn magnets and that sketchy mayor. You’ve got El and Max becoming best friends and trying to figure out what Billy’s deal is (also, boys are dumb, ugh). You’ve got Nancy and Jonathan’s rat investigation. And you’ve got Lucas, Mike and Will fighting the scariest monster of all; puberty and FEELINGS. Bonus plotline: Billy’s “dance” with the Mind Flayer and Mrs. Wheeler.
In the end I grew to like the different groupings. It was a little annoying that all of them had a piece of the puzzle to contribute while the others had no idea what was going on. However, the splurge of information they word-vomited on each other when they did all finally cross paths was pretty funny. Just better consume the walkie-talkie battery next time, Dustin. Jeez.
The benefit of having so many different plotlines meant you felt like you were in this chaotic toss and turn of entertainment. If one plotline was kind of a drag for you then you were even more excited when they returned to your favourite characters. It was this whole mess of a story coming together and it was all moving so fast that you just ended up screaming (in a good way… but not that good way) at your television/computer/phone, etc. Do you know how much helpful advice I yelled at Steve throughout that entire interrogation scene and all the chases? I might have just saved his life. You are all welcome!
My mom and I both agreed after viewing the season in one sitting, that there didn’t feel like a good moment to really put the show on hold for another day. It felt like a really long movie, where you were at the edge of your seat waiting to see just what was going to happen next. The end of each episode really left you on a cliff-hanger for the next. Especially at the end of episode 5 where the two blobs of guts combine and we get a good look at the Mind Flayer goop monster. Gross! It roars and cuts to credits. How do you casually decide to wait to watch the next episode voluntarily after that? Like, is it going to eat Nancy or what?! Move to the next episode faster, Netflix! I loved this season because every episode felt like that.
I’m not a fan of villains just being villains. That could explain why I’m not a really big fan of superhero comics and I hesitate even viewing just one Marvel movie. I might very well become obsessed, but it’s the actual sitting down and deciding “Hey I think I’ll watch Iron Man” hurdle I have to get over. And I think I struggle with it because what’s so interesting about some random bad guy just being a bad guy simply because your protagonist needs someone to fight? They have a backstory too. Most times the villain has a reason for being a villain. Your villain thinks they’re in the right just like your superhero thinks they’re doing the right thing.
It shouldn’t surprise you, then, that I LOVE me a good redemption arc. I LOVED that they gave Steve a redemption arc in the first season and I LOVED that they gave Billy a backstory and allowed him to be redeemed while protecting El. It gets me super hyped up when the villain turns and does something unexpected and good. Like when Kylo Ren saved Rey and then fought the guards alongside her. That moment felt iconic! I almost peed myself. I almost peed myself again when Billy sacrificed himself.
The last thing I expected from this season was to like Billy. They humanized him and I’m thankful that they did. I felt awful for Max, and it was only on my second viewing that I realized she said “I really hope it’s not you,” while spying on Billy from afar.
And it was.
Let’s talk about something else before we discuss more death. ‘Cause there was more of that this season.
Let’s talk about how quick-paced the story was and how a wrench was thrown in on the puberty plotline.
I know we were all sad about Hopper and Billy and the sweetest man to ever love cherry Slurpees, Alexei, but reserve a little sadness for Will, huh? Anything revolving around the loss of childhood gets me right in the feels. Like when I bawled like a baby at the end of Toy Story 3. It’s always the third in the series, I swear.
While Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max and El were all wrapped up in those teen feelings, it’s being argued whether or not Will is gay and that was why he had such a huge meltdown when confronted by Mike. Noah Schnapp who portrays Will has said it’s up to the audience to decide. For me personally, I saw it more as Will not ready to let go of his childhood while everyone around him was up and running for the hell-raiser known as puberty. This kid was stuck in the upside down and possessed by demons. Let him be a kid for a little longer! However, I could understand why people would also see it as Will possibly being gay. The way he voices his annoyance when the boys mention any girls hints at it a bit. That said, I don’t know why we all jumped to the conclusion that he’s gay. He told Joyce – and I quote – “I’m not gonna fall in love” He didn’t say “I’m not gonna fall in in love with a girl/boy”. Instead of automatically jumping to the conclusion that he’s gay, maybe we can broaden our minds a bit more and consider that maybe Will is asexul or aromantic, or just not ready for any of it because he still wants to hold onto being a kid for a bit longer.
Something to think about.
I just know it was really sad to see him crying and breaking ‘Castle Byers’ (all the loss of childhood symbolism, Batman!). That sign that said “All Friends Welcome”?! My heart!
I don’t have a heck of a lot to say about Alexei. Only that he wasn’t a bad guy and I didn’t want him to die. I bet he would have played D&D with Will!
Then there was Hopper. His speech really got me choked up, but… I wasn’t very sad about his death. Don’t hate, it’s probably just all my denial. I really, really don’t think he’s dead. I do think that there needs to be a major character death for this entire series to feel like something really epic in the end, but I don’t think Hopper is done for just yet. There’s a YouTube video I watched by ‘3 Buck Theater’ and I agreed with 95% of what he said. If the Duffer brothers want season 4 to be the last and to be the biggest story yet, all they need to do is follow everything ‘3 Buck Theater’ states. Especially starting with the idea that Hopper is stuck in the Upside Down and everyone teams up to go after him in that crazy, creepy world. It would also give El reason to recruit her “sister” and that whole group because El’s powers ain’t workin’ at the end of season 3 and gosh darn, she’ll need a heck of a strong motive to get them back.
If that’s the case then who would be the American they mention at the end of the last episode? Your favourite nutty conspiracist, Murray! Hired by the Russians and then thrown into a situation he was not in favour of. Seriously check out this video for a better explanation. I could tell you everything I’d like to happen and see in the next season, but I’d just be repeating what this dude says.
There’s still a really big chance that ‘the American’ is Hopper, but that just feels so simple and yawn-worthy when they could throw us all off with another loop instead.
Alright, so those are my thoughts. Have you binged the new season yet? What was your favourite plotline? Who’s your favourite character? What do YOU want to see happen next season?
Ahoy!