Stranger Things really is one of those remarkable shows to me. I’ve seen discussions on which season is the best, and the general consensus usually is season 1. However, while I understand some people thinking one season is better than another, overall I find this to be one of those series that has managed to retain a certain level of quality up until this point. I think that all three seasons of Stranger Things so far have been exceptional, and the show still has me really excited for more.

This is the first season that starts to feature the kids no longer being kids. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the same actors and everything, but they’re starting to approach their teenage years now, so there’s a lot of focus in season 3 around how their lives are starting to change with them getting older. The central conflict of the season, though, actually revolves around the Russians trying to open the gate that El closed at the end of season 2. Because of this, the Mind Flayer has once again found roots in Hawkins, and this time is trying to raise up an army of infected minds. This season seems to take a lot of inspiration from zombie movies and from other classics like The Blob.

I think the biggest advantage that season 3 has over its first two is that it’s easily the most 80s feeling of the three seasons. The fashion, hairstyle, music, and overall flash aesthetic is just ramped up here, and it’s lovely. I think the only downside to this is that some people might find that season 3 feels a lot different than the first two, especially with the kids getting older. Seasons 1 and 2 felt a lot more parts 1 and 2, where season 3 starts to feel like a bit more of a different beast. However, in this case, I don’t think different is bad. It’s just a new evolution of the show.

Like I said, the highest praise I can give Stranger Things in its third season is that it manages to keep the same exciting momentum going that seasons 1 and 2 had. Sure, the first episode or two of all of these seasons have taken a little bit to get going, but once they get going they stay going for the rest of the season. This is a show that somehow stays exciting and compelling for its entire runtime, with no stretches ever feeling like a waste of time. I feel like the show has been consistently amazing up until this point, and so I hope that season 4 can keep that same momentum going.

4.5/5