FASTER TIMES
Stranger Things picks up the pace as ‘80s-set hit returns for third season,
Stranger Things 3
(out July 4 on Netflix)
★★★
(out of 4)
Stranger Things is the little show that has blown up beyond even Netflix’s wildest dreams. As its third season begins we return once again to Hawkins, Ind., and just when you think there aren’t enough ‘80 things to parody, pay homage to and take inspiration from, creators the Duffer Brothers will take you to the mall, toss you a can of New Coke and have you ready for El and her gang to suit up and save the world. Again.
This is actually a very difficult review to write — my favourite things about this season are all on the long list of things that Netflix PR has asked me not to spoil. But that’s totally fair. I got to see the entire season completely unspoiled, and wish that for all of you. In fact, I can already guess exactly which details the online world is going to quickly meme and generally freak out over, and I can’t wait to join in.
This show’s delights really are best when served as surprises, and I honestly let out a squee at something revealed in the show’s opening minutes. The first episode in particular features a lot of fan service, including an early and excellent use of a classic Corey Hart track. That track, as well as the use of other licensed music, indicates a bigger budget in play now for Stranger Things, also suggested by the addition of a few big set pieces, more extras and bigger and betterlooking special effects.
One of the most serious knocks on this series in the past has been its pacing. I’d like to say that has been solved, and this time around, there is no egregious lull like the second season’s Chicago episode, but there are still some problems. Netflix has asked that the show be referred to as Stranger Things 3, stylized in the manner of a horror-film sequel, and for the first two-thirds of this season’s eight-episode run, it feels like it is just motoring along, almost hitting the TV-season-as-long-movie goal. However, some flab remains, and in particular some really indulgent silliness in the final two episodes that went a little too far, even in terms of fan service.
The story is now set in 1985, and while the kids have moved on from last year’s monster attack, it’s the adults who are struggling, particularly Winona Ryder’s Joyce, who is suffering from PTSD after the loss of Bob (played by Sean Astin). Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is working at the Hawkins newspaper, dealing with the incredibly sexist editors and reporters. For the most part, this show retains all of the qualities that you love it for, with most of the kids getting a moment or two to shine somewhere in the season. The hair of Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) is first trapped, but then cut loose, and David Harbour’s Hopper gets plenty of fun stuff to do — his early season dad struggles with El are particularly great — and more cute shout-outs and references than you can shake a stick at.
There are a few new additions to the cast — Cary Elwes is the latest cult ‘80s actor to join in on the fun, playing Hawkins’ smarmy Mayor Kline — and once the show’s action gets going, this year, there are three distinct plot threads that split up the cast for much of the season. Each group has pretty good dynamics, although there are some cloying exchanges in the adult storyline.
But this is Stranger Things, so there is plenty of pleasure and deliberately cheesy things that never failed to put a smile on my face. The show still has a villain problem: the bad guys are all setup with terrible follow-through — although a new one here proves to be the most fun, and my favourite.
Just like the kids are growing up, in the third season, the stakes are higher, and so are the consequences, but it’s still Stranger Things, and it remains pretty rad.