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| Scene from Stranger Things |
There's a lot to ask in regards to the future of Stranger Things. After a stellar first season that launched most of the cast into superstardom, the series hit a snag in the second season. Was it going to just be grounds for loving '80s pop culture references mixed with horror visa vis Stephen King novels, or was it going to be about something grander? While there was plenty to love about the series as it expanded (notably its charming cast), there were signs that creators The Duffer Brothers were maybe running out of ideas, or at least not going to help the show find iconography and moments on par with Eleven and the Upsidedown. With the latest season dropping on Independence Day, it felt like a chance to reset the wheel and bring forth a story that explored what Stranger Things meant from an American perspective. It was one about hot summers, shopping at the mall, and dealing with evil Russians. If this wasn't the season that honed into '80s cliches very well, it was one of the most masterful pieces of evidence that this franchise did indeed have longevity.
All things considered, it's bizarre that it took this long for Stranger Things to play the Communist card. While it's true that the original run of the series was smaller, the show's slow expansion has taken in tropes and ideas from throughout '80s movies, music, and TV and molded them into a perfect vision. Anyone who has spent enough time around action movies of the time will know the threat of Russians. Even comedies including Spies Like Us used Russians as evil foils. It all seemed so obvious, especially with the promise of placing it in a context of supernatural forces and hormonal teenagers. In some respects, season three was the perfect time to start going down that road, if just because of how season two ended by closing off the portal of danger in the hopes of maintaining peace in Hawkins, Indiana. Just when you thought that there was no way to find danger, the Russians get involved.
Considering how prescient they are to the modern discussion, it makes sense to intersect the Russians with a story that explores what's essential to the American summer. Add in some lifeguards and mall activities, and you get the vision of paradise for the average teen. The soundtrack as per usual is full of the obvious hits of the decade, adding the neon-colored personality to everything. The series has found a way to be hokey in its references while playing into the blissful youth of teenagers doing their best to just survive. They make fart jokes, talk about girls, and jab at each other in between games of Dungeons and Dragons. They are the ideal nerds to put up with the recent set of conflicts, which include the portal to the Upsidedown getting opened again and the danger starting to let loose through possession.
More than anything, what this series has played into very well at this point is the idea of dynamics. Whereas most of the previous seasons involved bigger examples of teamwork, the plot separates itself into three distinct plots, all involving monsters, and Russians. While one explores an underground lab, another deals with Russian scientists who hold answers to deeper questions, and another deals with the monsters as they attempt to apply their wrath to the community. The average episode may be a little under an hour, but it's enough time for each story to develop in fascinating directions. More than that, the characters all play well off of each other and present often entertaining snippets. For instance, the group that is sent into the depths of the mall to discover Russian secrets have a great dynamic, including the idea that one is merely doing it as a bribe for free ice cream from the other two's place of business.
There's not a moment that overstays its welcome and instead builds the perfect tool of deception. Whereas most series may be fine climaxing with the monster fight, the final episode of Stranger Things features an emotional turn that shows the world coming to a crossroads. Does one live in Hawkins and face the danger, or do they attempt to start a new life? The chaos just keeps coming, no matter how much these kids fight against it. What helps to make the final 15 minutes more emotional is the fact that so much of the season has been built on their relationships, all childlike but also hopeful in a way that's impeccable. There's a need for them to stay together, and the show does a convincing job of it.
While the visual effects at times may seem a little shoddy, the monster fights are indeed intense, even if the emotional moments hurt just as much. The sense of bond for these characters has grown over the years to the point that it's more than referencing '80s movies like Back to the Future. They've formed their own identities and feel like genuine characters. They exist in a world that may borrow heavily from other concepts, but now have enough backstory to allow things such as secret songs shared among significant others to feel charming. For all of the show's faults, the characters all continue to feel endearing and work as more of a draw than whether the monster looks cool or not. At the end of the day, it's about friends coming together and going on missions. It's the fantasy of a generation and one that works now as escapism from the drolls of modern society.
Stranger Things' third season is a great improvement over the last in large part because it has a focus and understanding of character. It doesn't rely solely on gimmicks to make the strangeness feel so enticing. With stronger writing and acting than ever before, it works in its short spurts as a series with something more compelling to say. The characters are aging and becoming more vulnerable humans. This is key to what makes the series great, even as it presents potential threats for future seasons. The question is where things could possibly go. Unlike last season and its messy run, this is a chance for them to expand upon characters and make something even more compelling. The novelty of a mall hidden with secrets turned out to be a blessing, as it allowed the indulgence to give way to raw emotions. It may be artifacts of nostalgia, but they all for the first time in a while feel like extensions of character instead of the other way around.
There's not a moment that overstays its welcome and instead builds the perfect tool of deception. Whereas most series may be fine climaxing with the monster fight, the final episode of Stranger Things features an emotional turn that shows the world coming to a crossroads. Does one live in Hawkins and face the danger, or do they attempt to start a new life? The chaos just keeps coming, no matter how much these kids fight against it. What helps to make the final 15 minutes more emotional is the fact that so much of the season has been built on their relationships, all childlike but also hopeful in a way that's impeccable. There's a need for them to stay together, and the show does a convincing job of it.
While the visual effects at times may seem a little shoddy, the monster fights are indeed intense, even if the emotional moments hurt just as much. The sense of bond for these characters has grown over the years to the point that it's more than referencing '80s movies like Back to the Future. They've formed their own identities and feel like genuine characters. They exist in a world that may borrow heavily from other concepts, but now have enough backstory to allow things such as secret songs shared among significant others to feel charming. For all of the show's faults, the characters all continue to feel endearing and work as more of a draw than whether the monster looks cool or not. At the end of the day, it's about friends coming together and going on missions. It's the fantasy of a generation and one that works now as escapism from the drolls of modern society.
Stranger Things' third season is a great improvement over the last in large part because it has a focus and understanding of character. It doesn't rely solely on gimmicks to make the strangeness feel so enticing. With stronger writing and acting than ever before, it works in its short spurts as a series with something more compelling to say. The characters are aging and becoming more vulnerable humans. This is key to what makes the series great, even as it presents potential threats for future seasons. The question is where things could possibly go. Unlike last season and its messy run, this is a chance for them to expand upon characters and make something even more compelling. The novelty of a mall hidden with secrets turned out to be a blessing, as it allowed the indulgence to give way to raw emotions. It may be artifacts of nostalgia, but they all for the first time in a while feel like extensions of character instead of the other way around.
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