Item: Stranger Things
Rating: 9
Author: David Griffin

The following contains SPOILERS for all of Stranger Things Season 3 on Netflix. Below, you can also find links to all the individual episode reviews for Season 3, for those who'd like a more focused take on a specific chapter, followed by our full (mostly spoiler-free) Season 3 review.

Additionally, be sure to check out our Stranger Things: Season 3 ending explained, and make sure you watch through the credits for an important post-credits scene.

Plus, once you've finished the season, check out our Stranger Things ending explained, and our deep dive into the Season 3 finale's post-credits scene.

In the same vein as Game of Thrones, the adolescent cast members of Stranger Things have undergone a striking transformation over the years - both physically and as people. Season 3 effectively highlights the profound changes affecting the kids of Hawkins as they prepare for high school, while also trying to figure out how to grow up without growing apart. Series creators the Duffer brothers succeed in this particular narrative quest, by delivering a darker, scarier, and more action-packed season that surpasses its predecessors.

There's a lot to like about Season 3, but it all starts with the younger characters, who, after seemingly closing the portal to the Upside Down last year, are endeavoring to just be kids during the summer of 1985. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) constant make-out sessions are getting in the way of Will's (Noah Schnapp) yearning to play Dungeons & Dragons with the boys, while Dustin's (Gaten Matarazzo) return home from a month-long summer camp doesn't produce the happy reunion he was expecting. And while it's heartbreaking to see hormones getting in the way of established friendships, the group's division leads to a few exciting team-ups.

Dustin and Steve (Joe Keery) are the ultimate comedic pairing in Season 3, with their evolving bromance leading to some emotionally stirring scenes. Both young men are struggling to come to grips with their respective new circumstances: Steve not getting into college and being forced to work at the local ice cream shop, and Dustin's friends not taking an interest in any of his new inventions. Throughout the season, Steve and Dustin's mentor/mentee dynamic is both charming and hilarious.

Joining the dynamic duo is newcomer Robin (played by Maya Hawke), who works with Steve at Scoops Ahoy. Like Dustin, Robin is another mentor for Steve "The Hair" Harrington, challenging the former high school heartthrob in unexpected ways. Hawke blends into the growing ensemble nicely, making it easy to forget that she's brand new.

Without getting into specifics, we can tell you that the Upside Down, the Mind Flayer, and its minions are alive and well, producing some terrifying new creatures and thrilling action sequences later in the season. The new monsters are unlike anything we've ever seen before, and you can tell that Netflix spared no expense in bringing them to life. The season finale, titled "The Battle of Starcourt," is an 80-minute supernatural roller coaster of suspense with movie-size production values. And we're happy to report that all eight episodes are essential viewing, without any of the "Netflix bloat" we've grown accustomed to.

Stranger Things Season 3 Gallery

On the adult side of things, Police Chief Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) are going through their own significant character metamorphoses. Joyce is still struggling to get over the death of her beloved Bob Newby back in Season 2. Ryder's heartfelt performance is elevated by the Duffers' creative choices behind the camera, using flashbacks and violent imagery to accentuate Joyce's fractured state of mind.

For Hopper, he's going through the school of parenting hard knocks with his adopted daughter, Eleven. Harbour is incredible in his portrayal of an over-protective dad who's having difficulty accepting that his child is growing up. Together, Hopper and Joyce are an entertaining pair to follow, and their "will they/won't they" chemistry is delightful.

Apart from the supernatural creatures from the Upside Down, Stranger Things Season 3 also boasts a badass human villain named Grigori (Andrey Ivchenko), who eerily resembles Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first Terminator film. Grigori doesn't say much, but his threatening looks and '80s haircut speak louder than words. The mysterious Russian agent has some memorable fist-throwing encounters with Hopper, which are a nice change of pace from battling slimy monsters.

Genre favorite Cary Elwes, who plays Hawkins' smarmy Mayor Larry Kline, is, unfortunately, one of the more forgettable additions to Season 3. Elwes plays his part as the villain well, but there's no nuance to his character - he's exactly who you presume him to be, which is a shame since Elwes is such a capable actor.

Stranger Things continues to grow in terms of its cast and the scope of its story, so it's understandable that not every character will get the attention they deserve... But it's still noticeable. Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) fall into this particular category, with their respective storylines feeling inconsequential compared to the rest of the Hawkins gang. Even though Nancy and Jonathan are involved with the main plot, if you took them out of the equation, the season wouldn't suffer. Hopefully, the two aspiring reporters will have more to do in Season 4. Time will tell.

Netflix Spotlight: July 2019

Verdict

Netflix's Stranger Things Season 3 is the series' best outing so far, with bigger stakes and stronger character development than its previous two iterations. As the kids mature, so do their respective stories and the young actors continue to deliver the goods. Newcomer Maya Hawke is an outstanding addition to the already stacked ensemble, with David Harbour's Hopper and Winona Ryder's Joyce adding a nice bit of emotional depth with their compelling storyline. The production value has also been given a boost, making this Season 3 feel more like something you might see in a movie theater.