Item: Stranger Things
Rating: 8.8
Author: David Griffin

This is a spoiler-free review for the Stranger Things Season 3 premiere, titled "Suzie, Do You Copy?" All 8 episodes will be available to binge on Netflix on Thursday, July 4, 2019. If you need a refresher, be sure to check out our Stranger Things Season 2 Ending Explained.

It's been an agonizing year and a half since we were last in the imaginative world of Stranger Things, and a lot has changed for both the characters and the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. For one thing, the kids are older, and with that particular change comes a level of maturity, which gives the Season 3 premiere - titled "Suzie, Do You Copy?" - a darker tone and a more complex narrative that's refreshing to watch. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer wisely focus their creative attention on how the passage of time has affected our favorite characters, relegating the Upside Down stuff to the fringes... For now.

Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is a great point-of-view character for this episode, as he returns home from summer camp, eager to see his friends. Like us, Dustin has missed out on some of the profound changes his companions have gone through over the summer, like Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) constant making out, and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max's (Sadie Sink) on-and-off-again relationship, among other things. It's equal parts melancholy and intriguing to watch this honest portrayal of time and how it can impact a group of friends as close as the Hawkins crew. It's refreshing to see the band of misfits just being kids for a little while, even if they're growing apart.

Stranger Things Season 3 Gallery

Stranger Things continues to be a visually attractive show, with the new Starcourt Mall chief among the fascinating new locations. The colorful shopping center is a shining beacon for '80s clothing and food-court nostalgia. Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), the two-time winner of IGN's Best TV Hair award (just kidding), is working at Scoops Ahoy as an ice cream dispenser. He's going through some growing pains of his own, struggling to win over the ladies with his charm. But as hilarious as it is to watch Steve awkwardly flirt with girls at the mall, it's his co-worker, Robin (played by newcomer Maya Hawke), who steals the show.

While it's tough to compete with the epic Dustin/Steve bromance that was established in Season 2, Robin holds her own against Steve's cockiness, often challenging him in unexpected ways. The daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke definitely has the chops to stand toe-to-toe with the best of Stranger Things' ensemble.

Season 3 also isn't afraid to get sentimental when it needs to. Winona Ryder is still excellent in her portrayal of Joyce Byers, as her character begins to experience PTSD as a result of the tragic events of Season 2 that led to Sean Astin's Bob Newby being killed at the Hawkins Laboratory. Thankfully, Chief of Police Jim Hopper (Hellboy's David Harbour) is still there to make her laugh from time to time - their banter is one of the high points of the new season.

Hopper may have gone through adolescence long ago, but he's still going through a transformation of his own, quickly learning that it's no easy task raising a teenage girl... Especially one who can slam doors with her mind. Hopper and Eleven's developing father/daughter dynamic was one of the strongest storylines of Season 2, and it appears that the Duffer brothers are picking up right where they left off. Harbour and Brown have such good chemistry with one another, it's hilarious to see Hopper taking on the over-protective dad role and attempting to intimidate Mike.

The only worrisome aspect of the premiere is the sizable growth of Stranger Things' ensemble. While Maya Hawke's Robin makes an instant impact, series regulars Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) feel inconsequential compared to the rest of the cast. Sure, there are still 7 episodes left to expand their respective storylines, but with charismatic veteran actors like Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) and Jake Busey (Starship Troopers) joining the team, one has to wonder if there's enough story to go around? Time will tell.

Netflix Spotlight: July 2019

Verdict

Netflix kicks off its third Stranger Things season with a fabulous episode that focuses its attention on the Hawkins kids as they struggle with the process of growing up while trying to retain their established friendship. It's quickly apparent that creators Matt and Ross Duffer have a strong understanding of their characters and how best to use them. The only worrisome aspect is the ever-expanding ensemble and whether or not there's enough compelling story to go around. For more, check out our review of Stranger Things Season 3, episode 2.