Television Stranger Things (Netflix Original) | CONTAINS SPOILERS

[Guy Incognito]

Ended up finishing it, won’t post anything outside of spoiler tags. I like how it balanced a generally light tone with some real dark moments. I’ll have to rewatch it but I think it’s my favourite season so far.

On another note

Spoiler: Season Finale Spoilers

Did anyone else think that the end of the episode was the perfect way to finish the series? I was actually a little surprised when I saw a post credit scene.

Spoiler

Part of me thought they could have stopped at season one, which had the perfect beginning middle and end.

I'm not sure how they could stretch out the plot for another two seasons at best. They experimented in season two with the whole Heroes 'there are others out there' plot but will it be revived?

I wouldn't be surprised if Hop isn't really dead.

 

[Zebs]

Spoiler

Part of me thought they could have stopped at season one, which had the perfect beginning middle and end.

I'm not sure how they could stretch out the plot for another two seasons at best. They experimented in season two with the whole Heroes 'there are others out there' plot but will it be revived?

I wouldn't be surprised if Hop isn't really dead.

Spoiler

If he isn't dead, it's the greatest cop-out ever. And yeah, fail to see where the show can go from here. Are the Russians going to use the demadogs (or demahumans as they seem to be now) to wage war on the US?

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Spoiler

Hop has either been knocked in to the upside down or he is the American the Russians speak of in the end when they say,”not the American”
Could be interesting if he comes back as the big bad or something or will the kids go to Russia.

I find that kid Mike really annoying but the rest make up for him. Some very humorous moments (Hopper). And Steve Harrington is amazing.

Spoiler

You won a fight!

Not really sure how I felt about it as a whole. I was laughing my head off at the first few episodes then later there were parts where I was thinking of fast forwarding it but the ending was pretty good and a little heartbreaking.

 

[padr81]

first of all after season 2 I was really skeptical going into this but I was blown away. 10 times the show series 2 was and a real return to form.

The following spoilers are only if you've seen the entire season.

Spoiler: Bit of nerd info, spoilery but not really a spoiler if that makes sense

Apparently if you dial Murray's phone no. from episode 6 there is a bit of an easter egg. Those who want to know can dieal the number or like me just google it.

Spoiler: Season thoughts...

I think it was pretty much the perfect ending even if it was bittersweet (bittersweet done right, take note dumb and dumber.) I think El losing her powers and becoming a normal teen was nice and I'm delighted she didn't have a happy ever after with Mike or some cheesy stuff.

Was really impressed with what they did with Billy the entire season, his season 2 arc and character was a car crash, he was great this season. I thought the ending was pretty much perfect for everyone, though I was kind of surprised at Max not mentioning billy in the ending scenes, getting over him so soon. Despite him being an asshole she seemed to look up to him.

It doesn't need a series 4 but it looks like we'll get one.

 

[syrian_scholes]

I got bored of it tbh, shouldn't have binged watch it.

 

[bucky]

Despite the humour and it being enjoyable, it was also quite boring? Felt like more of the same in terms of story and the mid-credits scene isn't making me look forward to the next season.

 

[rpitchfo]

Despite the humour and it being enjoyable, it was also quite boring? Felt like more of the same in terms of story and the mid-credits scene isn't making me look forward to the next season.

I agree, as a stand-alone series it’s excellent. Very funny and very well acted. I enjoyed it.

However l, I was hoping it expanded more on the universe and lore though. it didn’t offer any new information or insight into the stranger things world.

 

[anant]

Brilliant season, on par with season 1 for me and definitely better than the 2nd season.

Spoiler

Felt they could have ended the series there itself and was surprised to see a post credit scene there.
Don't think the American was Hopper but feel it would be Dr. Brenner or whatever his name was, with his role being to help Eleven get back her superpowers in the next season. The next season should be Christmas 2020 (as Mike said to Eleven that they(Byers) should spend Xmas at Hawkins)
On a side note, the last scene where Eleven was reading Hopper's letter was well directed and pretty emotional.

 

[Zebs]

Spoiler: Theory

"Keep the door open three inches"

I'm guessing this is a hint that the gate isn't fully closed?

 

[padr81]

Spoiler: Pure guess but...

anyone think Hopper managed to get through the gate and the Russia thing is someone else. Hopper in the upside down and when El gets her powers back she'll find him.

 

[Reddy Rederson]

Spoiler: Pure guess but...

anyone think Hopper managed to get through the gate and the Russia thing is someone else. Hopper in the upside down and when El gets her powers back she'll find him.

Spoiler

That was my guess before the “American” was mentioned. I actually thought that would be the final shot, hopper running about in the upside down.

 

[Ether]

Spoiler

Really hate how the characters just stand around waiting for something bad to happen, like Nancy and Will’s bro in the hospital.

Also, why did Hopper just stand there after he killed the Russian assassin? Could he not have just got the feck out of there back to where Joyce was?

 

[padr81]

Spoiler

That was my guess before the “American” was mentioned. I actually thought that would be the final shot, hopper running about in the upside down.

Spoiler: spoiler

I think the American was thrown in there to put people off, I've been racking my brain to think of who else they could have taken though and have no answers though.

I just don't see how Hopper survived the blast unless he jumped. Maybe he got through and the Russians found him in the upside down when they captured the monster, but I thought you could only open a gate in Hawkins.
Another argument towards it being Hopper is the whole dialing Murray's phone in real life easter egg. I just think they are throwing us a curve ball.

 

[padr81]

Spoiler

Really hate how the characters just stand around waiting for something bad to happen, like Nancy and Will’s bro in the hospital.

Also, why did Hopper just stand there after he killed the Russian assassin? Could he not have just got the feck out of there back to where Joyce was?

Spoiler: spoiler

As soon as he threw the russian guy in the machine it made like a rotating wheel of electricity he couldn't get through, at least thats how I saw it.

Characters do though have a habit of just freezing to suit the plot. I mean Joyce could have went to help Hopper when he was lying with the guy stepping on his throat but she just stood there looking all shocked.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Spoiler: spoiler

I think the American was thrown in there to put people off, I've been racking my brain to think of who else they could have taken though and have no answers though.

I just don't see how Hopper survived the blast unless he jumped. Maybe he got through and the Russians found him in the upside down when they captured the monster, but I thought you could only open a gate in Hawkins.
Another argument towards it being Hopper is the whole dialing Murray's phone in real life easter egg. I just think they are throwing us a curve ball.

Spoiler

Eleven's papa?

 

[padr81]

Spoiler

Eleven's papa?

That's a good shout actually.

 

[anant]

That's a good shout actually.

Spoiler

Pretty sure its Dr. Brenner only. Towards the end when Eleven lost her superpowers, they showed the flashback scene with her seen to be training. If she is to restore her powers, it will be taught back her him only.

 

[Mrs Smoker]

Only up to 4th episode, but Hopper's a fecking lunatic.

Spoiler

Of course, the mayor is a bad guy, but to come into his office, beat the crap out of him, and basically, kidnap him?

So far, season's not as good as either of the previous two for me.

 

[Sanche7]

Loved it, great season IMO. Very fast paced story, good humor and some stellar acting. Was under the impression that this was the last season but looks like there's going to be at least one more season. Loved Robin's character (didn't know she is Ethan Hawke's and Uma Thurman's daughter). Hope they are able to maintain the same quality in the coming season(s).

 

[ha_rooney]

Really enjoyed it. Story was very good & again it had a nice balance between humour & horror. The characters, especially Billy, were better than last season.

Spoiler

Not going to complain that there will be another season, but I thought it was the perfect time & way to end the show.

Also, with the mid-credit scene, I was expecting Hopper to have gone through the gate & ended up in the Upside-Down. If he's the American in the Russian prison, it would need some explaining!!

 

[robinamicrowave]

Halfway through the season. Just finished episode four.

Spoiler

Feels like more of the same but that's not necessarily a bad thing - this is comfortable, stylish TV that's easy to watch and disposable in a good way. It's great to throw on and just idly watch the various pieces come together in ways you expect them to, occasionally becoming emotionally riveted by it as its various strands rise to their various climaxes. I like it when a story that could potentially become too huge stays grounded by smalltown perspectives.

I'm not really a fan of Hopper & Maxine being written to behave like dickheads for no real reason, and the easy conclusion that "communism and capitalism are bad" kinda exposes that the writers aren't trying to really say anything deeper, but as it happens I'm not really into the show for that. I watch for the cutesy 80s visual cues and colour grading, the teen drama, the slimy monsters and such - if it manages to take a glance at real-world themes in the process then that's a bonus.

For once I'm actually more intrigued by the aliens/evil science stuff than the teen drama. I was never that into the fish tank / telekinesis / laboratory stuff in the first two seasons - Eleven was interesting on her own but I always felt a stronger connection to Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will's dynamic, as well as Nancy, Steve & Johnathan's little tiff, and the fight Joyce had to go through for two seasons to get her son back. It's nice that Eleven is an actual person now.

Helps that it's a short season. To watch four episodes and know I'm halfway through is part of why this all feels like zippy, fun TV, and that's fine. Looking forward to the rest of it.

 

[onemanarmy]

I really enjoyed it, much better than the second season, almost on par with the first. This series brings a smile to my face. The soundtrack was excellent as well.

 

[Tarrou]

Dustin and Steve as a comedic duo is the highlight of the entire season, for me

 

[fishfingers15]

Never ending story was the highlight for me

 

[wr8_utd]

The product placement in this season has been absolutely insane. They're not even trying to be subtle.

 

[Castia]

The product placement in this season has been absolutely insane. They're not even trying to be subtle.

Coca-Cola, Sprite and Burger King in every episode

 

[wr8_utd]

Coca-Cola, Sprite and Burger King in every episode

The amount of Coke advertising was just unbelievable. In earlier seasons it was Atleast a little subtle but this was one has been awful. They had almost a minute long Coke ad in the 6th episode.

Even the mall in the show is one giant billboard.

 

[MadMike]

Loved it, great season IMO. Very fast paced story, good humor and some stellar acting. Was under the impression that this was the last season but looks like there's going to be at least one more season. Loved Robin's character (didn't know she is Ethan Hawke's and Uma Thurman's daughter). Hope they are able to maintain the same quality in the coming season(s).

When she was cast I was like “there we go, classic Hollywood nepotism”. But I think the kid can act. She was pretty good. And so was Steve “the hair” Harrison. Although Nancy and Will’s brother feel kinda limited.

 

[Carolina Red]

When she was cast I was like “there we go, classic Hollywood nepotism”. But I think the kid can act. She was pretty good. And so was Steve “the hair” Harrison.

Yes they were. They interacted very well with one another.

 

[Carolina Red]

The amount of Coke advertising was just unbelievable. In earlier seasons it was Atleast a little subtle but this was one has been awful. They had almost a minute long Coke ad in the 6th episode.

Even the mall in the show is one giant billboard.

It’s one of the biggest controversies of the 80s man... Coke changed its formula in 1985 and people lost their shit.

The adverts everywhere are also an 80s Reaganomics/Gordon Gecko “greed is good” trope.

 

[wr8_utd]

It’s one of the biggest controversies of the 80s man... Coke changed its formula in 1985 and people lost their shit.

The adverts everywhere are also an 80s Reaganomics/Gordon Gecko “greed is good” trope.

I'm not really aware of this but my main issue is that they were not this blatant about it in the earlier seasons and they've suddenly taken it up a notch (in pretty much every episode) and it's quite jarring as a viewer.

 

[Carolina Red]

I'm not really aware of this but my main issue is that they were not this blatant about it in the earlier seasons and they've suddenly taken it up a notch and it's quite jarring as a viewer.

Season 3 is set in 1985.

And we’ve got very different definitions of “jarring”.

 

[Reddy Rederson]

The amount of Coke advertising was just unbelievable. In earlier seasons it was Atleast a little subtle but this was one has been awful. They had almost a minute long Coke ad in the 6th episode.

Even the mall in the show is one giant billboard.

"new" coke was introduced in april 1985. So it would have been out for a few months by the date setting of the show and talking about it would be relevant. Most notably because it was disgusting to most people. So much so that coke brought back the original recipe under the name "classic" coke.

 

[wr8_utd]

"new" coke was introduced in april 1985. So it would have been out for a few months by the date setting of the show and talking about it would be relevant. Most notably because it was disgusting to most people. So much so that coke brought back the original recipe under the name "classic" coke.

Yeah I just read up about it but again, it's not just Coke that has a lot of product placement in this season, is it? There's loads of mentions of 7-Eleven's, Burger Kings and Snickers etc. All of this did happen in earlier seasons but it was a lot smoother and not that in your face whereas this season just feels like it's full of advertising in every episode.

 

[Carolina Red]

Yeah I just read up about it but again, it's not just Coke that has a lot of product placement in this season, is it? There's loads of mentions of 7-Eleven's, Burger Kings and Snickers etc. All of this did happen in earlier seasons but it was a lot smoother and not that in your face whereas this season just feels like it's full of advertising in every episode.

Again...

The adverts everywhere are also an 80s Reaganomics/Gordon Gecko “greed is good” trope.

It’s Reagan’s 2nd term. The economy has turned around.

It’s an 80s trope in a series that’s famous for them.

 

[wr8_utd]

Again...


It’s Reagan’s 2nd term. The economy has turned around.

It’s an 80s trope in a series that’s famous for them.

All right, fair enough. Out of curiosity though, I don't remember the difference in timelines (1983/4 vs 1985?) between Season 2 and 3 but, back then in the US, with economy turning around, was the jump in advertising in general as explosive as it's been portrayed in Season 3 as compared to say 1 or 2?

@Reddy Rederson

 

[Reddy Rederson]

Yeah I just read up about it but again, it's not just Coke that has a lot of product placement in this season, is it? There's loads of mentions of 7-Eleven's, Burger Kings and Snickers etc. All of this did happen in earlier seasons but it was a lot smoother and not that in your face whereas this season just feels like it's full of advertising in every episode.

As CR said, its a trope of the time. Its like everyone smoking, thats just how it was. Everyone thought smoking was cool, and did it. Consumerism was in full swing by 85, if anything the show has under played how it was. Even the setting of the mall is showing casing the popularity that consumerism had at that time.

 

[El-Manos]

Way better than season2 so far.

 

[Reddy Rederson]

All right, fair enough. Out of curiosity though, I don't remember the difference in timelines (1983/4 vs 1985?) between Season 2 and 3 but, back then in the US, with economy turning around, was the jump in advertising in general as explosive as it's been portrayed in Season 3 as compared to say 1 or 2?

very much so. The thing I remember standing out the most was toys. Everything had a toy, and you got told to buy them almost constantly by tv. In 86 transformers the movie came out and slaughtered just about every transformer in the first 15 minutes. The reason? To introduce new transformers and thus get us kids to send out parents out to buy the new toys. Thats how bad consumerism got, it turned a kids movie into a blood bath just to sell more toys.

 

[Carolina Red]

All right, fair enough. Out of curiosity though, I don't remember the difference in timelines (1983/4 vs 1985?) between Season 2 and 3 but, back then in the US, with economy turning around, was the jump in advertising in general as explosive as it's been portrayed in Season 3 as compared to say 1 or 2?

We were in a massive recession with high inflation, high unemployment, and a banking crisis during Reagan’s first term and started emerging from it in 1984.