Stranger Things Season 3 (2019) [Serial Review]

Created: The Duffer Brothers

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Noah Schnapp and Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Sean Astin and Paul Reiser.

Dur: Each episode is about 50 mins. There are 8 episodes in this series. The finale is just over an hour.
Genre: Thriller
PG: A few kisses and foul language.

It's been a year since Season 2 hit the screens and thrilled audiences everywhere. Season 3 comes back with what you might expect in a storyline that grows with its characters: a more mature story that grows with the characters. It's a bit unnerving to see the innocent kids of the first two season suddenly turn into beautiful teens with all the problems that ordinary teens have. Somehow you would want them to remain the innocent young ones that they were but that is not how life goes. Just like in Harry Potter you have to get around watching the protagonists grapple with their situation as teenagers. A large amount of innocence is lost in the bargain but that's the price you have to pay to tell relatable stories. 

Frankly speaking, I was a bit lost at Chapter One since I couldn't recall very well how Season 2 had ended. All I remember was that El managed to shut the gate and thus bring reprieve to battered Hawkins. Season 3 reminded me time and time again about this event but still I found it hard to place other characters like Max who plays Lucas' girlfriend and her brother Billy. Nevertheless, both of them play central roles in this Season. We are also introduced to some new characters like Lucas' younger sister, Erica (Priah Ferguson) and Robin (Maya Hawke) who plays Steve's co-worker. 

I loved the story. It was incredibly well-written. It stuck to the primary plot and built up on it pretty well adding new dimensions and developing characters in interesting ways. The Duffer brothers deserve all the credit for envisaging this brilliant project. Winona Ryder and David Harbour deliver stellar performances and I feel David who plays Hopper, was at his best; he truly deserves an award for his portrayal of Hopper, a stunning and tear-jerking performance all in one. It's the best of all seasons so far, something they were probably hoping to achieve to keep the fans glued and the ratings high. Natalia Dyer is also stunning as Nancy and really manages to carry the show as the focus shifts from the original gang to the girls of the series who all deliver stunning performances and carry the show through to a brilliant conclusion. Mention also needs to be made of Millie's performance as El and Maya's as Robin. Go girls!

I found the story to be a little more delicate as compared to the previous seasons but that is pure emotion since I don't really recall details of the previous seasons. What I do remember is that the characters really grow on you and by the end you are able to feel the fear, pain and heartbreak that they go through. Honestly, I didn't have a dry face throughout the climax of the finale. A fourth season is teased in the post-credits and I can't say I'm all exited about it since the pain of Season 3 still weighs heavy on my heart.

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