Stranger Things 3 brings the fun, horror and heart: A spoiler-free review

Stranger Things 3 brings all the fun and horror of the first two seasons and the most heart of any season so far. Here’s our spoiler-free review of Stranger Things 3.

Stranger Things 3 premieres on the Fourth of July. Fans of the Netflix original series are in for fireworks (literally!), amazing performances from the star-studded cast, and a lesson in storytelling mastery from the Duffer Brothers.

There’s so much to love about the new season. It has the fun and horror of the previous two seasons and even more heart. It also feels fresh and different in some ways. Hawkins is changing with the times, and that’s very apparent in the clothes, hair, and all other aspects of the season.

I wasn’t alive during the 1980s, but it feels like the Duffer Brothers nailed the feel of this era. Even though I didn’t experience this time, the series feels incredibly nostalgic, and I think that has less to do with the sets and costumes and more to do with the feel of this show. Everyone can connect to it in some way.

While my childhood was a decade-plus later, I connect with the small town experience of this series and what it means to be a kid growing up during the summer. That connection to the series is only made stronger by the talented actors bringing this season to life.

The performances you’ll see in Stranger Things 3 are amazing. This powerhouse cast delivers in every scene, and a few of these performers should be nominated for Emmys and SAG awards for their roles in the season.

Acting has always been a great part of Stranger Things. In the first season, the young cast, and leads Winona Ryder and David Harbour, dazzled audiences with the emotional depth of their performances.

The second season was more of the same, and the Duffer Brothers gave the young cast room to grow and played to their strengths. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp truly shined in season 2, along with the rest of the cast.

In Stranger Things 3, legitimately, every major cast member delivers a stunning performance. It’s hard to wrap my head around how well they bring these characters to life, and the Duffer Brothers continue to push these actors in these roles. As we see the characters grow up over three years of this series, the audience also gets to see these actors grow, improve, and come into their own as performers.

I knew these young actors were good, but I didn’t know they’d be this good this quickly.

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I also have to mention one cast member who shines in this season, Dacre Montgomery, who plays Max’s older brother, Billy. This cast is stacked with talent, and there have been so many incredible performances in the first two seasons. Montgomery might have topped them all with his performance in Stranger Things 3. It’s an all-timer in a Netflix original series!

In addition to the incredible performances, Stranger Things 3 shows how the Duffer Brothers have mastered the art of storytelling in this world of Hawkins, Indiana. It takes time for creators and writers to figure out the world they are working in, and most shows improve over time as the creators become more comfortable in their space and with their characters, and that’s exactly what is on display in this season.

The first two seasons of the series are excellent, and I don’t think I’d change much about either season. The third season, though, takes this show to a different level, and it all has to do with efficiency.

Every second, every moment, every beat of Stranger Things 3 matters. It’s all story, and it’s all important. There’s very little, if any, fluff to stretch out storylines to create drama. The eight-episode season allows the Duffer Brothers and the writers to dive right into this story and pull the audience along for the ride. And, fans won’t want that ride to end.

Aside from the incredible performances and the mastery of storytelling, the pace of the season was a thing of beauty. The first two seasons of the show were paced well, to me. I know many people had problems with “The Lost Sister” episode that seemed to bring the season’s action to a halt. I was fine with the episode, and I think, after season 3, fans will have a better understanding of why it needed to be included.

The third season, though, doesn’t have any issues with the pace at all. At the beginning of the season, we get that slow build that Stranger Things is so good at, and then, it gets revved up to 11 (sorry!) and stays there through the epic season finale. The pacing is just incredible. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. I had to remind myself to just breathe.

Most importantly, viewers can feel how much the Duffer Brothers and these performers truly enjoy making this show. Each moment feels so real, and it takes all the performances, built-in nostalgia, and a deft hand when writing this to make the audience feel everything these characters are experiencing.

Stranger Things 3 premieres on Thursday, July 4!