6 Things I Like
6. That Shithead Mayor Larry
I was glad to see the show continue its trend of bringing in 80’s stars. (No disrespect to Cary Elwes—he’s still doing cool stuff like the new Mission: Impossible movie.)
Mayor Larry is a really fun character. He’s SO shady and SUCH a shithead. And Elwes is at his best playing a smarmy asshole.
Plus, there’s nothing as satisfying this season as watching Hopper throw Mayor Larry around his own office.
5. The Mind Flayer—with a Better Plan
Recycling the Mind Flayer as the villain for another season works better than I expected. One reason is that by possessing Billy, it makes Billy feel like the Big Bad (even though it’s not really him), so it’s different from last season.
The second reason is that the monster is badass and keeps growing in size and strength as more and more people get flayed and become part of it—eventually even making it a match for El.
Ultimately, the Mind Flayer fails, of course. But he and his monster prove themselves worthy villains.
4. Welcome Back, Murray
I was surprised to see Murray again. He felt like a one-season bit character last season. But he’s integral to the Hopper/Joyce storyline. It’s amazing how a conspiracy theorist as paranoid and, at times, unhinged as Murray can also be the voice of reason, but he often finds himself in that role.
Also, the friendship and mutual respect he develops with Alexei is unexpectedly sweet. But there’s nothing unexpected about his disdain for children, and his banter with Dusting and Erica is fantastic.
3. The New Girls
Although I have issues with the Russian storyline they’re part of, I loved adding Erica and Robin.
I latched onto Erica from her very first appearance, when she immediately started throwing 99 at her brother’s head. Adding her as a regular, and finding out how much more there is to her—she’s extraordinarily smart, an unabashed capitalist at just 10 years old, and a closet nerd—makes her a huge bright spot.
Same goes for Robin, who’s brand new this season. I immediately thought she’d make a good love interest for Steve. Apparently Steve thought so, too. But finding out she’s into girls works. Robin is a major catch either way. I hope her friendship with Steve continues in Season 4.
2. Depowering El
When I realized they were recycling the Mind Flayer this season, my biggest fear was that they’d just run back the same situation—and in the end, only El would be strong enough to defeat him.
Instead, El proves she’s stronger early on, but as the Mind Flayer builds an army, and his monster grows more powerful, it becomes too much for her. She eventually gets beaten. And for the last couple of episodes, after the wound from the monster takes away her powers, she’s in a position she’s never been in before. She always had power but was stunted emotionally because of her abduction and trauma. And just when she was putting it all together, she loses her powers. This was one of the smartest creative decisions they could have made to keep things fresh.
1. Growing Up and Moving On
At its heart, this season is about the kids changing and growing up.
The boys’ party is coming apart at the seams. It’s mainly because Mike and Lucas are in relationships, and they seem to have outgrown the nerdy stuff the boys used to live for.
Dustin went away to science camp, and he immediately senses something is different when he gets back. That’s why he starts spending more time with Steve at the mall instead of with his buds, and it’s how he gets separated from them for most of the season.
But the one who really gets left behind is Will. I’ve often noted that I think he’s the best performer of the group, so it’s a little disappointing he doesn’t have as much to do this season as he did last season. But he makes the most of his moments. I found Will to be very sympathetic when he just wants to play D&D, while Mike and Lucas can’t stop whining about their girl problems.
Then there’s Hopper’s role in all this…
As El’s surrogate father, he also has to grow up and let go of how things were. And it probably stings all the more because he didn’t get to be a dad to El for long before things start changing.
His letter to El—which we finally get the full version of at the end of the season—beautifully sums up the joy, sadness, sweetness, and bitterness of growing up, putting yourself out there, allowing yourself to be vulnerable over and over again, and fully living.
1 Thing I’m Mixed On
1. Russians
I was always a little iffy on the Russian aspect of this show. I get how the Cold War factors in because of the 80’s. But in terms of antagonists, there’s always a monster element. And even if you feel there needs to be a human antagonist, that’s what Hawkins Lab is for.
Then there’s the fact that this Russian storyline separates the group.
But it’s not all negative…
Despite missing the full group dynamic, the foursome of Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Erica is very entertaining. And the Russian lab is a cool setting. It’s a different style than Hawkins Lab, and it feels very 80’s.
Ultimately, it leads to some really good scenes. But I’m not sure if it’s worth it to separate everyone for so much of the season.
3 Things I Don’t Like
3. Old Boys’ Club at The Hawkins Post
One of the show’s weaknesses is leaning too far into stereotypes or tropes for certain supporting characters.
We saw it in Season 1 with the two bullies, who I couldn’t stand (not because they were bullies but because they were so uninteresting.)
We saw it in Season 2 when Billy entered the show as every 80’s bad boy cliché.
And we see it here with Tom, Chuck, and the newspaper guys who boss Nancy around.
I wouldn’t expect them to be progressive and open-mind. But they’re SO misogynistic and domineering that they feel like caricatures. It feels like they decided what they thought an 80’s newspaper reporter would act like—particularly in a small town—then never colored outside the lines even a smidge.
2. Saved by a Memory
I don’t mind Billy having a redemption story. As much as I disliked him at first, he started to soften ever since we saw a glimpse of his home life and his relationship with his dad. It’s tragic that he, of all people, is possessed by the Mind Flayer.
That said, I found this aspect of him fighting back against his possession confusing.
Is it truly just being reminded of his memories of childhood, and of his mom, that empowers him to break the Mind Flayer’s control over him?
That’s pretty lame.
The Mind Flayer is an ancient force of evil. I found it surprising enough to see how easily El could overpower him. But at least we know she’s incredibly powerful herself, so I could buy it.
This, though, is a step too far. Or maybe a few steps. I mean, how weak is the Mind Flayer that his power can be broken this easily?
1. Hopper & Joyce
Their bickering drove me crazy all season. And of course, I always figured it was in service of them getting together in the end. But if the thought was that their dissension would ultimately make them becoming a couple more enjoyable, the juice is NOT worth the squeeze.
Prior to them making up in the finale and setting up their doomed dinner date, the only break from this is when they paid Mayor Larry a visit at his office and Hop kicked his ass.
That was basically the only time all season (again, prior to the finale) where Hop felt like the old Hop. But it didn’t last, and I came to dread their scenes together.
Tim Matassa
