"STEVE, YOUR CHILDREN ARE HERE!" The most accurate line that's been said on the show.
A nice start back into the show, I like that it didn't jump straight into the 'upside down' mystery they've had going on, but instead just gave time to show what the kids and adults have been up to. The acting, score and characters are all still incredible and has set the stage nicely for the rest of what will hopefully be an incredible third season.
I love Chief Hopper’s “dad mode” it’s so fun to watch him struggle with the perks of being a dad. Loved Nancy and Jonathan too. Great couple!
Since when Mike is that brat? Dustin is getting even more annoying than last season.
[6.8/10] This may be the first episode of Stranger Things that I didn’t really like. So many of the bits the show introduces here seem like tired clichés, without the sort of lived-in, rough-hewn glimpse of small town life that made the series so vibrant for its first two seasons.
That goes big for Hopper doing the “disapproving dad” routine with Eleven and Mike. I like the notion of them exploring the idea of Hopper wanting to give the kids a wide berth after what they’ve been through, but being unable to turn off his “that darn boy is kissing my daughter” instincts. But the show tackles it in a practically Full House sort of way, with beats you can see coming from a mile away. Eleven and Mike getting to enjoy their young love fares a little better, but even there, the show deploys a lot of hokey bits.
The only interesting outgrowth here is the show continuing to tease Hopper and Joyce. The show’s pretty cheeky with its Cheers reference, and the moment with the two of them in the store where Hopper asks her out is corny. But I like that they’re providing emotional support to one another, and I like that Joyce is still reeling from losing Bob, which is what’s holding her back. It’s one of those echoes of season 2 I’m glad to see the show still grappling with, rather than just moving on from.
The same cannot be said for Max’s brother Billy, who is still a giant, cheeseball of a douchebag and is now courting Mrs. Wheeler. Their routine at the pool may be the biggest cliché in the episode, and I just don’t know why this guy is still a character on the show. The “married mom dates teenager” thing is tired, and he’s a one-dimensional character. My only hope is that the mysterious rat-popping force kills him, and we never have to see him again.
Speaking of which, we see that Nancy and Jonathan have graduated and are working at the local paper. It’s a natural move after their investigative skills shown off in the last season. But the show pushes the “it’s a sexist old boys club” button really really hard that makes me roll my eyes at a point I strongly agree with. Again, the show lays everything on really thick in this episode, which treats the legitimate sexism young women like Nancy faced in 1984 (and still face today) as something too cartoony and exaggerated in the context of the show for audiences to take seriously.
But not everyone has graduated. In one of the few storylines that really interested me, we see that Steve couldn’t even get into the local community college, and is instead working at an ice cream shop at the mall. There’s an interesting story to be told about the jock who used to be at the top of the high school food chain finding himself in a menial role because he didn’t plan for life afterward. Granted, his sarcastic coworker is a cliché, and his painful attempts to hit on customers are more cheese, but at least there’s a solid idea there.
That just leaves the rest of the kids and the hints at the season arc for Strangers Things 3, both of which are positive. One of the few things that maintains its shine is the kids palling around with one another. Their efforts to surprise Dustin on his return home from science camp, sneaking into a movie, and general repartee continues to be relatable and enjoyable. Dustin in particular continues to be a treat, and I’m intrigued by the prospect of his summer camp girlfriend (who is, apparently, a Mormon from Utah).
That said, the “trouble in paradise” between Lucas and Max is, again, pretty trite. Will having crazy sensations about trouble brewing in the Upside Down is standard operating procedure for the show at this point. So while the dynamic is good, what we get from it in the early going isn’t flawless either.
Still, I’m intrigued to see the show leaning into the Cold War shtick and giving us scenes of a Russian science team trying to make contact with the Upside Down as well. The mysterious phenomenon in Hawkins (this time affecting magnets rather than electricity for some reason) is enough to create some tension, and the prospect of our usual heroes crossing paths with Soviet spies has potential. (Americans crossover, anyone?)
Overall, this is the least encouraging start to a Stranger Things season so far, but hopefully this is just the show getting some of its throat-clearing out of the way early so it can get to the good stuff.
Still love some Steve in here! He and Will are my favourites.
Can I just say... The soundtrack to this show is EVERYTHING!
Really, Hopper being all awkward and anal about Mike & 11 is really annoying..
Then there's Billy & Mrs Wheeler, Max and Lucas..
When did this become a soap?
"nothing happened"
It's a catch-up episode, dumb****
An endearing start to the new season. I missed this show and some of its characters, looking forward to what's coming.
Not much happened yet but I loved it anyway. Since all these characters are back together. After the long wait.
Just a repeat of season one and two.YAWN
Probably the least moving episode in the series for me. But I still liked it. It's really wonderful. And I love seeing the kids grow up.
I like that they took it slowly, not immediately jumping into action. It's like the beginning of a movie, rather than trying to be a whole movie in itself. They knew that people who like the show will continue to watch the series. Still a lot of things going on though.
y'all the romantic plotlines in this season are gonna be so fucking annoying. I've never been an El/Mike shipper and they're gonna be absolutely insufferable here I bet. . also, I'm really not a fan of Hopper. His 'I'm an emotionally incompetent man' shtick is really wearing thin here. I got hints of the ick when he screamed at El in season two but his complete inability to be emotionally honest with El and Mike isn't as charming as the writers think it is. I'm just so tired of this particular mode of masculinity
The Russkies. It’s always the russkies ain’t it?!
Glad to catch up with our favorite Hoosiers again and see what they’ve been up too. A bit of a rom-com like start before shit really begins hitting the fan again (especially with those gore shots of the electrocuted scientists & exploding rats)
Also, I’m sorry, but Hopper being the overprotective father is just hilariously adorable.
Mrs Wheeler was already one fine milf, but now it's even BETTER!!!
Lol. The fuck is going on w/ Mikes mom.
This was the funniest episode so far!
Hopper beefing with Mike was hilarious.
More scenes of Hopper and Joyce just hanging out together having a good time please.
Not Billy and Mrs. Wheeler actually planning to hook up :flushed: I thought they were only flirting for fun last season....
The friendgroup leaving Dustin alone at the hill nooo he looked so sad :(
Love Steve at his new job and Robin seems cool so far too.
The sexism at Nancy's job was a tad too on the nose for my taste. Stuff like this often profits from some subtlety to make it seem more real.
The Russians, who I assume are this season's bad guys seem super cliché and boring so far. I hope this part gets better too.
Dustin's like the only fun character left to watch.
I didn't remember it being that dark. Go on...
Okay, so this time it was a great start compared to season two. I just hope the premise isn't simply a repetition of prior two seasons but something more than what we have already seen. Hopper is a big mood. Him struggling with El and Mike is both funny and cute (I don't think I'll be liking El and Mike together like this for anytime soon though) and I don't know what I feel about Hopper and Joyce either.
But I do know that I've started to like Steve more! I just hope he gets more screentime. He is funny, caring and a total badass. Billy was taken away by a possible monster rat and I'm just wondering if he is dead or will he come back as some deadly host this time? We'll find out.
So far S3 confirms all the fears I had about what would happen.
The scenes with Hopper trying to talk Eleven and Mike out of kissing are hilarious.
This was a really slow start to the season. When you only have eight episodes, you don't want to spend an entire one reintroducing the ongoing characters. Also, the humor was hit and miss, and mostly the latter. Overall, the first few minutes were interesting and the last couple were great, but everything in-between was pretty boring and underwhelming.
they start to put things in motion, the mall, the hormones, the love
I felt SO awkward and uncomfortable during those kissing scenes. We all understand and are aware that's going on, so let's just please skip it from now on. Ok?
Also, if someone told me the dude that plays Billy and Zac Efron were related, I'd be like. yep, seems legit. I wish they´play brothers someday.
Steve, I love you forever. You're my favorite! Keep being awesome.
I would expect more from this first episode but the last scene saved in some way because it was nothing special until then.7.1/10 i am sure it's going to have a lot of tense in next episodes :)
Nothing really happened.. Same as the first episode of season 2.
Well the first episode of the third season of Strange Things gave a good start to the season, but I found the episode with a story well dragged. It was a good start, but it could have been more dynamic. About the script, the story in this episode was a bit drawn, but the final hook promises too much. I also liked the initial scene in Russia. Punctual scenes that can be crucial during the season. The direction is wonderful. Brother Duffer brings you back to Hankins in style. So much so that they set the mood this summer, showing more versatility in telling the story. The visual direction of the episode is very beautiful giving a freshness to the series and showing a new face of the calm Hankins. The special effects are very well used, giving very true to the scenes that are employed. Now about characters I really liked Finn and Millie. On and Mike make a beautiful couple and finally they will be able to enjoy this romance. Noah's Will seems to have new visions and his bow promises. Already, Max, Lucas and Dustin were regulars. I also really liked Joyce and Hopper who seem to still be dealing with their ghosts. The actors are fine and they promise to have a good plot. Jonathan and Nancy remain boring and without function, but the actors were not to blame. Steve was a mere helper. But what happens to Billy in the end is that promises to be quite shocking. A warm but good episode. But that ended with a very shocking scene. 7/10.
Shout by anthoney65BlockedParent2019-07-04T15:59:33Z
I went to a special pre release showing of Day of the Dead. It was hosted by Rock 105. I brought beer.