Release Date: Now streaming on Netflix (Malaysia)
Genre: Fantasy / Horror
No. of Episodes: 8
Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Fin Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson
Series created by: The Duffer Brothers
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My first TV series review! I've always limited my reviews to films being shown in the local cinema but with so many high quality releases on Netflix and the likes, I just had to start reviewing some of these series or made-for-TV movies.
When this season kicked off, I was actually letdown by the first three episodes. It was really slow. There was so much unnecessary time dedicated to Hopper (Harbour) trying to break off the budding teenage romance between Mike (Wolfhard) and Eleven (Brown). It was kinda going nowhere for me as different characters had their own thing going:
- Dustin (Matarazzo) just came back from camp and claims he has a "prettier than Phoebe Cates" girlfriend.
- Will (Schnapp) is just fed up with his friends' budding romances; Mike and El, Lucas (McLaughlin) and Max (Sink).
- Nancy (Dyer) and Jonathan (Heaton) are working as interns in the local newspapers.
- Steve (Keery) is now working with this girl Robin (Hawke) in an ice cream parlour in the newly opened Starcourt mall [Interesting fact I just found out. Maya Hawke who plays Robin is the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman!! OMG!]
- Joyce (Ryder) is still mourning.
- Karen Wheeler, Mike's mother, is trying to score (?!) with Max's brother, Billy (Montgomery)
Thankfully, things start to pick up steam from Episode/Chapter 4: Sauna Test onwards and just like a roller coaster ride, the pace doesn't slow down thereafter. It just keeps getting faster and more exhilarating until the huge finale where some major characters meet their final destination (yes, there are deaths).
Only then I understood why was there a need for the creators to set up these characters doing their own thing in the earlier episodes, especially the plot involving Hopper trying to break off Mike and El's romance. Because when the pay off comes at the end, oh my, it comes in heaps and buckets. The ending is just so...sad.
As for the overarching plot of Season 3, this time round it involves some Russians and this "being" (possibly from The Upside Down world) taking over the bodies of some of the residents from Hawkins. Oh, and there are imploding rats. And, it's up to the kids to stop this evil force again.
Speaking of implosions, there is a higher level of gore and violence in this season reminiscent of 80s horror movies. Of course, it's very much toned down compared to say, the classic John Carpenter's The Thing (Brrr...that movie still gives me nightmares everytime I think about it).
I'm glad the creators didn't just rely on nostalgia to engage its audience. Yes, there are some cheesy 80s references like this rip-off Terminator character and a memorable left field moment where two characters break out into a popular 80's song. And the brilliant production set pieces such as the mall and the fun fair really gives this series a proper 80's vibe.
But it's not the nostalgia that makes this series entertaining and successful. It's the performances, the direction and overall, good storytelling. There are a handful of standout quiet moments weaved in between the nail-biting sequences to give it some breather. One of it involves Steve and Robin having a vulnerable conversation in the public restroom.
I'm looking forward to Season 4 next year as it seems that the creators may change the direction of the storyline judging by the epilogue.
RATING: 8.5/10
(I hope they won't bring back this character in Season 4 because it was a satisfying emotional wrap up. If they do, I may have to review the rating of season 3 again)
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