Stranger Things Season 3: Recapping the Summer of Change, Part 2

By Christie | July 7, 2019

Stranger Things, the Netflix phenomenon that combines ’80s pop culture and popular story tropes with new horror heights, is back for another season and so far, the Upside Down is more deadly than ever.

We reviewed the first 4 episodes of the show on Friday, in “Stranger Things Season 3: Recapping the Summer of Change, Part 1.”

Now we’re going to take a look at the last 4  — what was good, what was bad, and what was bitchin.’

First, a quick refresher.

Stranger Things takes place in the 1980s in the town of Hawkins, Indiana. It features four boys, Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), who are trying to navigate growing up in the USA while also battling the demons of a parallel dimension that was discovered by a secret government organization that also created a superhuman named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).

They’re aided by Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour), now Eleven’s adopted Dad, Will’s mom Joyce (Winona Ryder), Will’s brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Mike’s sister Nancy  (Natalia Dyer), Nancy’s ex, Steve (Joe Keery), and skateboarding friend (and Lucas’s girlfriend) Max (Sadie Sink).

BE WARNED: Spoilers are coming, though we’ll try not to spoil any major plot points. Nevertheless, if you haven’t watched the show yet and you don’t want to be spoiled, check out some of our other stories back on the front page. 

If you haven’t read part 1 of this review, you should probably do that first. READ IT HERE.

Episode 5: “The Flayed”

The groups are slowly starting to come together. Jonathan and Nancy have met up with the kids, and they’re looking for the base of operations for the Mind Flayer, aka Billy, and the rest of his hive.

But when they go to the hospital to find Mrs. Driscoll, they instead find 2 psychotic hive members, both formerly of the Hawkins Post, and the whole scene takes a really gory turn.

Meanwhile, Steve, Robin, Erica, and Dustin have discovered the extensive underground facility the Russians have built under Starcourt Mall and Hawkins. So have, separately, Joyce and Hopper, who kidnap a top Russian scientist in the hopes of finding out what the heck is going on.

THE GOOD: 

Jake Busey as Bruce dies, which makes me happy. But he will also scare the daylights out of you. He has this whole Jack-Nicholson-in-The-Shining feel as he chases Nancy around a hospital floor that will send shivers up and down your spine.

Plus, when he and the editor die and turn into a mini-Mind Flayer, it’s creepy and gross. I’m reminded why I don’t watch a ton of horror.

Also, once again, Joyce steals her scenes from Hopper, trying to communicate with the Russian scientist and dealing with Murray Bauman, the conspiracy theory-investigating journalist who can speak Russian (it’s all the vodka, right?).

THE BAD:

So let me get this straight — the Russians know about the portal the government opened. Fine.

They know it’s in Hawkins, Indiana, fine.

They built Starcourt as a way to infiltrate Hawkins in a year? I find that a bit farfetched, but OK.

They also built miles of highly-advanced DEEP underground tunnels under the mall, along with at least one farmhouse, all leading to a big lab where they are trying to reopen the portal, also within a year, AND got into the Hawkins Lab property, without arousing the suspicions of the American government?

No, I’m not buying this. Is it weird I kind of hope our people know and turned a blind eye, just to make me feel a bit better about our superiority?

Also, Erica trying to drink whatever is in those canisters… she’s a smart girl. She should know better.

THE BITCHIN’:

If nothing else, I want a friend like Eleven, who can get the vending machine snack that gets stuck and then some.

“Does your species like M&Ms?” DUH, Mike, what species doesn’t?

Again, shoutout to the no-nonsense Joyce Byers, who just wants to know why her magnets won’t stay on her fridge.

We have had a very long day. We’ve been shot at, nearly blown up, walked god knows how many miles in 100 degree heat, stole a car, all while being chased by this gigantic psychopath, all so we could bring HIM to YOU because somehow you’re the closest person who speaks Russian, which I can’t believe but that doesn’t matter  because unfortunately we’re here, so if you don’t mind, put that thing away, stop behaving like a jackass, and ask him what he’s doing that is making my magnets fall off my damn fridge! Please!

Episode 6: “E Pluribus Unum”

It’s an episode title with a nice dual meaning.

On the one hand, it’s Independence Day, and Hawkins is celebrating with a big community festival. On the other hand, the Mind Flayer is bringing his Hive together to execute his plan. (E Pluribus Unum means “out of many, one.” If you’re an American and didn’t know it, shame on you.)

Steve and Robin captured by the Russians and interrogated. And by the way, Erica and Robin are now part of the party — they know everything.

Meanwhile, Hopper, Joyce, and Murray are doing their own interrogating of the Russian scientist, who seems to have the upper hand because of Hopper’s temper… but Hopper is not as stupid as he looks in that Magnum, P.I. shirt.

Mayor Kline is looking upon his big festival with satisfaction, wanting all the bread and circus to be perfect for Hawkins. But his Russian contact is not happy about the Hopper situation and he makes his opinion known (poor Cary Elwes’ face really takes a beating this season).

And Eleven is in danger, as the Mind Flayer targets her. And Mike professes his love and fears El is taking her powers too far.

THE GOOD:

“It all tastes the same, it’s sugar on ice.” I respectfully disagree with Hopper about it all tasting the same, but yeah, he has a point, Slurpees are overrated. Yeah, that’s right, I said it.

And while we’re on the subject, all hail Hopper, negotiator supreme. When he throws the Russian scientist out the door and everyone thinks the scientist is going to run, I doubted Hopper. I shouldn’t have.

We know Steve understands that being popular should not have been the important thing in his life in school. It was good to hear him say that.

THE BAD:

And we now know why the Russians are in Hawkins — the portal we thought Eleven had closed last season was actually still healing. They couldn’t open the portal in Russia, they had to do it in Hawkins. But we still don’t know why they’re opening it, other than it’s FOR SCIENCE!

THE BITCHIN’:

Erica can deny it all she wants, she is totally a nerd. And I never realized it, but Dustin’s right — My Little Pony is for nerds!

The Russian scientist likes Hopper. He reminds him of a fat Rambo. Snort.

And Hopper may be fat Rambo, but Joyce is the one that can make the American government sit up straight and pay attention!

Episode 7: “The Bite”

The Mind Flayer takes a bite out of Eleven and chases the kids out of Hopper’s cabin.

The Russians track down Hopper, Joyce, Murray, and the scientist Alexei, with a little help from Mayor Kline.

Dustin, Erica, Steve, and Robin hide from the Russians at Starcourt with the help of Marty McFly and Doc Brown, while Steve and Robin come down from the effects of the Russians’ drugs.

THE GOOD:

First off, I agree with Murray, who is apparently Dr. Ruth on this show. Joyce and Hopper need to just get it over with already. The arguing is old at this point, and it’s not even over yet.

I want to hug Steve. He has zero luck with women this season. He’s generally a screw-up on the show, but he has a lot of heart and he’s a great guy.

And seriously, two seasons ago would Steve have had the reaction he had to Robin’s revelation about being a lesbian? He was so cool about it, after the initial shock!

Seeing everyone back together and asking rapid-fire questions was a great reminder that the communication was so bad this episode that they were actually all fighting different conflicts and had no idea what anyone was doing, or how it was all connected.

THE BAD:

It seems everyone in the party this season has a vital role. The only one who feels a bit useless is Will Byers. In the last two seasons, he was the one who needed rescuing. Now he doesn’t, but he doesn’t have much of a part to play, particularly in the later episodes, other than having an Upside Down version of “Spider-Sense.”

The New Coke scene was ridiculous. I don’t mind the product placement when it’s subtle. This was stupid and it pulled me out of the show. I have trouble believing that Lucas, who is normally pretty serious and on-point, has no problem having an argument about New Coke while Eleven is trying to find one of their best friends.

I also have a hard time believing that the oh-so-cautious Murray would be totally cool with Alexei going off to play Midway games at a carnival when we know the situation could be dangerous for him. Murray is the show’s tinfoil hat-wearing nutjob. Surely he would not be so trusting.

And why is it no one knows where the kids are? I know this is the era of latch-key kids but isn’t this also the era where everyone gets worried about kidnappings?

THE BITCHIN’: 

Both Hopper and Joyce kicked some literal satisfying butt this episode. Hopper goes toe-to-toe with several Russians inside a fun house, including a scene where he outwits Gregori, the top Russian in a hall of mirrors to get away.

Joyce also kicks the crap out of Mayor Kline (seriously, Cary Elwes’ whole purpose this season is to get beat up, apparently).

The scene where the rest of the kids show up at the mall and Eleven knocks out the Russians with a car… so good.

Episode 8: “The Battle of Starcourt”

The party is back together, but not for long. Eleven’s powers are gone, presumably drained from overuse, and removing the piece of the Mind Flayer from her body.

The fight converges on Starcourt Mall on all sides, and the outcome is tragic for the party. The gateway, however, is closed, at least for now.

The Byers finally do something they probably should have done after season 1, IMO — leave their house, and/or Hawkins. It seems like a different ending from past seasons. But be sure to stay for the mid-credit scene.

THE GOOD:

I think Hopper had his best, most human season on the show, and his letter at the end confirms why. I’ve read some complaints that he was turned into a caricature this season, and I don’t believe that. It’s just that the combination of his love for El and his feelings for Joyce, plus his experiences, have finally broken down his pained facade.

But that’s why seeing him apparently die (because I don’t believe he’s dead, dammit!), was so shocking. I was NOT OK at the end. But then again, I was so shocked that I didn’t watch through the credits, so I didn’t know there was a scene. Now I do!

I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of Billy. They did a nice job of making him seem more human through his memories so that we think more fondly of him as he sacrifices himself.

Suzy is real. Great for Dustin. And she’s a smart girl. Yay!

THE BAD:

I know everyone enjoyed Erica in season 2 and that’s why she got a bigger role in season 3, but quite frankly I could have done with less of her ‘tude. Don’t @ me. Lucas isn’t all cliche sass, why does she have to be?

Suzy making Dustin sing “Never Ending Story” when the world is in danger, delaying the fight, not cool!

I knew the minute Joyce and Hopper finally admitted to each other that they should get together, something really bad was going to happen. That is just how it works.

THE BITCHIN’:

El pulling that piece of the Mind Flayer out of her leg was amazing, but Hopper stamping on it — #chefkiss.

“Steve’s her daddy now!” I am fully converted to the cult of Steve after this season.

The gang moving the car with physics. I hope the kids see that.

When the Mind Flayer talks the Walkie and screams into it. Hahahahahahahaha.

The fact that El is wearing Hopper’s daughter’s hair tie on her wrist like he used to… sniff.

And finally — Hopper’s letter. Totally bitchin’… in a tear-inducing kind of way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This season was fantastic, though I’m not sure if it’s as great as everyone is making it out to be. The inclusion of more characters has bloated the plot, in my opinion, and I don’t know if the outsized storyline was the fault of the need to add the characters, or the other way around (chicken or the egg, you know?).

I’m hoping that the change of scenery for the show might mean the season structure changes. Do we need 4-5 groups of people running around investigating another conspiracy theory that is, at its heart, the same conflict they’ve been fighting since the beginning, with no one really talking to each other until the end?

I would like to see those changes be made. It would be refreshing. But don’t read too much more into it than you need to. The show still had me biting nails and at the edge of my seat and hiding behind my hands because I really don’t like horror, but I do love this show!

PS: The women of Stranger Things ruled this season. Check out this week’s Women of the Week article to find out why!