Why Stranger Things 3 Is the Most Iconic Season

Netflix has always been secretive about viewership numbers. Though viewership data was shared previously for selected TV shows and movies like The Umbrella Academy, Triple Frontier, The Highwaymen and BirdBox, we have high hopes that this streaming service will be transparent on the viewership and ratings for all existing titles. While viewers are currently just relying on word of mouth, social media posts and comments, review platforms and Netflix’s “Trending Now” feature, CNBC has reported Nielsen’s viewership for Stranger Things Season 3.

In just four days of its worldwide release on July 4, 2019 in Netflix, Nielsen announced its viewership record of 26.4 million U.S. viewers which is 17% higher than season 2’s viewership. On the debut day alone, there were 824,000 U.S. viewers who binge-watched and finished all eight episodes. Stranger thing’s massive debut that topped its previous season as well as its ongoing viewership, makes season 3 the topmost popular Netflix show of 2019’s third quarter.

The partnership between Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) beats any blossoming teen romance in season 3. Their romance has been dragged for too long. David’s huge concern for Joyce since season 1 was already a tipoff, and I never stopped hoping these two will be together even when Joyce dated Bob Newby (Sean Astin) in season 2. Their tandem just makes the show more interesting and the flow of humor between them is so natural.

Bringing in Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) as a new addition to the cast made the show even more cool than it already is. She makes Steve Harrington’s (Joe Keery) character more interesting given the fact that they are the exact opposite of each other. Robin is the girl who doesn’t get noticed in school and Steve is the popular guy. The mockery that she makes to annoy Steve is just hilarious and it gets even more funny as they team up with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) and Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson). Who would’ve thought that Steve’s former classmate who works with him at Scoops Ahoy could translate a secret Russian message?

Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) are the most unlikely couple but that’s what makes it cute and adorably awkward at times. Most especially, with Hopper’s disapproval of their relationship. Being a protective dad to Eleven cracks me up a lot when he just doesn’t know how to handle teenagers who can’t get enough of each other.

Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) made the final episode revolutionary, along with Dustin. Viewers have been expecting to find out whether Dustin really has a girlfriend who looks hotter than Phoebe Cates then she finally shows up during a life-threatening moment to save the world! Although before that, the best and most hilarious scene of her and Dustin singing The Neverending Story theme just made Stranger Things 3 even more iconic! I’m sure that her duet with Dustin as well as saving the world by giving Planck’s constant code is not the only exposure that viewers want. Her short but big role in season 3 should lead to more exposure in season 4.

Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and Eleven are the perfect new girlfriends! This season’s Stranger Things theme is really more about the coming-of-age which makes it more fascinating to watch. Both are tomboyish and inconspicuous girly-girls who just want to have fun. We have Max’s character to be thankful for because she introduced El to the teenage world of shopping for bright 80’s clothes. Despite the effort of making her look awkward, she still nailed the awesome transformation from dusty plaids (or Mike’s hand-me-downs) to bright colors and bold patterns.

Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) played such important part in the previous seasons as a survivor of the Mind Flayer. In season 3, he carried out the occasional fear of still being controlled by what once has possessed him, but the good turnaround was that he eventually used it to detect the Mind Flayer and its victims.

Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Erica Sinclair’s sibling rivalry had to be present in the 80’s. There was never a perfect relationship between siblings and these two were just meant to fight and be cute at the same time.

Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) add up to the story’s sophistication as they play the role of aspiring yet fearless journalist and photographer for Hawkins Post. Together, they uncover a story against their editor’s wishes and comes across the victims of the Mind Flayer, or so we call it, “The Flayed.”

For a supernatural theme of aliens or monsters, a colorful setting in 1985 is picture-perfect. Its major set at Starcourt Mall, where Robin and Steve’s uniform at Scoops Ahoy was such an adorable sight, makes it a seamless 80’s reference. I think for the entire season; they were both stuck in their embarrassing but very cute vintage sailor costumes.

A lot of 80’s references made Strangers Things Season 3 so fun to watch. It was effortless because you can feel the 80’s the entire time that you’re watching it: There’s Phoebe Cates who was the hottest star that time, and Ralph Macchio will never be forgotten as the ultimate heartthrob from Karate Kid. There was also no question about bringing back Dungeons and Dragons because this was a hit game back then. Overall, just about anything that has something to do with the 80’s is downright exciting.

Erica: Watch it nerd!
Lucas: Isn’t it past your bedtime?
Erica: Isn’t it time you died?

Erica: You know what this half-baked plan of your sounds like to me? Child endangerment.

Erica: You can’t spell America without Erica.

Hopper: Maybe I’ll just kill Mike. I’m the chief of police, I could cover it up.

Hopper: If you don’t mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches.

Robin to Steve: How many children are you friends with?

Dustin: Now that you’re out of high school, which means you’re technically an adult, don’t you think it’s time you move on from primitive constructs such as popularity?