The supernatural throwback series returns to Netflix July 4.
After months and months (did we mention months?) of waiting, Netflix finally saw fit to release the first trailer for the third season of its hit supernatural series, Stranger Things.
Deviating from the first two seasons, the upcoming collection of episodes will be set over the summer of 1985, a season that saw the release of such cultural milestones as Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future and Mötley Crüe’s Theatre of Pain. Indeed the new trailer utilizes a famous track off the famous rock album, “Home Sweet Home” at the very beginning before transitioning into a delectable ‘80s-inspired remix of The Who’s « Baba O’Riley. »
Since we still have four months to go until the premiere of Season 3, we thought it would help to pass the time by deconstructing some of the trailer’s biggest moments and what they might mean for the good people of Hawkins, Indiana.
That being said, here are 24 scenes from the trailer that are worth a second look….
Close Encounters of the Dustin Kind:
At the very start, we catch up with Dustin(Gaten Matarazzo), who has just returned home from “Camp Know Where.” Based on the nerdy name and the computer graphic on his hat, we can only assume that he was attending some sort of math camp. As Dustin greets his turtle, the toys on his floor (R2-D2 being one of them) begin to move of their own volition. Seconds later, it’s revealed that Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is controlling them with her mind in an effort to surprise Dustin with a welcome back greeting from his best friends. Of course, the imagery of the electronic toys being brought to life is very reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which pulled off a similar sequence with young Barry Guiler.
Hairstyling tips:
Dustin ventures into the hall to see what’s causing his toys to start up out the blue, unsure if he’s dreaming or not. Look closely at the spray he’s holding in his hand as a defensive weapon and you’ll see that it’s the very Farrah Fawcett hairspray that Steven Harrington (Joe Keery) recommended to Dustin last season! Besides the music, politics, and films of the 1980s, the decade was very much defined by its larger-than-life hairstyles.
Summer has arrived:
If nothing else, the shot of this wide open green field set against the backdrop of a clear blue sky underscores the summer setting of Season 3. While the first two seasons were obviously full of adventure, there’s something about summer that denotes endless possibilities. Obviously, the Duffer Brothers will be tapping into a bygone era when kids were always outside and on their bikes instead of inside and on their mobile devices.
Weather vane?
What are the friends erecting in that verdant field? It looks very much like some kind of weather-detecting device, but we suspect that it’s yet another homage to Spielberg’s E. T: The Extra-Terrestrial.
Extra! Extra!
The local Hawkins newspaper, The Hawkins Post, is set to player a major role in Season 3. Serving as the face of the institution is Bruce (The Predator’s Jake Busey), an investigate reporter with a dubious moral code and one sick sense of humor.
Jonathan & Nancy sitting in a tree:
Everyone knows that Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) got together last season, but why are they so fancily-dressed in their ‘80s best and sitting in the waiting room of what we assume is a law office? They’re not eloping, are they? Are they?!
Lifeguard duty:
With the summertime setting comes the eventual cool down at the community pool, but who in their right mind would ever appoint Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) as a lifeguard? As he proved with his Stranger Things debut last season, he is a certified jerk and dillweed. However, the Hawkins community pool is set to introduce us to a never-before-seen character, Heather (Francesca Reale), who becomes embroiled in one of the season’s central mysteries.
Table for Hopper:
Still smoking, eh Chief Hopper (David Harbour)? Who are you meeting for dinner? Is it Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder)? Well, with the late Bob Newby (Sean Astin) out of the way, the field is clear. After all, the two characters have common ground on which to emotionally bond.
Poor Joyce:
Joyce has had a rough couple of years: her son, Will (Noah Schnapp), got transported to an alternate dimension; when he got back, he was possessed by a demonic entity; and then her boyfriend was killed by extra-dimensional hounds. We sympathize with her now more than ever.
Best of friends:
Eleven was incredibly jealous and wary of Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) at the end of last season, but the Season 3 trailer promises that a few of months of getting to know one another has turned them into the best of friends. Now, they hang out, reading teenage magazines and listening to music. It’s nice to know that Eleven is getting to experience a real childhood. Suck it, Matthew Modin!
The « Hawkins Gang » begins to crack:
The growing pains of adolescence are becoming more apparent than ever. The once tight knit group of Dustin, Will, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) is beginning to break apart as members of the group begin to branch out on their own, discovering the pangs of young love.
Hitting the mall:
In the words of Robin Sparkles, “Let’s go to the mall, everybody!” Judging by the look on Eleven’s face, she’s never been in one before. Luckily, she has Max as her guide.
On the picket line:
Back in the day, independently run mom and pop shops were the backbone of America. That all changed with the advent of the all encompassing mega-marts that put them out of business, but Season 3 looks like it will be exploring that in depth, perhaps even drawing parallels to the current politics.
Arnie?
There’s no way that the gun-toting dude in the carnival fun house isn’t a direct mirror of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator. Who he is and why he’s out for blood is pressing question that we need answered!
Stormy beach:
Despite being officially adopted by Hopper and getting to live a normal tweenage life, Eleven is still be haunted by her past and powers.
