The Characters of Stranger Things Are the Heart of the Show

Stranger Things

Like many, I spent Independence Day 2019 in true geek fashion: consuming the third season of Stranger Things.

Now, I have admitted in the past that when the show premiered in 2016, I liked it but didn’t love it. Call it my fickleness, call it the series still finding its legs, but it’s how I saw things. But when season 2 came out, I was hooked! Season 3 was the same for me in that there is so much meat on the bone, it would be hard for me to write about the things I love without just repeating how much I enjoy the show. With that said, I want to focus on just one of the things that make it so great: the characters.

A dynamic duo. Netflix

Let’s start off strong with the Harrington-Henderson Connection, the pairing of Dustin Harrington (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). They were put together in scenes for the first time in season 2, which proved to be magic, and in season 3 these two spend nearly all of their time with one another. There is never a dull moment between them, and almost all of it is humorous. It is probably too soon to be talking a movie version or spinoff of the show, but a heavy emphasis on this dynamic duo would be golden.

Season 3 also took two minor characters from last year and gave them a major upgrade. I speak, of course, of the diminutive but mighty Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson) and the smartest man in the room, Murray Bauman (Bret Gelman). Erica, the 10-year-old sister of Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), got her shining moment last season in the brief but memorable moment when she hilariously belittles her brother with her razor-sharp wit. Though she is not in every scene in season 3, she is a scene stealer, with her being so much younger than the rest of the cast yet being wittier than all of them with her smart-ass comments. In a show that can lean on the action, when it does comedy, it commits!

You can’t spell America without Erica. Netflix

Speaking of comedy, there’s Murray. I cannot speak for all, but I fell in love with Murray with his sarcastic nature and his ability to read people so well that he can he knows what they’re feeling or thinking quicker than they do themselves. I mean, he’s the one who essentially got Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) together, folks, and I think we all owe him for that one. And can we talk about the forbidden Soviet-American bromance that is Murray and Alexei (Alec Utgoff)? Alone, Alexei would’ve had moments—a certain Slurpee scene comes to mind—but putting him with Murray makes for comedy gold. It’s not every show or film set in the 1980s do you begin to care for one of the enemy Soviets, but this is one of them.

Among the new characters, however, none sticks out more than Robin (Maya Hawke), Steve’s coworker turned teammate. I think I speak for many in saying this character was able to steal our hearts. Whether she came off as that best friend you so want or that special lady in your life, she could play it all. Like Erica, she has great wit and comedic skills, and like Nancy, she is a great mix of smart and beautiful that instantly makes the watcher want to see more of her. I won’t ruin any story lines involving her, but based on some hints Maya Hawke has dropped on Twitter, it will be interesting to find out whether we’ll see more of Robin in season 4.

Such a supportive friend. Netflix

Now, I know I haven’t really covered the bullet points of the season, or a lot of the main characters, but I think we all can agree there’s very little the main cast does that doesn’t work. I will say that the relationship between Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and El (Millie Bobby Brown) does focus more on romance than it has previously, and that includes some rather humorous ups and downs. Let us not forget that Lucas also helps Mike with the development of that relationship, and on the other side, Max (Sadie Sink) helps El. Then there is Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour), a dynamic that becomes more and more like Sam and Diane from Cheers (a show that itself took place in the ’80s): will they or won’t they? The answer may surprise you, and needless to say the hilarity does not end with these two either.

Babysitting is hard. Netflix

All of that is in this season and more. Some of it so surprising I wouldn’t dare ruin it for you. So, if you haven’t already, go watch season 3 and join me as we impatiently wait for the show’s return.