‘Stranger Things 3’ Recap – ‘Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

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Truth be told, the phenomenon that is Stranger Things never ceases to amaze me. Because in its short three-year existence, this series has truly become a pop culture icon, one that speaks to the power of streaming networks and one that reminds us of how much people love nostalgia since its 1980s setting provides endless throwbacks to those who lived who through the era, and those who are curious about it. Yet, what I truly find intriguing about this series is how much its fan base is invested in its overall quality. For while some shows receive support from their viewers as the stories work to find their voice and their groove, this is a series that set the bar high in season one and received no slack from its fanbase in season two.
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Because there were plenty of people that were critical of the decisions that were made storytelling wise in season two, and while I am in the minority in that, since I liked what that season had to offer, the voices out there on the web, made sure their disdain was known and they were equally as boisterous about their expectations for season three and I suppose the good news is, their complaints were heard loud and clear. For it was inherently obvious when I settled in to watch ‘Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?’, that great care went into the scripts for season three and in doing so, the Duffer Brothers have assembled something truly special because this premiere felt like something different and new for the series.

I say that, simply because I noticed two key changes when it comes to this opening chapter, and the first one that really caught me off guard in the right way, is the sheer fact that this show is suddenly having a lot of fun with the story and the characters. Because there were a lot of laughs to be found in this opening chapter, from the entire pool sequence and Billy’s ability to catch the eye of the more mature ladies of Hawkins, to Steve’s inability to impress the ladies at Scoops Ahoy, I simply found myself laughing way more than I’m used to when it comes to this series and quite frankly, that’s a delightful thing. Because it means that the Duffers are finally letting loose and enjoying the ride and we are clearly reaping the benefits.

But what truly impressed me when it comes to this premiere, is the sheer fact that the characters have become the proper focus for this series. Granted, they’ve always been important to this show as is, and we’ve shared some important moments with them over the past few years. But this time around, they seem more open and accessible to the audience, and the moments we share with them are more relatable than ever before. I mean, who didn’t sneak into the movies when they were young? And who doesn’t remember how weird it was when our friends discovered the wonder of dating and most importantly, who didn’t spend every waking moment at the mall, when they were teenagers back in the day? Because that was the place to be and seeing the power of Starcourt on display really took me back.

Yet while all of those elements are important to making this season successful, this season premiere doesn’t forget in the slightest where this show comes from. Because it’s all about the scares and the inter-dimensional creatures that want a piece of our world, and the Russian storyline and whatever they’ve done to bring something back from the Upside Down was satisfying to say the least since it did a fine job of building up some ominous mystery, and I absolutely loved the grandiose homage to George Romero and his work in this episode and well, when all is said and done, it’s inherently clear now, we are going to be in for one hell of a ride this season. One filled with more quality nostalgia, and perhaps the show’s finest story to date and that means it is high time I return to the Starcourt Mall to see where this intriguing story is headed. Until next time.  

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