ST3 Cons I'll start with cons so that the pros can be more satisfying.
The Summer of Love: ST3 was heavily promoted with the word that said, “Season 3 is all about the Summer of Love.” This meant that there will be more romantic moments than the second season. But, Mileven break up in the second episode, Lumax broke up five times prior to the third season, Suzie didn't appear until the final episode, Will didn't get a girlfriend (or boyfriend) Robin came out to Steve when he confessed his feelings to her, Jancy nearly broke up, Alexei (Spoiler Alert!) was killed before he and Bauman could be the first Gay Couple and Hopper (supposedly) died before he and Joyce became Jopper. So in way, Season 3 wasn't the “Summer of Love” we were promised. Bruce: For Season 3, three new characters were added to the roster. Robin, Mayor Kline and Bruce. The first two characters were exactly what we were promised with Robin being bored of her job and looking for adventure and Mayor Kline being a dirtbag, sleazy mayor who cares about his image more than the town he runs. Both Maya Hawkes and Cary Elwes did a good job bringing their Character to life. But Bruce seems to be a wasted character. He was described as a Journalist with a twisted humour and questionable morals. I thought he will be a journalist who not writes for Hawkins Post but tweaks it to increase readers and I also thought that he will be double-crossing mentor to Nancy (like Emperor Palpatin to Darth Vader). But what we got was a sexist journalist who always makes Nancy look low in front of his colleagues. The only good thing about him was found when he was possessed and was chasing Nancy (just like in The Shining). Other than that it was a waste of time for Jake Busey and us. Where's Steve's Bat?: I don't know if any of you noticed but Steve's Bat was nowhere to be seen this season. Granted that he wasn't facing the Flayed but let's say he was, wouldn't it be amazing to see him fight one of the Flayed. Even if he didn't face a Flayed, he could have attacked (not killed) a Russians (seeing how Hopper killed them and was okay with it). Steve's Love Life: Ever since Season 2, Steve's love life went downhill. In Season 2, when Nancy (being drunk) told him that she doesn't love him, Steve broke up with her the next day. Even though he was the one who cut the cord, he was still hung up on Nancy. So when Robin was announced, everyone jumped on the “Robin and Steve will be a Couple” train. But when Steve admitted his feelings for her to her, Robin came out as a Lesbian. I'm not Homophobic and I'm proud that ST is showing support for the LGBTQ+ Community. But did the show runners had to play such a cruel trick on him. He was still hung up on Nancy and was found Robin as the “One” for him but then she turned out to be a Lesbian. At least he got a Lesbian friend who can be his Platonic-Partner-in-Crime. But I was also mad that he didn't get a girlfriend at the end of the Season. I mean they could have added the scene where Robin plays Steve's Wingman (or Wingwoman) and helps him get a girlfriend just like the way she helped him get a job. Mileven: PUT ASIDE YOUR PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES! I wasn't completely disappointed with Mileven but they broke up in the second episode and Mike (because of Lucas) said that, “Women act on their Emotions” and called them a different “Species” which (unfortunately) El heard and caused a strain in their relationship. This felt like the whole two Seasons of their relationship being built up was all for nothing. And Mike didn't formally apologized to her but he did try to make it up to her so Kudos for that. + I believe that Mike could have done better than lie to her. He could have said that he couldn't come because he was hanging out with his friends (which in a way was true) or invite her over to his house to piss off Hopper. Alexei's Death: Whyyyyyyyyyyy? 😭😭😭😭😭. Why did he had to die? He had so much to live for. He wanted to be an American, watch cartoons, enjoy fairs and Cherry Slurpees. Why did Grigori killed him? Why do the Show Runners torture us like that? Upside Down: There was absolutely no Upside Down this season except the second episode which was only a vision. Granted, the Mind Flayer was doing his business in the real world and but we wouldn't have mind another glimpse towards the Upside Down. The Post-Credit Scene: PUT YOUR PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES DOWN! I'm not saying that the Post-Credit Scene was a disappointment. It's just that it feels unoriginal. Granted, Stranger Things has never shied away from pulling out the best moments and Easter Eggs in their show but the movies they do it from is from a time set between the 1980’s to 90’s and during that time no post credit scene was used. Post-Credit was first seen in Iron Man which became a staple of the MCU. Therefore it felt unoriginal. + If they hadn't added the post credit scene then we would have thought that the show was over cause it ended that way. Byers adopting Eleven and moving out of Hawkins, Mileven and Jancy try long-distance, Max heartbroken of Billy's death and Dustin and Lucas giving Will's belongings to Erica. They could have left it at that and when they announced Season 4, they would catch us by surprise, because we wouldn't have expected another season (even if Millie and the Duffers and Shawn Levy's confirmed that there will be more seasons). Bringing that Post-Credit Scene sparked up various questions such as: How did Russians got their own Demogorgon? Did they open a new portal in Russia? Will the party take a trip to Russia? and Who is the “American”?
ST3 Pros Now we're at the pros. Sorry if I bore you with my whining, now let's show you what I liked about this Season.
Mind Flayer: I'm gonna start from the biggest thing that made this season awesome. The Mind Flayer. He was so graphic, gory and terrifying that I wished that go back to the old “Smoky” Version. It was so cool. Mileven: Yup, it made it to my list. Although I hated Mileven breaking up in the second episode, there still wasn't any shortage of cute Mileven moment. Billy: Believe it or not, Billy Hargrove was one of the characters I hated the most in the second season for being a total jerk. But this season gave a bit of backstory about him and made a very emotional and compelling character arc for him. And that makes his sacrifice (Spoiler Alert!) worth it. Character Development: Billy wasn't the only character that got an improvement. There are others. Let's begin with Dustin. Last season, we saw him not getting the girl (Max) and thought that this season he will still be hung up on her. But he came back in this season with a girlfriend and a great amount of energy. Even though his friends didn't believe about his girlfriend, he didn't bitch about it. Rather he focused on the Russian Message he intercepted and translated (thanks to Robin) to uncover a conspiracy. And although he began this crusade to be famous, it later became a selfless crusade. Not to mention, Dustin became dad for Steve. Speaking of Steve, he is a character that doesn't stop developing throughout the season. In Season 1, he was ruthless bully with the girl. He later realized his wrongdoings and reformed himself at the end of the season. In Season 2, he went from a reformed bully to the Hawkins favorite Babysitter. Although he lost his girlfriend, respect and ass to Billy (girlfriend to Jonathan) he shook it off like a pro. In this season, his character shined the most. This was more evident when Robin came out to him as a Lesbian which was after he confessed his feelings for her. If this was “Season 1 Steve” then he would have probably humiliated Robin and made her life hell but instead he openly accepted her and joked about her choice of girl. Although he didn't get any girlfriend this season, he got two better friends than Tommy H. and Carol. Finally, Lucas. Lucas was the unsung hero of the show. In the first season he didn't do much other than being sceptical about Eleven, complaining and being logical. The only thing he did was find the gate that was in the lab. In Season 2, he didn't do much more than welcome Max to the party with open arms (along with Dustin). But in both those seasons his wrist-rocket was worthless. In the third season, he threw all logical thinking out of the window (which was the only bad thing) and shined as a character along with his wrist-rocket. He saved Max when Billy grabbed her from the other side of the Sauna Room, brought the fireworks despite Max's constant bickering which later came in handy, saved Mike, Eleven and Max from the Mind Flayer by causing a distraction. And not to mention, he cut off the Mind Flayer's limb off when it grabbed on to Eleven and everybody was pulling her down. I could go on and talk about Erica and Bauman as well but you guys noticed it, so I don't need to mention it. Robin: Among all the new characters that came to this season, Robin was by far the best. Not only she proved herself to be useful by translating Russian, suggesting the idea of using Erica to go through the vent. She also proved to be a trusted Ally and Friend and she is Stranger Things’ first LGBTQ+ Character. Although it's a shame that she and Steve can't be a couple, but she became his friend since Tommy and Carol which is by far better than any consolation. NeverEnding Story: Although it took up a minute which wasted the Eagle’s Nest Teams’ time (and may or may not killed Hopper), it was still refreshing from all the violence we seen in this Season. Alexei: Alexei is one of the new additions to the new addition to the cast who we thought was gonna be a bad guy and won't live for long but instead we fell in love with him and it hit us hard when Grigori shot and killed him. That guy was perfect in every way (except for working with the bad guys). Hopper's Speech: Although we didn't expected or wanted Hopper to die, it was heartbreaking. Even though there's a Theory of him being alive and I'm one of the people who believe it, it shows that there are some of us who can't accept that Jim Hopper is dead. But even if he is, he left behind some hope for Eleven in the form of his Heart-to-heart speech for Eleven and Mike. Not only it was a speech about them maintaining their boundaries, but also about how El meant to Hopper and dealing with the real world. It is a Moment of its own and I will riot if this scene does not receive an award. The Post-Credit Scene: Even though it was unoriginal of Duffers to add a Post-Credit Scene, it was a bold move. Not only it told us what the Red Army are up-to-date but also gave us a hint that Hopper may be alive. I hope it also means that even if Stranger Things end in four or five seasons, it moves on with Comics, Novels and possibly Movies. In other words, it becomes a franchise of its own.