Stranger Things (TV Series) Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero (2022) User Reviews

Story is unfolding well

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 4 July 2022]

Eleven deals with the aftermath of the skating rink incident and the investigations in Hawkins continue.

This is a compelling episode that increases the plot intrigue.

The story mainly switches between three locations and does it seamlessly. My favourite thread involves the events in Hawkins, which for me has the majority of the entertainment and plot intrigue.

El's arc in California sensibly moves on from where it was and (aside from the Carrie tribute) seems like the depiction is nicely developing and getting the character to position where she can contribute to the main narrative. One exchange between Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard (when their characters are alone together) is particularly strong.

There is more screen time devoted to Russia during this episode and there is one superbly visualised gruesome sequence likely to induce squirming.

As ever the visual storytelling is excellent due to the cinematography, practical effects, colour grading and editing.

For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.

I'm Not Ready For What Comes Next

[SHU_Movies · 8/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode was honestly great all around and that cliffhanger ending really has me freaked out! This season is going pretty well so far and has so much potential from here!

It gets deeper and bleaker

[gedikreverdi · 9/10 · 30 May 2022]

The house of Victor the alleged serial killer from the past whose family got killed by Vecna, the boathouse, the public library and everything else looks so achingly beautiful and nostalgic but the season 4 is not only nostalgic but also scarier, deeper and gorier.

El hit her bully in the face and that was such a relief but she got arrested and her former doctor is going to help her regain her powers. The conversation between them at the diner was so good. Eddie is running from the police and Max and the others found him in a cabin in the woods and the second victim of Vecna is the journalist colleague of Nancy and now he seems to be coming for Max and I hope she won't die because she's one of my favorite characters.

"Life as we know it!"

[bosporan · 9/10 · 27 May 2022]

Another action packed hour, the extra length has been fully justified so far with dense, quality content. This time El must face the consequences of her assault on Angela, the jocks continue their bloodthirsty hunt for Eddie, Joyce continues her search for Jim and Nancy teams up with Robin.

A fabulous story, pushing the plot along apace alone each of its many and complex strands. Millie Bobby Brown is again excellent portraying her bewilderment at her situation, her loss of powers and her sense of isolation and 'otherness'.

The intriguing ending sets up yet more opportunities to wow us, this is the best episode so far this season.

[8.5] She only needed to hear that - She's Hawkins only hope

[cjonesas · 8/10 · 28 May 2022]

Episode 3: Angela is gone and in order to save Hawkins, El will soon be gratified with even more power than before, beyond her wildest dreams.

Everything is well developed and good in this episode with all the characters involved, whether being set on the west coast, Hawkins or Kamchatka; but the one thing that I'm sure of is that every scene with El packs so much decisiveness, inner fear, dark(en) eyes and latent power, only waiting to be unleashed.

That's the excellent acting of Millie Bobby Brown and she shines as El.

Building and building to something epic

[ha77y73ad97 · 9/10 · 17 June 2022]

If anyone ever needs to know how to set an epic episode up then this is certainly the best way possible. So much of this episode was story and world building leading to an epic first arc conclusion to this series, not the series as a whole but this first part.

I cannot fault any of the acting or writing in this series, they've all grown up so fast since the last, having heart but also being able to drop a few of the more mature elements to keep the series fresh!

The dynamic of Steve is still a standout of the series as he is just perfectly cast as the 'mama bro' for all of the younger characters. To have Robin by his side as well they are just great and will always cause a laugh.

I just cant wait for the next episode where all of this could really go down!

Quality television

[guyberrick · 10/10 · 12 June 2022]

I'm giving this episode a ten because it just really stood out to me. There are so many shows going on currently that rely only on action scenes and fight sequences to make their episodes entertaining, and are otherwise mostly soulless without them.

This show also has very well done action scenes, and yet you have episodes like this one where they dial back the action and still manage to make an incredibly captivating and entertaining hour of television that feels like it just flies by. Seriously, this hour long episode felt shorter to me and dragged less than a 35 minute episode of a Disney+ show.

All of the storylines have me intrigued currently, I really forgot how much I love this show.

THAT ENDING THOUGH

[funnycommentor · 9/10 · 17 July 2022]

The plot of the 3rd episode was very interesting and very intense. In my opinion, the villain of season 4 is the most interesting, because he's like a paranormal serial killer. The storyline of season 4 is really well written and very innovative, so far. I'm glad that there are many filming locations and the settings are very well done. The 80's are portrayed really well, the soundtrack, the outfits are all amazing! The characters are very well-developed. However, some characters (for example, Will and Lucas) don't have much screening time. There were still, some scary scenes on episode 3. The ending scene was SHOCKING and I'm so anxious about what's gonna happen on episode 4..

Setup, but Duffer Brothers style

[lisichichi · 8/10 · 31 May 2022]

This season continues to fill every episode with suspense and horror while never losing its signature humor and love for the characters.

Again - great character moments, especially for Nancy and Robin, Lucas and also Steve. This is, and this becomes especially prominent towards the end, a huge setup of what's to come, but it doesn't feel like this is a filler to delay the payoff. So much is happening, many things are revealed but even more are about to happen. I am excited!

Everyone hated the risotto

[dannylee-78082 · 7/10 · 30 May 2022]

1. El gets arrested 2. Lucas lies 3. El goes to a boot camp

I loved the initial dinner scene. Peak comedy! Max is the new target of Vecna. This isn't going to end well, is it?

I do dig El's arc - she is a person who is defined by her powers. She felt a sense of belonging because of her powers and what she's accomplished with them. Without it, she's fair to feel incomplete and is willing to institutionalize herself again to make her feel complete again.

I have a little bit of comment for the El storyline. The fact she is being chased by the military solely after a weird body shows up is a little weird. It's not even her kill signature, if you will. I also do not dig the whole arrest scene, which to me made no sense. It seems to imply that the police did not know about the interception. So how do you question a minor without the presence of an attorney or a guardian and be transported to a juby instantly?? That I feel like is pushing the limits of storyline brevity too much. Was also not a fan of the ending scene as I feel like it was delivered way too matter of factly to drive the plot quickly.

But these are all minor flaws. The fact is, this show has the power to engage me for 1+ hours. Very well made and deserves much love!

Millie Bobby Brown.

[calebamorgan · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

I feel like most people acknowledge how amazing Millie's acting is, but I feel she's so under-appreciated and doesn't get enough recognition for how good she is. She's one of the child stars who have remained consistently good and is growing into a even better actress as she gets older.

This season has been great so far. Since the actors are aging, they can create more mature storytelling and it's showing. The tension is clearly building to a big finale, especially with Eleven's storyline.

The calm before the storm

[michaelfunk-46264 · 7/10 · 27 May 2022]

This episode was spent very much just putting characters in place. The end set up the dramatic fourth episode, which I am very much looking forward to. So far, this season has been good! Hasn't quite justified the three-year wait for me yet, but I have a feeling it will soon.

Another sub-par episode

[cmyth007 · 5/10 · 16 June 2022]

Seems like the downward trend is continuing. I had hopes that it would pull out of it, but it isn't looking good. Its almost as if the writers just stopped trying, and are just forcing conflict on the characters in every way possible, unrealistically so. For example, in this episode, El gets into a fight and gets arrested. She's grilled by the cops and sent off to Juvie without every talking to a parent, guardian, or attorney, which isn't legal in that state for a minor. I am beginning to think that this is going to be the last season of the show. After such a long break between seasons three and four, it looks like the writers just can't get back into the groove.

Treat

[bpranavabala · 8/10 · 30 May 2022]

Slow moving of storyline but there were some interesting parts which were really exciting. Looking for the best episode of the series... Dear Billy. The storyline of season 4 is actually different and good. Vecna is a real threat. The Clock sound is actually making me disturbing and scary.

[8.8] The Monster and The Superhero

[jimmyishere-37748 · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

Ohh here comes the fun stuff. Finally, after three episode, our heroes realise that something is wrong, and the upside down is back.

El faces the consequences of her actions but crazy events happen along the way. The hopper storyline now gets really interesting with. Joyce and Murray are hilarious together.

The enormous budget is obvious this season. We've been to Hawkins, to California to Alaska, to Russia and in the middle of the desert. CGI has improved a lot as well.

Overall that's a good episode, I'm just waiting for something that will leave me speechless.

Every Episode Just Gets Better

[TRIDENT1745 · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

Millie is just incredible. Eleven is so emotionally packed in this episode it's hard to have a dry eye. Every episode has gotten better to the point where I am questioning "How can the next episode be better than the last one?" And it always is.

this is getting really good

[mattrabbi · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

I'm dreading what will happen in the next episode, but man this one was great. Every development in each plotline caught my attention. I'll try to keep this spoiler free, but a certain character pairing worked well and was nice to see. And it really hurt to see a beloved character in such pain trying to break free from being held prisoner in a horrible environment. I'm looking forward to continuing my watch, as this is looking to possibly be the best season yet.

Great television.

[raj-bhullar · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode was much better than the last one. Not a single boring scene which is hard to accomplish in more than an hour long episode. Every scene progressed the story forward. I have watched a lot of TV and I can tell which scenes are completely unnecessary and can be stripped without ruining the story. No filler scenes here. There is tension in this episode which I liked a lot. There is also mystery about who is vecna monster is what are his motives and his powers. Great build up to the story. Acting is always great on this show. 9/10.

Preparing

[ethangeorgephillips · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode is lacking action. But my God it does not need it. This episode is great. This episode starts with a hilarious duo of Jonathan and Argyle who have great chemistry.

Milly Bobby Brown is a standout in this episode. Her acting is superb she portrays Elevens traumatic past as well as showing her guilt, grief and conveying a sense of underlying anger. However they sidelined Will this episode where I thought he really could of added something. He spend most of the episode following the Main characters. Which I think is a waste.

Lucas got some great development in this episode as he fights a internal conflict and test his loyalty which is very interesting to watch.

This episode puts Nancy and Robin together, which worked really well with Robins chilled out vibe, mixed with Nancys hardhead determination = some pretty interesting dialogue.

The Soviet prison camp does a splendid job of pushing Hopper to his limits. Whilst increasing his strength, determination and bravery.

However this episode reaches new heights with the ending. It uses the information the audience have gathered from previous episodes. Which allows us to realise the devastation answer before the characters work it out for themselves. Which is just brilliant writing and directing.

This episode was my favourite of the series so far as it brilliantly kept me engaged the entire time. Whilst setting up what should be a great Episode 4.

The Duffers Obviously Don't Do Research

[spasek · 6/10 · 4 June 2022]

If you're going to be a competent writer, you have to know your subject and how things work. When I wrote the first draft of my detective novel, someone pointed out that I had the police procedure wrong, and suggested that I look things up. That was good advice, and I took it.

This episode is literally saved this season in the last 15 minutes.

Funny how the military visits Sam. This kind of mission would never fall under the purview of the military. This would be under the jurisdiction and control of the FBI and/or the NSA. And frankly, it would have added a nice spice if they'd introduced a couple of Federal agents.

I guess a sledgehammer smashed against your leg really doesn't do that much damage, aside from a couple of deep cuts. Repeated blows would have shattered nearly every bone in Hopper's leg, ankle and foot. That scene was so badly done, it left me questioning the competence of the writers. Have they really run out of ideas? Do they really not think these things through before putting them down on paper?

So far, the first three episodes have been disjointed without making much sense. However, I had some hope that things might be finally put back on track when Sam collects Eleven. Don't ask me why she was being driven to a detention center out in the middle of nowhere, and at least a couple of hours outside the city. Yes, I've lived in California. The desert isn't THAT close! BTW, there isn't a single juvenile detention center in the State of California that is literally out in the desert in the middle of nowhere!

I'm a bit skeptical of this "program" that is supposed to give Eleven her powers back. What, does she have a chip in her head or something? I hope it's something to probe the recesses of her mind, perhaps, and help to re-awaken her dormant ability.

Hoping that the next episode might salvage what has already been a very weak season so far.

Exciting episode with an ominous ending.

[Perspicuity1 · 9/10 · 11 November 2022]

The expression that Eleven made as she on a chair after expressing her angst against Angela looked one hundred percent real. This is exactly the kind of face children make when they are crying but also have a lot of anger inside them. Millie Bobby Brown delivered that scene with absolute perfection.

This was yet another exciting episode with a good mix of mystery, horror and humour. The writing team deserves appreciation for making the proceedings very engaging and intriguing. The special effects, cinematography and art direction were of top quality as usual; the dark place where Vecna resides looked like a genuinely dangerous place; it made me feel as if I am watching a horror movie; great job done by the creative team in creating this scary looking mansion.

This season, the show-runners are leaving no stone unturned into showing us gore. We are seeing death of children in the most excruciating form, and now this episode gave us Hopper painfully taking out handcuffs from his foot, along with some flesh; that wasn't easy to look at. The make-up team did a great job in making the wound on Hopper's leg look real. This man is taking some solid beating and enduring a lot of pain just to get home. Every single prison scene is extremely intense; I am always worried for Hopper's safety, and those Russian guards don't make it any easier. The whole prison scenario has been very well written and directed.

Charlie Heaton, who's playing Jonathan, is doing a good job of looking wasted, unless he is actually taking drugs. I get it, there are too many characters and it's not possible to give everyone a pivotal role; it's just feels sad to see such a nice character wasting away like this. Also, why are the showrunners hinting a reunion between Nancy and Steve? This love story had already been resolved, why go around in circles? This is not fair on Jonathan at all. Why can't the writers find a new girlfriend for Steve?

When that black car stopped in front of the van taking Eleven, I did not expect to see Dr. Owens at all, that scene completely took me by surprise. I thought the other team has arrived, the one that went to Dr. Owens house. This was an interesting development, especially with Dr. Owens revealing his secret plan to restore Eleven's powers. Dr. Owens, played by Paul Reiser, is a great character who is not only standing up against his own people, but also is a very smooth talker who can persuade you into doing anything. Paul Reiser has been doing a fantastic job of portraying this character.

Among all this chaos, I just didn't realize that the pattern of death could actually hit one of our main characters. I went cold the moment Max realized that she is also suffering from the same symptoms as the other victims of Vecna. My mind just refuses to believe that Max won't be there anymore in the show. The ticking of the clock and Vecna's face coming on screen, was a very ominous way to end the episode.

Chapter Three

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 3 June 2022]

This season continues to be strong, but the episodes are just too long. You can cut about 20 minutes off each one without losing any substance, any drama or any of the horror.

A shame

[amigo-85976 · 5/10 · 29 May 2022]

Do you see it's getting worse? It's clear now, that there is something wrong with his season. A conflict on stage? Made just for money? I don't know. What I know is that this season should be called "let's split into pairs and talk, talk, then talk some more, roll credits!"

Close to a Heartattack....

[dieter-53130 · 10/10 · 29 May 2022]

.... what a great episode! I need a short break before the next one. Millie is such a great actor and so are the other Kids! It was breathtaking in the end...

LEAVE EDDIE ALONE

[Trey_Trebuchet · 8/10 · 14 July 2022]

Another really solid episode. It's more build-up to whats to come, but the world-building, acting and character interactions make it highly entertaining. Nancy and Robin together isn't something I knew I needed, and Steve and Dustin are still as hilarious as ever together.

Millie Bobby Brown is seriously stellar in this series and this season in particular so far. Seeing her grow as an actress has been great, same goes for some of the other child actors here.

You just know a really good season has been made when the weaker episodes are this dang good.