T.V. REVIEW: STRANGER THINGS 3

4/5

Independence Day.

8 Episodes. Starring: Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Mattarazo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Hawke, Pria Ferguson, Alec Utgoff, Jake Busey, Cary Elwes, Cara Buono, David Harbour & Winona Ryder. Directors: The Duffer Brothers.

Fireworks explode across a Manhattan skyline like it's New Year as this Englishman in New York writer watches the July 4th celebrations from below the Brooklyn Bridge. There's nothing more I love than celebrating when Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum saved the world from aliens after Bill Pullman's stirring speech...wait, that's not what it's about? Just kidding! Still on the same day of independence for the United States of America another alien invasion is about to happen in the new series of 'Stranger Things'. But way back in the future of 1985. Crazily for this writer set back in the very month he was born...yep I'm older than 11. Crazy synchronicity. I can just picture my young  Mum and Dad (with more hair back then...hey I can talk now I've hit 30) back on the fourth of July in '85 listening to the sounds that make up this 'Stranger' soundtrack and telling my idol, my big sister that she has a little baby brother on the way. And he's just around the corner as she she feels for the kicks in my mother's belly. I was about to enter a brave new world of Live Aid and New Cola (how about the nostalgic product placement also turning some companies commercials upside down today?). And the rookie debuts of both Nintendo and some Basketball player named Michael Jordan. Not to mention the introduction of the Starcourt Mall. The neon shoppers shopper's paradise that's taking all the Mom and Pop store horses from Hawkins old town road. It's a candy land of pink and blue nostalgia from the escalators to the food court. And a slice of Americana pie that stretches as far as a pulled apart mozzarella stick. And the arcades? That's the marinara sauce right there. Get your red baskets and feast on this pure 80's nostalgia trip in all its vintage horror tropes like it's been longer than almost two years since the last seasons series. You can tell just by, "they grow up so fast, don't they?" It must be the hormones. Friends don't lie...and apparently neither does puberty. One Summer can truly change everything.

SCORE! So technically this makes these 'Stranger Things' Goonies actually older than my about to be 34 years old ass. Yeah right! In my dreams. Finn Wolfhard is looking so much older right now that give it a few more years and he could replace Bill Hader playing the older version of his Richie Tozier in 'IT Chapter Two'. Or at least play a young Bob Dylan, if the shades and shaggy hair from the new YSL fashioned promos are telling us anything about how his times are a'changin. The young Finn coming of age is the anchor of this series. But it's the queen of this Summers blockbuster, 'Godzilla: King Of The Monsters', Millie Bobby Brown who is the star of this show like the prerogative of her name. And even up in the nosebleeds (someone give this girl some cotton wool) those terrible Twitter trolls can see that she armed with a new look and attitude is fighting back and the strongest thing about this series. As her new mall sister Sadie Sink's Max, giving maximum effort and showing how much she belongs now and feels right at home after her sophomore season debut, introduces her to a new way of independence day thinking. Making for a photo booth perfect snapshot scene for the classic moments, nostalgic album of this show. But Sadie's Max has her own problems to deal with. Her on and off like Maggie Rogers boyfriend Caleb McLaughlin thinks he's Bart Simpson with the catapult, telling everyone to eat his shorts. And her, big, bad brother Billy. The coolest thing about this spray can, permed up show. Played like a loveable rogue by Dacre Montgomery, getting his Zac Efron in 'Baywatch' on as a lifeguard that needs to watch his six and not the, if he has Bon Jovi hair does he call them "chicks"? As he still tries to make it with the 'Weird Science' romance novel fantasy of Cara Buono. And then there's the pudding bowl catalyst of this all, Noah Schnapp. The kid who like a reverse Bradley Cooper doesn't want to let the old ways die like all of us watching this show. Meanwhile the great Gaten Mattarazo nerd nerf, lightsaber mimed blood and guts reunites with the Ahoy hair of worst boyfriend, best babysitter and thing about this stranger show, Joe Keery on the form of his young life. Who now works trumpeting the malls ice cream parlour in a sailor suit with someone who looks like Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke's daughter. AHOY indeed! But know the name now dingus. Because right from her first scoop debut, Maya Hawke in Hawkins, with the best of both parents and her own God given talents is a star born now! That is when the Erica in America, Pria Ferguson on a dynamite debut isn't stealing the limelight, or all the free samples this fourth that is. Now how about a spin-off for the Scooby like scoop troop?

Hawkins read all about it, from the upside down to Camp Knowhere. Because there's more to this story like a plague of diseased rats and more monsters in this inc. Real life couple, Natalia Dyer's armoury totting Nancy and Charlie Heaton's flashbulb totting Byers brother have taken jobs at the local paper. One that has cult, character acting legend of every cool comic-book, action figure and trading card spawning franchise in-between, Jake Busey also stealing scenes with jokes and a jacked up nod to 'The Shining'. Whilst the will they, won't they of icon Winona Ryder at her very best yet and David Harbour's Hopper are also on this case to be cracked. Harbour showing there's 'Hellboy' to pay for writing off his decent turn as the devil with the demons he unleashing, kicking in and knocking the door down here, all about those three inches (I hear you buddy). But beware, there's some anger and toxic masculinity that needs to be managed here and addressed like stamps on envelopes. Side note, someone in work once told me I looked like Hopper and honestly I was then more honoured than those Bradley Cooper when he's down and out comparisons (second reference to my man crush in an article that isn't even about him). Not to mention the heroes he trades, as he truly gets his detective on with the Magnum P.I. Hawaiian shirt and Tom Selleck 'tache. Here getting brass up his ass from the "prepare yourself for disappointment" crooked mayor of 'Princess Bride' star Cary Elwes. Here hoping to hawk Hawkins the funland of an amusement arcade like his mall that isn't rigged at all. And we haven't even got to the Russians yet. But you will. Because how about the meme ready, cherry slurpy heart stealing Alec Utgoff who has played characters with different versions of his name in 'San Andreas', 'Jack Ryan': Shadow Recruit' and this? Gentle joy, perfectly personified. An endearing, amusement steal. We love 'Stranger Things' going third on the fourth, dialling it up with Eleven and face-hugging the f### out of us. Even when they killed original 'Goonie' Sean Astin, or that Taserface from 'This Is Us', didn't give us our hash-tagged, 'Justice For Barb' and continually reminded us of how old we are. But nothing beats nostalgia, the good old days and Eggos. All to the 80's beat of a classic soundtrack and sonic score...and oh by the way Netflix, there's no need for the 'Skip Into' selection on this shows iconic theme tune over the John Carpenter caption homaging titles. Don't hand us a jump rope to go with those 'Stand By Me' bicycles, because we ain't skipping like we shouldn't leg day...ever! But a word to Will the wise, don't watch 'Stranger Things' in a roadside motel whilst vacationing in Cape Cod, trust me. Just saying. You may aswell be in Maine the way this thing references everything from the dust jackets of an old Stephen King hardback, to 'Alien' (hello ventilation shafts), 'The Thing' and extra terrestrial hosting for your T.V. sets in this 'War Of The Worlds' like the paranoia of collectively scratching the back of your necks. But by the time the fantastic fireworks explode like your tear ducts here come the epic, emotional waterworks and we can only hope a show that goes fourth in a stranger time and tide of Netflix cancellation where even Marvel can't survive the snap (score one for the Duffer Brothers over those Russo's). One that is maybe telling us that the race to 'Continue Watching' binge culture is dead. Because trust us like the nostalgia of actually watching this on home video, you're going to want to savour these blink and you'll miss the buzz like Cola, eight wonders. So get your candy and your condiments, light a sparkler and ride the ferris wheel (but for the love of God not at the same time. JESUS!) and have some Summer lovin' fun. Because after their hallmark Halloween horror show, 'Stranger Things 3' is a carnival, blockbuster showstopper this scorching season. It makes me proud to be an 80's baby. No matter how old that makes me look. Let's party like it's the fourth of July, 1985. C'mon, it's my birthday. God bless you that are stranger. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'IT: Chapter 2', 'The Goonies', 'The Thing'.