Stranger Things has had fans waiting more than 3 years for the new season. Even though each season has its own story, the show is still able to keep the familiar mix of mystery and friendship. Before jumping into the new season it’s important to recap that in season 3, “Eleven lost her powers at the end of season 3, but she got them back in “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab,” stated by People magazine. We can anticipate that Eleven is going to be even stronger this season, which could make the new season the best one yet. The season continues to raise suspense and the stakes for all of the main characters, showing how much they’ve grown since season one. One fan, Leanne Knapton ‘29, said, “They have matured a lot and Nancy changed from innocent to psycho.” Which also shows the depth of the characters and how they’ve changed over time.

According to Esquire the release dates for the new season episodes are, “Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4): November 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET, Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7): December 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET, Volume 3 (Episode 8/Finale): New Year’s Eve, December 31, at 8:00 p.m. ET).” The characters are faced with more serious challenges than the previous seasons. In the beginning of the show, the kids mostly had to deal with school problems and the strange things that were happening around Hawkins. Now that they are older, they have to take on things much more daunting. The show is able to show us that they are able to rely on each other when things get strange.

The style, clothes, and music also add to how fun a watch it is, set in the 1980s, Stranger Things feels like a fun classic rewind. The soundtrack plays a big role in setting the mood while watching. The show is able to use music to build suspense or make the emotional scenes hit even harder, using classic 80s tunes from Kate Bush, The Clash, and Madonna.

What keeps Stranger Things popular is its ability to balance out mystery and personal stories. The new season doesn’t only focus on action and fighting monsters, but it also spends time showing the relationships between the characters and their emotions. You’re also able to get a deeper understanding of the Upside Down, the fictional hellscape that plagues the town of Hawkins. The show is able to appeal to people who like horror, but also people who love emotional drama. Stranger Things brings people together, so sit down this holiday season and dive into this strange new world.