Stranger Things: Season 3, Episode 3 “Chapter 3: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard” – Recap, Review (with Spoilers)

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The Russians land in Hawkins, and alongside them, the Mind Flayer’s plans begin to come to fruition.

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Network
Netflix
Director(s)		Shawn Levy
Writer(s)		William Bridges
Air Date		7/4/2019
Introduced This Episode
Tom	Michael Park
Heather	Francesca Reale

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Recap

The Way Things Used To Be: Will, Lucas, Mike, Hopper, Joyce

As you can imagine, with no one trying to be with Will, it makes Lucas and Mike obsessing over their on again and off again girlfriends annoying. Especially since it is becoming clear, since Will isn’t into chasing girls, they are leaving him behind – development-wise. So, since he is recognizing his childhood is over, so comes him destroying Castle Byers.

But Will isn’t alone in missing how things were. Hopper, who perhaps misses simpler times, before he and Joyce had PTSD, just wants normalcy. The possibility of Joyce and him having a date without her hitching onto a conspiracy theory and blowing up any possibility of getting to how things could have been. Though it seems alongside the Mind Flayer, now the Russians, who whoop Hopper’s behind, will now get in the way of him finding peace.

The Investigation Continues: Robin, Steve, Dustin, Nancy, Jonathan

Robin cracks the code from the Russian tapes, and alongside Steve and Dustin, they have a stakeout and get proof Russians are planning something. However, what to do with said proof is a whole different thing. Much less if they can report it before their evidence is dated.

They aren’t alone in discovering something major, by the way. Nancy Drew and Jonathan uncover one of the newest possible members to the Mind Flayer’s crew. Someone who is caught eating manure so we’re left to wonder if they will allow Nancy and Jonathan to leave alive, or without being indoctrinated.

There Is Something Strange About Your Brother: El, Max, Billy, Tom, Heather

Speaking of indoctrinated, El finds herself, alongside Max, discovering Billy may not be up to snuff. All they have is El’s visions, and how weird Billy is acting, but considering how Hawkins is, that’s more than enough. However, while more than enough to create suspicion, with the Mind Flayer having Heather and Tom, maybe soon Tom’s wife, it seems the population of Hawkins will eventually outnumber our heroes.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. Why didn’t El use her abilities to check in on Mike rather than call him, before he lied?

Other Noteworthy Facts & Moments

• When scared, Steve and Robin hold hands and, since clichés exist for a reason, there is hope Robin and Steve might become a thing. Though considering we usually see one beloved character die every season, maybe we shouldn’t get too attached?

Highlights

The Mind Flayer

Escalation is an issue all shows face, especially if they are like Stranger Things and maintain the same villain year after year. However, with the Mind Flayer taking over multiple bodies, creating an army, and currently only El in the area to stop them, the setup is wonderful. Especially when you consider the people El met last season, Kali and the rest, could come to Hawkins and assist. Maybe even settle down and provide Will a girlfriend. Assuming we weren’t supposed to take Mike saying Will not liking girls as him telling us Will is gay.

Will’s Breakdown

Speaking of Will, you have to appreciate the show not only having diverse women, of all ages, but also giving us diverse boys too. Will stands out the most though since we don’t too often get guys like him who seem to be late bloomers. The kind who enjoy being a kid and don’t necessarily want to throw themselves into the hormonal rage which is puberty. Leading you to wonder how long will this last?

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