A complete rundown of 'Stranger Things' season 3 ahead of season 4

With Stranger Things season four officially on its way, fans are excited to see what this highly-anticipated season has in store for them. 

With the first part scheduled for a May 27th, 2022 release, the fourth season will come to an end with its second volume which is slated for a July 1st, 2022 premiere. 

Created by the Duffer brothers, namely Matt and Ross, Stranger Things has become a pop-cultural phenomenon ever since its inception in 2016. With a massive ensemble cast, the show has inculcated a huge cult-like fan following. 

The meteoric success of the show can be charted by taking into account the sheer genius of the Duffer brothers as they managed to incorporate every child’s dream sequence into the web of the sci-fi and supernatural, in this beloved and nostalgic ode to the ‘80s.

With interdimensional time travel, mysterious portals, a child with telekinetic powers, a despicable monster, ruthless government experiments, evil bureaucracy and dysfunctional families, Stranger Things has it all. 

The showrunners did not hold back in evoking a sense of nostalgia via grunge aesthetics, ominous background score and vivid imagery in the fictional sleepy town of Hawkins, Indiana where the events take place.

Stranger Things season three was released way back in 2017 and the third season was released in 2019, although the events took place exactly a year after those of season three. Thus, we wanted to refresh your memories by giving an entire rundown of the third season ahead of the release of the fourth season. 

Read our complete rundown of Stranger Things season one here. Here is the complete rundown of Stranger Things season three ahead of the release of season four: 

A complete rundown of ‘Stranger Things’ season 3 ahead of season 4

Who were the cast members on Stranger Things season three? 

Stranger Things season three had a wide ensemble cast playing a variety of characters. Some of the main characters were played by the following cast members: 

• Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler 
• Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven 
• David Harbour as Chief Jim Hopper
• Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
• Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
• Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair 
• Joe Keery as Steve Harrington 
• Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
• Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield 
• Natalie Dyer as Nancy Wheeler 
• Charlie Heaton as Jonathan 
• Shannon Purser as Barb 
• Matthew Modine as Dr Brenner 
• Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley 
• Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove 
• Sean Astin as Bob Newby

Read how Best of Netflix ranked some of the main characters from worst to best, here. 

How many episodes were there on Stranger Things season three? 

Stranger Things season three has eight episodes. 

When did Stranger Things season three take place? 

Stranger Things season three takes place a year after the events of season two, roughly around 1984 to 1985. 

What happens to Billy Hargrove in Stranger Things season three? 

Max’s older half-brother Billy Hargrove is an absolute bully. In Stranger Things season three, Billy is seen working at the community pool as a lifeguard. He has a knack for flirting with married women, especially Mike and Nancy’s mother, Mrs Wheeler.

One night, while he is on his way to an exciting night of debauchery with the older woman, Billy crashes his car and is subsequently possessed by the Mind Flayer. 

While Eleven and Max become good friends, they use Eleven’s powers to spy on Billy and catch him acting quite suspiciously. They reach out to the rest of the Party and decide to test their theory by trapping him in a pool sauna, knowing well how the Mind Flayer reacts adversely to heat. 

However, Billy gradually earns his redemption when Eleven manages to intercept his mind later, towards the end, and fight against the monster; Billy sacrifices himself to save Eleven.

What is Mrs Driscoll’s relation to the Mind Flayer in Stranger Things season three? 

Nancy and Jonathan intern together. While investigating a case, they interview a widow named Mrs Driscoll who unknowingly has a tamed rat possessed by the Mind Flayer. Nancy and Jonathan see her behaving strangely, drinking fertiliser, much like other possessed people.

Later, the entire group learns how the Mind Flayer possesses its victims, forcing them to consume fertilisers that will melt them so that it can use the sludge to regroup and form a bigger monster when required. 

Later,m towards the end, Jonathan and Nancy free a possessed Mrs Driscoll from the hospital so that she leads them to the base. However, things go south pretty soon and the gang finds themselves in a huge mess. 

How does Hopper, Eleven and Mike’s equation change in Stranger Things season three? 

Eleven and Mike are dating in Stranger Things season three much to the chagrin of Hopper. Having lost his daughter previously, Hopper had become a depressed alcoholic. However, after the events of the three seasons, Hopper undergoes massive redemption while developing a soft spot for Eleven and her penchant for Eggos. Having adopted her at the end of the second season, Hopper’s paternal instincts compel him to be caring, protective and sometimes overly possessive. 

Hopper does not approve of Mike and Eleven’s romance and even threatens Mike to stay away from his daughter. Scared, Mike lies to Eleven about why he cannot see her, leading to a frustrated Eleven becoming best friends with the absolutely badass Max. together, the girls become great friends and Max helps Eleven explore facets of adolescence which were otherwise quite alien to her. 

What is Stranger Things season three’s connection with Russia? 

Dustin Henderson, the ever romantic, desperately tries to contact his camp girlfriend Suzie. During one such session, he accidentally intercepts a Russian message which is then translated by Robin, as he and Steve realise in horror, that the Russians are building secret paths and using the mall as a coverup for their illegal activities. 

Enlisting Lucas’ sister, Erica’s help, the trio finds out the room where the Russians are storing mysterious substances. As they try to escape, Dustin and Erica do so successfully while Robin and Steve are held captive and beaten while being drugged with the infamous truth serum. However, they are soon saved by the younger duo. 

The Hawkins crew finally understand that the Russians are simply taking over Hawkins very quietly to gain access to the Upside Dow. they are attempting to open the gate to appease their personal motives. However, before the scientist Alexei can reveal too much about the Russian plans, he is shot by a Russian soldier named Grigori. 

What happened at the end of Stranger Things season three?

Towards the end of the season, Stranger Things season three gets more exciting and nerve-wracking than ever. A group of people possessed by the Mind Flayer team up to form a huge monster that attempts to kill Eleven. While Eleven manages to save herself, a piece of the monster gets stuck to her leg, rendering her nearly powerless. 

The magnets on Joyce’s fridge fall off, indicating inevitable danger. With Hopper, she reaches the Hawkins Lab to find out about the Russians’ nefarious plans. They find out about the kids being stranded in Starcourt Mall. 

Meanwhile, Eleven saves her friends from the Mind Flayer as the others try and come up with a foolproof plan to defeat the monster. After Joyce and Hopper embark on their own mission, the kids are attacked by a possessed Billy. Eleven intercepts his mind and forces him to fight against the monster and free himself of the Mind Flayer’s ominous control. Billy sacrifices himself to save his sister, Max and her friends. 

Along with Murray, Joyce and Hopper enter the underground tunnels, following instructions from Dustin and Erica. As Joyce and Hopper nearly get close to killing the monster, they are intercepted by the evil Russian soldier, Grigori who has a showdown with Hopper. Although Hopper manages to kill Grigori, he gets trapped on the other side of the field energy and Joyce is forced to close the gate, apparently killing Hopper, shocking fans. 

The season ends on a tense note. The US military shuts down the mall to cover up everything as Eleven seemingly loses her powers. The Byers relocate to California, taking Eleven with them. In an emotional moment, Eleven reads Hopper’s letter. Watch below:

In a scary post-credits scene, the camera cuts to Russia where a Demogorgon is held, prisoner. Its name is “The American”.