There are less than three weeks left until season 4 of Netflix's hit franchise Stranger Things returns. Fans have eagerly waited these last three years for more answers about El, the Upside Down, and how exactly Hopper wound up in a Russian prison. With 25 episodes of the hit streaming series released so far, binge-watching is a necessity before part one of the new season is released on the 27th of May.
It's been so long since season 3 premiered on Netflix that fans may need to be reminded of the little details that have helped make this show a cultural phenomenon. These episodes are a perfect refresher to help delve back into the town of Hawkins and get a reminder of what it means to be a member of this Party.
The Vanishing Of Will Byers (Season 1, Episode 1)
So much has changed since the first episode, but the show's aura of terrifying trepidation is evident immediately when Will's disappearance occurs before the opening credits even start, and the supernatural horror sets the series up perfectly for the Stephen King and Lovecraft-inspired saga ahead.
With a hefty task of setting up the series and introducing a variety of characters, the pilot does so brilliantly with a group of nerdy kids, a worried sick mother, a mysterious child with a shaved head, and a cop haunted by his past. It's an incredible start to remind fans just how far these characters have come.
The Bathtub (Season 1, Episode 7)
Beginning with an exciting chase scene, fans see that Eleven's powers are steadily growing as she flips a van while running away from "the bad men" at Hawkins Lab. This episode ramps up the tension and the need to save their friends from the threat in The Upside Down.
"The Bathtub" unites the children and the adults to work together to rescue their loved ones and sees them building a sensory deprivation tank to help El locate an unfortunately dead Barbara and a barely-hanging-on Will. With El seemingly returning to Hawkins Lab in season 4, it is important to remember the trauma she went through there and the experiments she was forced to participate in.
The Upside-Down (Season 1, Episode 8)
Ending on a cliffhanger that had viewers on the edge of their couches, the season 1 finale is one of Stranger Things' best episodes. While Joyce and Hopper find an unresponsive Will and Steve learns the truth about the disappearances when faced with the Demogorgon, the episode culminates in a thrilling fight scene between Eleven and her Hawkins Lab handlers before facing the Demogorgon.
This is essential before season 4 premieres as viewers are reminded that Dr. Brenner's body is not found among the victims of the Demogorgon. He is well and truly alive, and likely to appear in the new season.
The Spy (Season 2, Episode 6)
Though this is the only episode not to feature Eleven, the rest of the cast certainly make up for it with amazing acting performances and a sincerely scary story. When they try to destroy the tunnels that the Gate has created, they realize that Will is now also physically connected to the Upside Down. Against his will, the young Byers boy is forced to act as the Mind Flayer's spy and leads many agents of Hawkins Lab to their deaths.
While Will's condition deteriorates, an unexpected friendship emerges between Dustin and Steve when the two search for Dustin's pet Demogorgon Dart.
The Lost Sister (Season 2, Episode 7)
Though "The Lost Sister" is one of the most controversial Stranger Things episodes, it is an important one to rewatch for the upcoming season 4. As two super-powered children taken by the government, pseudo-sisters Eleven and Kali meet for the first time. With a cartoon-ish gang and her powers of mental manipulation, Kali enacts revenge on Hawkins Lab employees who wronged her.
The episode's diversion from the main plot was disliked by many but also revealed important details that are likely to come back in the latest season - most importantly that Dr. Brenner is still alive. Surviving the Demogorgon attack in the season 1 finale, Brenner hasn't appeared since, but terrifying images of him have appeared in the latest trailer.
The Mind Flayer (Season 2, Episode 8)
If any Stranger Things episode truly takes the audience on a roller-coaster ride, it's this one. The first half is a terrifying and daring attempt to escape from Hawkins Lab now that Demo-dogs are running amok. It also features one of the scariest and most heartbreaking scenes in Stranger Things; Bob's being mauled brutally by Demo-dogs.
Sean Astin's character shone brightly in this episode as he uses his brain to help get every else out to safety - he truly became Bob Newby, Superhero. The episode's intensity lingers as they try to contact Will. Just as they find out how to defeat the Mind Flayer, Demo-dogs attack the house, but fortunately, El comes to the rescue.
The Gate (Season 2, Episode 9)
After reuniting with the Party, El is tasked with closing the Gate that she unintentionally opened back in season 1. It is an intense episode as El and Hopper make their way through the lab while the Byers sweat the Mind Flayer out of Will's Body. Realizing his gift at babysitting, Steve watches over the rest of the Party, but ends up in a fight with Billy.
After Max shows Billy she means business using Steve's nail bat, the kids go to the tunnels to create a distraction that will lead the Demo-dogs away from the lab and clear a path for El and Hop. A mixture of tender, heartfelt moments and intense, action-heavy sequences created a perfect episode that shows the full extent of Eleven's powers.
The Sauna Test (Season 3, Episode 4)
The Mind Flayer choosing Billy as its next host after Will was a genius decision that led to some incredible action sequences and heartbreaking scenes featuring the amazing acting of Dacre Montgomery as the seemingly-unbreakable Billy Hargrove. Simultaneously, the Scoops Troop gets further into the mysterious connection between the Russian military and Starcourt mall with Operation Child Endangerment, and the dynamic duo (Joyce and Hopper) look for their attacker.
Despite everyone being separated, each of the groups works smoothly towards the same goal, which season 4 will hopefully repeat since they'll be split up at the start.
The Bite (Season 3, Episode 7)
After a terrifying vision of Billy as the new face of the Mind Flayer and the Flayed victim merging to form a terrifying beast in the last scenes of episode 6, the penultimate episode of season 3 goes all out and sets up the stage for the final battle. Not only is Eleven gravely injured by the Mind Flayer's Spider Monster - which the group have to band together to defeat - but the rapidly-beloved Russian scientist Alexei is killed as a traitor.
Robin also comes out to Steve in this episode in a brilliant and poignant scene, and despite just admitting feelings for her, Steve remains the lovable, accepting, and understanding character that he is.
The Battle of Starcourt (Season 3, Episode 8)
With a runtime of almost 90 minutes, this episode plays like a movie with intense action scenes, heartfelt goodbyes, and tear-jerking character deaths. While Hopper is guaranteed to return in Stranger Things season 4, it doesn't make the moment any less sad, especially while fans' hearts are still raw over losing Billy and Alexei too.
After getting rid of a piece of the Mind Flayer's monster inside her wound, El finds herself powerless and in need of everyone else to save her. Murray, Joyce, and Hopper make the ultimate team as they infiltrate the Russian base to destroy the device that is opening a gate to the Upside Down, which leads to Hop's apparent demise. The episode ends with Eleven becoming a part of the Byers family and moving away from Hawkins. Fans are eager to pick up where they left off and to rejoin the Party in season 4.