Envisioned by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things shot to fame in 2016, thanks to the series' unique plotline. The Netflix original is a fantasy sci-fi drama that explores the possibility of an alternate dimension, or as Eleven likes to call it, The Upside Down (or the Dark Echo of our world).
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The show's third season released last year, and while the critics rated it quite highly, it wasn't as good as the first two seasons. With the portal to The Upside Down now closed, Hawkins might return to normal, but the supernatural beings in the alternate dimension will not rest easily after being dragged like that. Without further ado, let's rank every episode from the third outing of Stranger Things, according to IMDb.
"Suzie, Do You Copy" (7.9)
The first episode of season 3 sees a couple of Russian officials trying to reopen the portal to The Upside Down, with a scientist called Alexei given one year to complete the job. It's 1985, and Jim Hopper isn't happy with Mike and Eleven getting too close to each other. At Starcourt Mall, Mike arrives to catch a movie with Lucas, Max, and Will.
The viewers also get to see Steve working at an ice cream shop. Nancy and Jonathan head to their respective workplaces, while an amorphous liquid, quite similar to The Mind Flayer, is seen developing at Hawkins. Meanwhile, Dustin returns home after a while away from Hawkins, and all of his friends give him a surprise. A new character, namely, Robin (Steve's co-worker) is introduced as well.
"The Mall Rats" (8.0)
In the second episode of season 3, Billy escapes from Brimborn Steel Works, only to find himself hallucinating the presence of The Upside Down. Eleven is unhappy with Mike as he doesn't show up at her house as planned. And Hopper is absolutely jumping with joy to see a distance between the two.
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Joyce ponders why the magnets have stopped working, while Nancy and Jonathan decide to investigate diseased rats. Moreover, Dustin wants Steve's help as the former thinks he has discovered a secret Russian mission. Thankfully, they have Robin there to translate everything for them. Also, Eleven and Max go on a shopping spree.
"The Case Of The Missing Lifeguard" (8.0)
In the third episode of season 3, Eleven has a frightening confrontation, and she, along with Max, goes to visit Billy to check on him. Will wants a boys night without the girls, while Joyce tries to explain what's happening with the magnets to Hopper. Eleven and Max discover some disturbing facts while visiting Billy's place.
Meanwhile, Steve and Dustin keep an eye out in the mall, and Robin continues to decode the Russian message. Will senses the presence of an old foe, The Mind Flayer, and he tells the same to Mike and Lucas.
"The Flayed" (8.6)
The fifth episode of season 3 sees Robin, Dustin, Steve, and Erica trapped in the Russians' base of operations, while Hopper and Joyce are able to kidnap one of the Russian scientists named Alexei.
Mike, Eleven, Will, Lucas, and Max discuss plans for The Mind Flayer before Jonathan and Nancy arrive at the house, concerned about Will. Robin and Steve, being the adults, have to take responsibility when it comes to the Russians. Meanwhile, Hopper doesn't like interrogating Alexei.
"E Pluribus Unum" (8.7)
In the sixth episode of season 3, Dustin and Steve recognize the portal to The Upside Down before the Russian officers catch Robin and Steve. Dustin and Erica are able to escape, and they need to relay this information to their friends as soon as possible.
Jonathan and Nancy fight for their lives as The Mind Flayer comes after them. Alexei continues to play hardball with Joyce and Hopper, much to the latter's frustration. Eleven tries to communicate with Billy inside the Void.
"The Bite" (8.8)
In the penultimate episode of season 3, a war begins as Eleven tells everyone that The Mind Flayer is coming for everyone in Hawkins. Robin and Steve are still high on the serum, so they keep joking around as Dustin and Erica help them escape from the clutches of the Russian soldiers.
The Mind Flayer begins the fight with Eleven and company, which results in Eleven getting hit in the leg and bleeding profusely. Furthermore, Hopper and Joyce, along with Alexei, drive to the Fun Fair, but little do they know that danger is waiting for them.
"The Sauna Test" (9.0)
The fourth episode of season 3 sees The Mind Flayer's plans become a lot clearer, as he, with the help of Billy, is feeding onto the humans and turning them into The Flayed. Hopper wakes up with a lot of injuries, and he ponders, with Joyce, who might have attacked them.
Mike, Lucas, and Will try to reach Max, Eleven, and Dustin, but all of them have something going on. Dustin, with Steve and Robin, is going over plans to attack the Russians. Moreover, thanks to their persistent nature, Nancy and Jonathan are fired from their jobs.
"The Battle Of Starcourt" (9.4)
In the season 2 finale, the final battle between The Mind Flayer and the kids takes place. Starcourt Mall bears the brunt of this fight, and with her friends' lives at stake, Eleven has to step up.
At the same time, Hopper and Joyce head to the Russians' base as they look to close the portal to The Upside Down.