Stranger Things season 3 finally arrives on Netflix this summer, and the latest trailer is absolutely packed with tantalizing hints and reveals of what's still to come in the story. The show follows a group of plucky kids and teens as they try to survive the freaky goings-on in their small town of Hawkins, Indiana, which is plagued by a connection to a monster-filled realm called the Upside-Down.

Set for release on July 4, Stranger Things season 2 is all about a summer of changes in Hawkins, as the young group of friends - Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Eleven - start to put their childhoods behind them and embrace adolescence. However, while Eleven may have temporarily banished the terrifying beast known as the Mind Flayer, the Upside-Down isn't done with them yet. The upcoming season will bring new characters, new monsters, and new mysteries... as well as an impressive new shopping destination called the Starcourt Mall.

Related: Stranger Things Theory: Eleven Will See The "Future" In Season 3

Set to The Who's classic song "Baba O'Riley," the first full-length trailer for Stranger Things season 3 is full of exciting and intriguing shots, powerful character moments, and promises of terrors to come. Let's break it down.

25. Welcome Home, Dustin

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Welcome Home Dustin

The Stranger Things season 3 trailer kicks off with Dustin returning from a summer camp called Camp Know Where, and his T-shirt is a handy reminder that this season is set in the summer of 1985. Dustin at first seems dejected that only Yertle the Turtle is happy to have him back, but unbeknownst to him, his friends have actually planned a surprise welcome party. Eleven uses her powers to move Dustin's toys (including a little R2-D2 action figure) and lure him out of his room so that they can sneak up on him... but it's probably not a good idea to do that to someone who has been traumatized by monster attacks. This sequence ends with Lucas getting a face full of Farrah Fawcett hair spray.

24. The Aerial

Stranger Things 3 Trailer Aerial

After the slightly botched welcome party (you can tell it's the same day because of the characters' outfits), the gang head up to the top of a hill overlooking Hawkins to construct a radio aerial. This location looks like the same one that was featured on the poster for Stranger Things season 3, so it's clearly important. The aerial could be designed to amplify the gang's walkie-talkies so that they can communicate across a longer distance, or may be a way of attempting to eavesdrop on secret government agency messages related to the upside down. Later in the trailer, during Mike's "We're not kids any more" speech, Dustin is left standing by the aerial at night, looking melancholy, while Lucas and Max run down the hill.

23. Meet the Lifeguards

Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer - Billy and Heather

Max's handsome but creepy older brother Billy was introduced as a minor antagonist in Stranger Things season 2, and in season 3 he gets a job working as a lifeguard at Hawkins Pool - a decision that apparently proves very popular with women of all ages. In this trailer, we see Billy making eye contact with Heather, a new addition to the cast played by Francesca Reale, who is described as "a popular lifeguard at the Hawkins Community Pool who becomes the centerpiece of a dark mystery." A previous teaser for Stranger Things season 3 revealed that episode 3 is titled, "The Case of the Missing Lifeguard," so presumably Heather is the lifeguard who goes missing. Does Billy have something to do with her disappearance?

Related: Where You Recognize The Stranger Things Cast From

22. Jim Hopper's Date With... Joyce?

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Jim Hoppers Date

There's a curious shot in the first half of the trailer that shows Chief Jim Hopper sitting alone at a table for two in a restaurant, lighting a cigarette. This is immediately followed by a shot of Joyce at home, also eating dinner by herself, possibly implying that she stood Jim up for a date. The two characters have had romantic tension since season 1, but have yet to do anything about it, and many fans are rooting for them to get together. It's worth noting that Hopper is wearing the same shirt in this shot that he is later seen wearing at the fair with Joyce, so they do end up getting together (and getting into mortal danger) on this date night.

21. A Very Dorky Greeting

Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer - Steve and Dustin

The unlikely friendship between Steve and Dustin was one of the best elements of Stranger Things season 2, and the dream team is back in season 3. Steve now has a job working at ice cream parlor Scoops Ahoy (the first teaser for this season showed him taking part in an awkward Starcourt Mall commercial), along with new cast addition Robin, played by Maya Hawke. Robin is described as, "an alternative girl who is equal parts sharp and playful. Bored with her mundane day job, she just wants a little excitement in her life… and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins." Robin isn't impressed by Steve and Dustin's greeting, which appears throughout the trailer and seems very elaborate.

20. Nancy and Jonathan at the Hawkins Post

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Nancy and Jonathan

An establishing shot in the trailer shows the offices of a local newspaper, The Hawkins Post, followed by a shot of a smartly-dressed Nancy and Jonathan waiting in the reception area. Since it's summer, the two of them may well be there to apply for internships or part-time jobs. They may also be there to meet Jake Busey's character, Bruce, who is a reporter at The Hawkins Post - or perhaps they're even there on some kind of fact-finding mission. Whatever they're there for, both of them look pretty nervous.

Page 2: A Possible Farewell for Will, Danger at the Fair, and More

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Will Leaving Hawkins

19. A Farewell For Will?

Things don't look good for Will Byers in this trailer. He's been to hell and back, suffered through post-traumatic stress and the Upside-Down getting its claws into him, and now it looks as though he may have to leave Hawkins and his friends behind. The trailer shows him crying over photos of himself hanging out with his pals, and in one shot Mike can be seen looking back at the Byers house, which seems empty and dark. Later in the trailer, Hopper says, "I want you to feel like this can still be your home," and then there's an immediate cut to Joyce. It's possible that after everything Joyce has gone through (including the death of her boyfriend, Bob), she's considering moving far away and taking Will with her.

18. Max and Eleven Become Best Friends

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Max and Eleven

One thing is made clear by the Stranger Things season 3 trailer: "Mad" Max and Eleven seem to have become very close friends. We see Eleven hanging out in Max's bedroom while Max dances around to music, the two of them arriving at Starcourt Mall together and taking everything in with wide eyes, and then taking dress-up photos in a glamor photo studio at the mall. One effect of the kids growing up may be that they end up fracturing somewhat along gender lines, with Max and Eleven choosing to hang out together more and drifting away from the boys as they grow older. It will certainly be interesting (and, it looks like, a lot of fun) to see the dynamic between Max and Eleven this season.

Related: Netflix Original TV Shows To Be Most Excited About In 2019

17. A Gunman at the Fair

One of the classic events of a small town summer is the funfair, but it looks like Hawkins' fair will descend into the town's now-routine violence. In addition to a shot of a bloodied Jim Hopper at the fair, there's also this striking shot of a gunman (seen again later in the trailer) stalking through the House of Mirrors. It's possible that he works for the mysterious "Lynx Corporation" that has been referenced in previous marketing materials, and that he's been sent to Hawkins to track down Eleven.

16. Eleven on the Beach

During a sequence of ominous shots, Eleven is shown standing on a beach while the red lightning associated with the Mind Flayer (which is expected to return this season) flashes through the clouds behind her. Indiana is not exactly known for its beaches, but it's possible that this scene takes place on the shores of Lake Michigan. Alternatively, it may be part of a vision or dream. The color palette is particularly important here, since a previous teaser featured the phrase "When blue and yellow meet in the West" - note the yellow of Eleven's shirt

15. Billy's Skin Condition

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Billy Infected

It looks like in season 3, Billy will be getting his own taste of the Upside-Down. A shot of Billy in the shower reveals some kind of infected growth spreading on his arm from what may be a bite wound. We know from poor Barb's capture and murder in season 1 that pools are dangerous places, and now that Billy is working at Hawkins Pool he is in the danger zone. Could Billy end up becoming a thrall of the Upside-Down - or even becoming a monster himself?

14. A Deadly Explosion

Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer - Explosion

There's always some kind of weird science going on in Hawkins, and in this trailer we see a group of people caught up in an explosion that unleashes brutal bolts of electricity. In a slow-motion shot, someone in a protective suit and mask is shown having their clothes and flesh burned away by the energy bolts, creating what are almost certainly lethal injuries. Let's hope that no one we like is under that mask; it looks as though it could be a scientist similar to those who worked at Hawkins National Laboratory - perhaps something to do with the Lynx Corporation?

Page 3: Return of the Eggos, a Battle at Starcourt Mall, and More

Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer - Bruce

13. Bruce Looks Bad

This is the only shot we get of new character Bruce (played by Jake Busey), and he doesn't look well. Bruce is, according to his character description, "a journalist for the The Hawkins Post, with questionable morals and a sick sense of humor." It seems likely that Bruce will end up being a minor antagonist who meets his comeuppance in season 3. In this shot he is bloodied and wearing a maniacal grin, and it looks like he may be in the same hospital location where we later see Jonathan with  new monster from the Upside-Down. Could Bruce end up transforming into the monster?

12. Return of the Eggos

Eleven blindfolded in Stranger Things 3

As you may recall from previous seasons of Stranger Things, Eleven is better able to control her powers when her eyes are covered. In this shot, we see her sitting in front of an open fridge/freezer unit lined with her favorite snack - Eggo waffles. The Eggos are likely only in this scene because they've become something of a staple of Stranger Things, but the fact that the door has been left open is intriguing. Perhaps it's a way of keeping Eleven cool?

Related: Stranger Things Season 3 Viral Messages Tease Final Battle With Upside Down

11. Jim Hopper in Action

Stranger Things - Hopper in Action

Remember the gunman at the fair? Well, based on this shot, it looks like he ends up tangling directly with Jim Hopper, since in this shot Jim is wielding a silenced pistol that's definitely not standard police issue in Hawkins, and looks exactly like the one used by the mystery gunman. In one of the trailer's voiceovers, Hopper says (presumably either to Eleven or Joyce), "It is important to me that you feel safe. I want you to feel like this can still be your home." We can expect to see Hopper go to the usual lengths to try and keep everyone safe in season 3.

10. Battle at the Starcourt Mall

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Battle at Starcourt Mall

The Stranger Things season 3 finale is titled "The Battle of Starcourt," so it seems as though the newly-built Starcourt Mall will be the site of a climactic showdown. Here we see the whole gang of kids gathered together in one shot - including Robin). Jonathan and Steve are both injured and Eleven is bleeding from both nostrils - a clear sign that she has exerted her powers. Eleven is also wearing the same outfit that we saw her wearing earlier on the beach. The big question about this shot, of course, is what exactly everyone is looking at.

9. Mayor Kline

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Mayor Kline

One of the major new additions to Stranger Things season 3's cast is Cary Elwes as Mayor Larry Kline. Kline as described in the casting announcement as, "handsome, slick, and sleazy" and "your classic ’80s politician – more concerned with his own image than with the people of the small town he governs." This is evident even in the little of him that we see in the trailer, with his name plastered on the sign for the town fair, as well as the above shot of him announcing the start of July 4th festivities with a marching band behind him. However, this slick image does not seem to be fooling everyone in Hawkins, as earlier in the trailer protesters are seen carrying signs complaining about the lack of care for downtown and labeling Kline a "swine."

8. Murray Bauman is Back

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Murray Baumann

Remember Murray Bauman, the investigative reporter turned private investigator who originally tipped Hopper off to Eleven's existence after investigating the mysteries surrounding Hawkins National Laboratory? Well, he's back - as seen in this trailer during one of the fun fair scenes. It's possible that the assassin at the fair is actually there to kill Murray, because he knows too much, and that Hopper will have to protect him.

Page 4: Eleven in the Void, The Missing Lifeguard, and More

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Eleven Falling

7. Eleven in the Void

There are numerous shots in the trailer that show Eleven in the void - a kind of psychic landscape that she is able to reach through sensory deprivation and concentration. We see a bathtub collapsing beneath her, Eleven seemingly drowning in the void, and this shot of her falling through darkness. Based on her clothing, it seems as though this takes place during the scene when Eleven is blindfolded in front of the Eggos in the Starcourt Mall. Interestingly, however, we also see the void in another shot...

6. The Case of the Missing Lifeguard

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - The Missing Lifeguard

Our best clue to the "Case of the Missing Lifeguard" in the trailer is this shot, which shows Heather falling down through the void while someone (Billy?) looks down at her. This could be something that Eleven sees while in the void, or it could be something else entirely, but one thing's for sure: things don't look good for our missing lifeguard.

Related: Stranger Things Was Almost Completely Different Before Netflix

5. Erica Joins In The Adventure

Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer - Erica

Lucas' bold little sister, Erica, was a fan-favorite character in Stranger Things season 2 (despite her limited screen time) and she's been made a regular in season 3. This shot shows her crawling through an air vent wearing a helmet mounted with torches, and looking ready for action. Now that the other kids are hitting their teenage growth spurts, there's no way any of them could fit into that vent, so it's possible Lucas reluctantly invites her along for an adventure because they need someone younger. Co-showrunner Matt Duffer has explained that young actress Priah Ferguson, who plays Erica, was a local Atlanta hire and wasn't even supposed to be in season 2 as much as she was, but they gave her a bigger role because she had such great screen presence.

4. An Eye Sore

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Eye With Black Veins

We get what appears to be another look at Billy and his infection in this super close-up shot of an eye with black creeping into the blood vessels. Coupled with the shot of Bruce walking down the hall looking crazed and a glimpse of a mother and daughter walking in a brainwashed fashion, it looks like a major theme of Stranger Things season 3 may be the Upside-Down reaching out to control the citizens of Hawkins.

3. Steve Gets a Shot

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Steve Gets an Injection

Blink and you'll miss this shot of poor Steve - who once again has sustained serious face injuries - screaming as someone uses an injection gun to shoot something into his neck. Steve is wearing his Scoops Ahoy uniform and his injuries are the same as in the group shot in the battle-torn Starcourt Mall, so this scene may well be from the season 3 finale. Look closely and you can see someone behind him with light-colored hair, which could be either Robin or Nancy. As for who's attacking him, though, and what the blue substance is that he's being injected with... well, we'll have to wait and see.

2. Mike and Eleven Share a Kiss

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Eleven and Mike Kiss

There have been romantic sparks flying between Mike and Eleven ever since they met in Stranger Things season 1, and puberty is sure to make their relationship both more intense and more awkward. The two shared a romantic kiss in season 2 at the Snow Ball dance, as did Max and Lucas (Dustin didn't get a kiss, but he did get to dance with Nancy). Mike and Eleven's romance is constantly interrupted by their dealings with the Upside-Down, however, and so the two of them are likely to hit some speed-bumps in Stranger Things season 3.

1. A New Monster From the Upside-Down

Stranger Things 3 Trailer - Upside-Down Monster

The Upside-Down has a habit of spitting out monsters - first the Demogorgon in Stranger Things season 1, and then Dustin's not-so-adorable pet, Dart, in season 2. However, this might be the ugliest monster yet. Revealed gradually through the latter half of the trailer in what looks like a clear homage to John Carpenter's classic 1982 horror film The Thing, this creature appears to grow and transform, and is eventually revealed to have a multitude of limbs of varying lengths and a mouth full of sharp teeth. In the trailer it reveals itself to Jonathan in a hospital corridor, gradually growing and mutating until it eventually charges. Gruesome!

More: What To Expect From Stranger Things Season 3