The Stranger Things Season 3 Episodes Ranked

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Stranger Things Season 3 amps up the show’s signature blend of 1980s nostalgia, sci-fi mystery, and character-driven storytelling by setting the action in the summer of 1985. The young cast—Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), and Sadie Sink (Max)—delivers performances that highlight the awkwardness and excitement of growing up. Hawkins feels more vibrant than ever, with the Starcourt Mall becoming the center of teenage life and a key location for the unfolding mystery. As the group navigates shifting friendships, first loves, and newfound independence, strange and unsettling events begin to ripple through town once again.

Meanwhile, the adult storyline—led by David Harbour (Hopper) and Winona Ryder (Joyce)—adds emotional weight as the season explores themes of change, loss, and parental worry. Season 3 also introduces more prominent roles for Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Joe Keery (Steve), and Maya Hawke (Robin), weaving Cold War intrigue and body-horror elements into the narrative. With the Mind Flayer returning in a more terrifying form and a secret Soviet operation unfolding beneath Hawkins, the season raises the stakes while remaining grounded in character growth. The result is a louder, more explosive, and emotionally resonant chapter in the series.

Here’s our rankings for the third season’s episodes.