The third season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things was released worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 4, 2019. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Iain Paterson. It was preceded by Stranger Things season 2 and succeeded by Stranger Things season 4. The season stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, and Cara Buono. Brett Gelman, Francesca Reale, Cary Elwes, Alec Utgoff, and Andrey Ivchenko appear in recurring roles. The season received positive reviews from critics, who praised the visuals, humor, performances (particularly those of Harbour, Brown, Montgomery, and Hawke), and emotional weight, but some criticized its excessive pop culture references and narrative structure. Premise In the summer of 1985, in Hawkins, the newly opened Starcourt Mall has become the center of attention in town, causing other stores to close their business due to its popularity. Jim Hopper disapproves of Mike Wheeler's relationship with his daughter Eleven, prompting him to intervene in their relationship, and leading to Eleven's friendship with Max Mayfield. Still recovering from Bob Newby's death, Joyce Byers considers moving out of Hawkins with her children. However, magnetic disruptions lead her to believe that the Upside Down has returned, so she enlists Hopper's help in uncovering the truth. While Mike and Lucas Sinclair attempt to repair his relationship with Eleven, Will Byers begins experiencing premonitions from the Upside Down, despite Eleven's closing of the original gate that led to his disappearance. He believes the Mind Flayer is still alive and back in Hawkins. As Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers investigate the effects of the Mind Flayer's influence, Dustin Henderson, Steve Harrington, newcomer Robin Buckley, and Erica Sinclair begin investigating a potential Russian infiltration of Hawkins. Meanwhile, Max's stepbrother Billy Hargrove is taken over by the Mind Flayer, forced to possess other citizens of Hawkins to fulfill the Mind Flayer's new plan. Eleven and her friends have no choice but to battle Billy, the other possessed victims, and destroy the Mind Flayer in its new and terrifying form, once and for all. Cast and characters Main Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Millie Bobby Brown