# Stranger Things 3. No spoilers until post 54 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575 "2019-07-05T16:01:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/121 "2019-07-23T20:46:11Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Is it a small town? I would guess 20k plus based on the mall and the fair if nothing else. My perspective of small town may be off, living in NYC, but that would be a lot of disappearances even for NYC (though we don’t have rural places adjacent which might blunt the numbers). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/122 "2019-07-23T21:01:10Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > My perspective of small town may be off, living in NYC, but that would be a lot of disappearances even for NYC (though we don’t have rural places adjacent which might blunt the numbers). Fair enough, to me a small town is under 10,000. But I doubt there are any real rules for this. And yes, compared to NYC, Newark looks like a small town. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/123 "2019-07-23T21:02:03Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > My perspective of small town may be off, living in NYC, but that would be a lot of disappearances even for NYC (though we don’t have rural places adjacent which might blunt the numbers). How many disappearance were there in Season 1 and 2? I’m assuming all the Hawkins lab people that were killed were not residents of Hawkins, so most people don’t know about them. They didn’t say so in the end, but I’m guessing all the people absorbed by the mindflayer will be explained away dying in the mall fire. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/124 "2019-07-23T21:28:26Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Pretty much sums up the 80s. Heh. As for the size of that mall… No way would a two storey mall like that be supported in a town of 20k. 100k minimum for a mall like that, I would guess. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/125 "2019-07-23T21:34:02Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Heh. > > As for the size of that mall… No way would a two storey mall like that be supported in a town of 20k. 100k minimum for a mall like that, I would guess. I figured it pulled in people from surrounding towns. It didn’t seem to be centrally located. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/126 "2019-07-23T21:50:57Z")
The actual mall is in Atlanta - and dying. I lived in a city of about 70,000 in the 1980’s, and we never had a mall anywhere near that size. We had two malls in the city - one with a Sears, and one with a Woolco. There were maybe 20 other stores in each, and two theaters in one of them. Both were single level. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/127 "2019-07-23T21:54:59Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Heh. > > As for the size of that mall… No way would a two storey mall like that be supported in a town of 20k. 100k minimum for a mall like that, I would guess. There is a [mall bigger than that](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Mall_(Kentucky)) in Florence, Ky - current population 30k - it is a 3 story mall - of course, it is midway between lexington and cincinatti and right off of I75. It was the spot to go to in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/128 "2019-07-23T22:38:30Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Fair enough, to me a small town is under 10,000. But I doubt there are any real rules for this. And yes, compared to NYC, Newark looks like a small town. Where I’m from, 10,000 equals a city. Anything less than that is a town. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/129 "2019-07-24T06:04:37Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > How many disappearance were there in Season 1 and 2? I’m assuming all the Hawkins lab people that were killed were not residents of Hawkins, so most people don’t know about them. “Joyce, this is Hawkins. Want to know the worst thing that’s ever happened here in the 4 years I’ve been working here? It was when an owl attacked Elanor Gillespie’s head because it thought that her hair was a nest.” With that in mind, Season 1, over the course of about a week(?), we have Will “dying” but not really, Benny being murdered, Barb disappearing and two other residents we never saw reported missing. That doesn’t include the 8 or so people Eleven kills or the 8 or so lab/security victims of the Demogorgon during roughly that same time period. I don’t know why you would assume all the lab people don’t live in or near Hawkins or at least not have their absences be noticed by residents. So, yeah, horror flick tropes notwithstanding, it’s a little crazy no regular townspeople were like, “This is the part of the movie where we should all just get out of the house.” > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > They didn’t say so in the end, but I’m guessing all the people absorbed by the mindflayer will be explained away dying in the mall fire. They pretty much already explained it that way. The Cutting Edge TV promo shows a newspaper article of Hopper’s death that states at least 30 other people died in the fire. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/130 "2019-07-24T14:47:09Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > I don’t know why you would assume all the lab people don’t live in or near Hawkins or at least not have their absences be noticed by residents. Mainly because we never see them outside of the lab, and Hopper, who presumably knows pretty much everyone doesn’t know who anyone is. > [@](#): > > They pretty much already explained it that way. The Cutting Edge TV promo shows a newspaper article of Hopper’s death that states at least 30 other people died in the fire. Thanks, I missed that. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/131 "2019-07-24T16:50:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It sadly sounds like season 4 will be the last season. Though maybe Netflix with convince the Duffers to go to 5 or some inspiration will occur. > > I love this show, I love the nostalgia and I love the style which has gotten lost in the intervening decades. I’m not too sad about this. Season 3 may be my favorite season, but too many series go on too long and play out their magic. I’ve found this to be especially acute with Netflix series. I’m content to say “that was great, on to the next thing” as opposed to “that was great, gimmie more!” ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/132 "2019-07-24T17:18:28Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The actual mall is in Atlanta - and dying. Interesting article on that: [Stranger Things 3’s Starcourt Mall is actually a real dead mall - Curbed](https://www.curbed.com/2019/7/12/20691222/stranger-things-starcourt-mall-real-mall-georgia) Apparently they refurbished a section of a dying mall for the show, even fully stocked stores that weren’t supposed to be on camera. Unfortunately instead of turning it into a tourist attraction they tore the sets down when too many fans started showing up. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/133 "2019-07-24T17:55:55Z")
I would imagine it would be difficult to get approval from all those stores to turn them into tourist attractions. I am always amazed at the effort Hollywood goes to in building sets and such. They recreated stores from the 80’s right down to the packaging of the materials on the shelves. Most of it never even made it on camera. Then they just tore it all down. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/134 "2019-07-24T20:25:10Z")
Only seen 3-4 eps so far, so I haven’t read the entire thread to avoid spoilers. But one thing that really bothered me was Mike/El’s attitude towards Hopper in the 1st or 2d ep. I just hadn’t seen anything from Mike in the prior 2 seasons that would suggest he would be that disrespectful towards an adult - especially one who seemingly was “in the thick of the battle” with them. Sure, you can put it down to “teenagers!” - but struck me as quite off. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/135 "2019-07-25T11:45:00Z")
Still behind you guys - think we watched 4-6 yesterday, should finish tonite. A couple more things I thought: -It was really creepy to have El “spy” on the boys. -I think they are overplaying El’s ignorance/naivete somewhat. Yeah, I know she was with Hop in a cabin, but there are some things she doesn’t know that I’d think she would have picked up by now. -Mike is really unlikeable. Just really snotty and self centered. (I know - teenager!) And the actor seems about the worst of the bunch. Just kinda unpleasant to grow to dislike the central figure. -Really grew to like Erica. At first, I thought her just annoying. Oh well, I’ll read the rest of what you guys have to say tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/136 "2019-08-07T01:29:24Z")
I just finished today. From my sophisticated, discriminating adult eyes, it was ok. The 80s mall nostalgia was a constant gut punch to those pink neon days of my youth. I enjoyed that. I found a lot of it to be too contrived, a bit poorly written. Through my kid’s eyes, it was a kick ass show full of really funny, brave kids a little bit older. Looking at it as a tween would, it was nothing short of amazing with a bummer ending. I CACKLED when Erica called conspiracy guy “Bald Eagle.” I guess part of me is still a child. But one question I asked several times as bad things happened to Billy: am I supposed to care? I mean I do a tiny bit because he was technically still a child (or barely an adult), but seriously? Fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/137 "2019-08-07T19:27:34Z")
Add me (and my wife) to the list of “Not as good as S1, but better than S2.” Way better, I thought. The Russian threat was a genius addition that makes perfect sense for anyone who lived through that time. Thanks for the tip on the post-credits scene. never would have thought to look for one. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/138 "2019-08-13T17:52:39Z")
Just now finished, I kinda slogged through this season. Worst yet, in my opinion. It always was pretty hokey, but this season was over the top for me. Way too many slow walking bad guys, for one. All that said, it’s not terrible, but I think I’m ready for this series to be dead, only to be resurrected again when the kids are in their 30s. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/139 "2019-08-13T18:17:01Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Just now finished, I kinda slogged through this season. Worst yet, in my opinion. It always was pretty hokey, but this season was over the top for me. Way too many slow walking bad guys, for one. All that said, it’s not terrible, but I think I’m ready for this series to be dead, only to be resurrected again when the kids are in their 30s. I hope you don’t mind that they do a season 4 for all of us that loved every season so far. You’re of course welcome to ignore its existence. I think they’ll wrap it up either next season or maybe do a 5th. But I also think they might spin some of the characters or ideas off. I could see: - Nancy & Jonathan doing a Kolchak the Night Stalker/X-files type show. Maybe with and hopefully with Murray. - Show following another kid from the program like 011 & 008. - Any of the 4 boys from the D&D group could have a life in college show and Dustin seems like the likeliest. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575/140 "2019-08-13T19:29:28Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I hope you don’t mind that they do a season 4 for all of us that loved every season so far. You’re of course welcome to ignore its existence. > > I think they’ll wrap it up either next season or maybe do a 5th. But I also think they might spin some of the characters or ideas off. > > I could see: > > - Nancy & Jonathan doing a Kolchak the Night Stalker/X-files type show. Maybe with and hopefully with Murray. > > - Show following another kid from the program like 011 & 008. > > - Any of the 4 boys from the D&D group could have a life in college show and Dustin seems like the likeliest. I think one of the reasons the show works is that none of the characters are really strong enough to pull off a show on their own, but as an ensemble cast of mostly unknowns (at least when they started out) they worked really well together. They have good chemistry, which is even more important than the special effects. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranger-things-3-no-spoilers-until-post-54/836575.md?page=8)