As season 3 kicks off, El appears to be on shaky grounds. Her world largely revolves around being Mike's girlfriend: the boy and the sense of home he provides, which she tried so desperately to return to throughout season 2. Now their constant intimacy causes Hopper deep disdain. Swiftly and for the better, though, her world opens up, along with a new shopping mall setting that seems to be an overflowing gateway to '80s references.

A highlight is El's relationship with Max. They overcome their initial misunderstanding and jealousy as Max provides some much-needed guidance for El. Some of El's new vocabulary leads to standout El moments. The ever-expanding cast introduces Maya Hawke, daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, as Robin, an ice cream scooper working a summer job with Steve Harrington, who's recently graduated and down on his luck. Their prodding and poking fun at each other, along with the glowing Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin and last season's MVP Priah Ferguson as Erica, form the backbone of a party of misfits we never knew we needed.

Surprisingly, many of the most touching moments come from a hard-drinking and eating Hopper, who turns to Joyce for parental advice. His willingness to move on from everything that's happened – including the loss of his daughter to cancer – carries his stubborn and bad-tempered police chief beyond his well-established Rambo machine gun-toting territory. David Harbour needs to take yet another bow. Through the well-timed placement of banger after '80s banger, a message of embracing your nerdiness is loud and clear. But while the smart kids constantly prove their worth to the bumbling adults, there's still no escaping a few helpful coincidences.

This season's sense of fun, along with its relationship drama and multiple odd pair-ups bring humour and touching moments that recall Game of Thrones at its best. While the story flows in tighter spaces and everyone has a part to play in grander events, the conspiracy is simply a side project.

Streaaaaaaam.