The problem with shows released at once is that most people will binge them, so I stayed out of this thread, took my time, watched an episode per day over the course of two weeks aaaaaaand I'm done.
SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, EVERYTHING I POST FROM NOW ON IS A SPOILER
Very short version - I liked the season. I liked the previous ones, I like the characters, so it's been a fun and thrilling ride, worth the wait and worth another visit to Hawkins. Of course it's not perfect, but for what it is, it was quite good.
Some stuff here and there...
- Was Hopper always such an asshole? he spent 7 episodes out of 8 shouting and being angry and being drunk. Sure, he was always a tough bear with a soft heart hidden underneath but jeez, was his constant angry shouting supposed to be funny? he was annoying.
- HOLY SHIT EL MAKES OUT, I JUST GOT OVER ARYA HAVING SEX AND NOW SHE FRENCH KISSES MIKE? all my girls are growing up, sob.
More seriously, El as a character has always been a golden one, one you could relate and symphatize with, I've already lost count in the two previous seasons how much I wanted to reach through the screen and hug her and tell her it will all be alright. It's nice also that for once she didn't save the day (she's so ridicolously overpowered that they have to put obstacles in her path after all).
- Robin was all kinds of awesome. The Ethan and the Uma is strong with this one. It was a great comedic pair right off the bat seeing her taunting and trolling Steve at work and it all seemed headed down the obvious romantic fling between the two, but oh no. Alas, no man shall have Robin, what a waste!
- Steve was great, but I fear that the appreciation for the actor by the authors (and consequent redeeming of the character) made them go too far on the opposite with him. Sure, he was an asshole and a bully but he's a good looking guy who knows his way around girls, but apparently being nice kills all your game and makes you an adorable loser? (hence the "you suck" board).
I mean, Steve with "nice guy, asshole" going for him gets Nancy Wheeler. As "nice guy, older and more mature, no longer asshole" he technically does worse than Justin.
- Erica was annoying. They went too far with her. Sure, I accept the sassy smart kid but she was like that all the freaking time. At a point it became unreal and annoying.
- RIP Alexei. Too pure and too good for this world.
- Big facepalm during the Neverending Story thing. It doesn't change my life, I'm glad if people love it and laugh about it and I equally understand that some other people may dislike it. All things considered, Suzie actually killed Hopper, I hate when the stubborness of a character gets in the way in a life of death situation, I wanted to punch her. But I guess the scene of them singing while the Mind Flayer is rampaging through the street during the chase will go down in history
- A lot of plot shortcuts, cliched last-second saves or arrivals (seriously, will we EVER get rid in ANY movie or TV series of the rule that if you don't see something or someone, you can't hear it as well? which allows characters to arrive at the best possible second with the best possible witty or scary line? geez), but somehow the story and the greatness of the protagonists make it all work. The absurdity of a super sized secret russian base beneath the mall gets to be overlooked in front of the strength of the various protagonists and their interactions.
I also assume that Hopper "dying" was an Empire Strikes Back situation, where Han Solo gets frozen because Harrison Ford was considering to jump ship. Say that David Harbour goes off for Hellboy or gets other roles, you have a way out for the character. I'd wager that the authors don't even know 100% who is "the american" in the post credits scene - if need be it will be Hopper, otherwise it will be someone else.
This seems a long list of complaints, but really, I liked the season and it was very entertaining. You just don't have to think too hard about it, like it was needed for many '80s movies that the show pays homage to in a way or the other.