Stranger Things 3 End of the Season Award Ceremony

** THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS POST **

And just like that, Stranger Things has arrived and just like most people, I have no self control so for me-it’s already over and I’m already on the edge of my seat dying for next season. I have to say, every season I truly believe that it cannot get better and sure as hell, The Duffer Brothers surprise me every freaking time. Just as Lucas says about the “New Coke”: “It’s like Carpenter’s The Thing. The original is the classic, no question about it. But the remake… sweeter, bolder, better.”

This season was special, I developed feelings and bonds with characters I never thought I would of, I jumped from being so scared (multiple times), I jammed out to the Never-Ending Story theme song and have had 80’s songs stuck in my head all week. The cinematography, like every season, was on-freaking-point. I mean COME ON, the Soviet “Terminator” scene with Hopper and the Russian dude fist fighting in a lab, the Back to The Future scenes, the Material Girl song at Starcourt Mall. The 80’s nostalgia is unreal, you can’t help but want to throw your hair up in a scrunchie, put on a pair of high- waisted jeans, some crazy patterned shirts & converse and run around the town blasting Cars and REO Speedwagon.

Sunday, we binged episodes 1-7 and Tuesday night we watched episode 8. And every single season during the last episode they always butter me up with an 80’s song and put the kids together and I leave the season happily and loving those kids even more.

This season, was far- farrrr from that. (Okay, I still love all of those kids- that has not changed.) In the last 25 minutes of that episode, I experienced every emotion humanly possible. From laughing, to feeling the love between Joyce & Hopper, to heartbroken, to hopeful, to smiling a little bit, to absolute depression. Not to mention, the song they play, for those of you who didn’t catch it- it’s Heroes, the Peter Gabriel version, the same song they play when Will’s “body” comes up in Season 1. Which leads me to believe they are trying to tell us something….mourning a false death maybe???

The last scene shows El reading a letter from the only Dad she has ever known(wow, I have chills thinking about it), who I refuse to believe is dead. As she reads the letter, the kids help the Byers pack and say goodbye- which is a metaphor in itself. Not only are they saying goodbye to them, they are saying goodbye to being “preteens” if you will, a very important time in all of their lives. I have never in my entire life, cried so hard over a TV show- not Game of Thrones, not Vampire Diaries, not even This is Us. People, I’m talking feel it in your belly, ugly not crying, sobbing. It is by far the most moving and powerfully miserable scene the show has given us- and the perfect goodbye (?) to one of the most beautifully developed characters.

Bravo, Stranger Things 3, bravo. An absolute masterpiece.

As you all know, I am a coach and at the end of the season, we give out awards and now, for my end of the season awards…………………………….

Honorable Mention(s):

Nancy Drew, my Detective- Nancy knew something was wrong all along and NO ONE believed her, not even her boyfriend. (Honestly, it’s a hard no on Jonathon Byars but that’s just me.) Unfortunately, she was deprived of her “I told you” moment, but we all know and those piece of shit news guys know it, too.

Lucas- I’m still waiting for us to get more in depth into his life and his story, but we did get his bad-ass idea with the fireworks, which played a key point in killing the demon and my boyfriend said he has a great “frame” so he gets honorable mention in my book.

Will- For staying out of the Upside Down all season.

MVP(s): Scoop Troop

Steve, Robin, Dustin and Erica.

I mean honestly, Steve in his Scoops Ahoy uniform alone is gold.

Steve finally wins his fight. Dusty-Bun is just too charming for his own good. The girls were a great addition and kept the boys in line. Without them, no one would have been able to close the door and the demon would have only gotten stronger.

Most Improved: ElMaximo

Obviously, El didn’t really need to “improve” per say. The girl is an absolute bad ass. But I’m all about some girl power and that’s exactly what we got. Max really brings out a good side of El and helps her with her girl problems- we all need our girlfriends. The board gives them this award strictly for the “I Dump Your Ass” scene, influenced totally by my girl Mad Max. Good job, ladies.

Defensive Player(s) of the Year: Stoli-Bomb Slushie Stars

Composed of Joyce, who had no problem telling the government what is up. Murray, who always comes in clutch with some great information. And Alexi, he didn’t say much but he was imperative to defending the town against the Upside Down and everything that comes out of there, I hope heaven has a million cherry slushies. (May he rest in peace.)

Rookie of the Year: Erica. She started off as your annoying little sister type of character, always taking advantage of the free samples and being sassy to her elders. But towards the end, you realize, she’s just a nerd like the rest of us. I love some good character building.

In Loving Memory:

Billy

As you know, I love some good character building. The guy starts out as a Divsion 1 asshole last season, starts this season as the eye candy for the women of Hawkins starring as a life guard, to becoming the Mind Flayer’s pawn. It’s only in the last season we remember who he really is, a kid, and beyond that Max’s brother. I’m a sucker for a kid who had a hard childhood and this guy deserved more. He got his redemption at the end, but I can’t help but wonder what kind of bond we could of got out of him and Max if we just had a little more time.

Hopper

He’s not freaking dead and I won’t shed any more tears believing he is. NO BODY, NO DEATH. But we can all learn a lesson from him:  “Make mistakes, learn from ’em. When life hurts you, because it will, remember the hurt. The hurt is good. It means you’re out of that cave. But, please, if you don’t mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches.”

Not mentioned:

Mike- he played tough for 10 minutes until Hopper set his ass straight- not only did he take an L from dear old dad, he took that L hard from El. “I dump your ass.” The kid was on his high horse for two seasons, he needed a reality check. Maybe next season, Wheeler.

Jonathan Byars- Bro, do the words “YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS ALWAYS RIGHT” mean anything to you?