The First Teaser For ‘Stranger Things 3’ Is A Campy Mall Ad

The first official teaser for ‘Stranger Things 3’ just dropped, and it is a nostalgic gem. The trailer is actually shot as a super campy ad for an 80’s era shopping mall. Complete with all the modern conveniences you’d come to expect from a mall back then. There’s a Sam Goody’s, a Waldenbooks, and a state of the art food court for the newest attraction in Hawkins, the Starcourt mall.

If I were a betting man (of course I am), I’d expect this new mall to play a central role in the next season of Stranger Things. It’s slated to open in “Summer 1985” which is the year this season will be set in.  We also hear in the same clip that the mall is opening “next Summer.” Next Summer could also be a thinly veiled reference to when we’ll actually see season 3 debut on Netflix. While Stranger Things typically debuts near Halloween, we could see the series be pushed back, as the show runners have already stated this season will shorter than the others. That could mean a real “quality over quantity” approach, and an even bigger delay between seasons.

Either way, season 3 promises to be the most explosive yet, as we have several unresolved issues from season 2 still lurking in the background. There’s quite a few new characters set to debut in season 3, and we actually get our first glimpse at one of them in the teaser. As the narrator starts to talk about “cooling off at the Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Shop” we’re met by a familiar face in fan favorite Steve. Standing next to him, is series newcomer Robin (Maya Hawke) who’s certain to add a new layer of depth to the Steve/Nancy/Jonathan love triangle. 

One thing is for certain, the Starcourt won’t just play the role of a new location in season 3. I happen to think that the mall itself is where we’ll see the next big bad get introduced, and be the spot for the next big battle between the kids and the creatures from the Upside down.