Stranger Things 3 might have dropped a trailer, but there are secrets to be gleaned from the new press photos as well. Here’s what you should see.
We know, we know: that Stranger Things 3 trailer looks really good. But there’s more to be had from Hawkins. Netflix also released a series of new photos.
Rather than just present them for your consumption, we’re going to take a deep dive into the fashions of Hawkins, circa 1985, and what else these images can tell us.
STRANGER THINGS season 3 production still. Photo: Netflix Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
These two photos go together. How do we know? Look at the outfits everyone is wearing. They’re the same from one to the next, and based on lighting (day in the first photo, night in the second), whatever the group is doing in the first picture ends badly for them in the second.
There might also be some running involved, too. Check out Nancy and Max’s hairstyles. They’re much neater in the first, but Nancy loses her ponytail from one to the next, while Max has a few locks of hair pop free from her own ponytail. Speaking of hair, though, that scrunchie on top of Eleven’s head is everything.
Another thing to notice: Eleven, Sadie, and Nancy are all tied together in a way that the boys aren’t. Eleven’s yellow scrunchie leads to Sadie’s yellow shorts; Sadie’s purple shirt goes to Nancy’s dress; Nancy has a aqua blue stripe that brings it back to Eleven. That’s girl power.
Note also that Mike and Will are both wearing polos, although not in the same color scheme at all.
Finally, where’s Dustin?
Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
Hanging out with Steve, of course!
This looks like it’s behind the counter of Scoops Ahoy, judging by the cups behind Dustin and Steve. Also, check out the new hat Dustin has! It’s hard to read what it says, but it looks like it says “Camp Know Where.”
Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
In fact, Dustin also has a T-shirt for the camp as well, rendered in the same colors. Perhaps he comes back at the start of the season having spent some time away from his friends in Hawkins?
This is also a very different look for Eleven — her hair’s a little messier, and she’s not in the bright colors and patterns she sports in the rest of the publicity photos.
David Harbour, Winnona Ryder – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
The Magnum P.I. energy in this photo is overwhelming.
Whatever Hopper and Joyce are looking at, it’s not pretty.
Dacre Montgomery, Cara Buono – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
Baywatch: Hawkins, right?
This is, in case you’re having trouble recognizing her, Mrs. Wheeler, who has already had some encounters with Billy. Check out her eyeshadow and painted nails, which are both very ’80s and also very much what you probably wouldn’t wear at a pool in general.
Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix
This may be this writer’s favorite picture of them all, just for the happiness in it. Eleven’s making a new friend! As for analysis, again, they’re dressed in very similar bright colors. The yellow, again, is most noticeable, but the bright pink in El’s shirt gets picked up in the pink of Max’s sunglasses, while the red and orange stripes of Max’s shirt also nod to the pattern on El’s shirt. These two are close, visually.
Also, these shirts are in line with what they’re wearing in the first two pictures we looked at: Eleven has a strong collar with a patterned shirt, while Max is more athletic and has stripes.
What did you notice in these photos? Tell us in the comments below.