Stranger Things Season 3 Review: 6 Ups & 6 Downs

Ups...

6. The Incredible Production Values

The most immediately obvious improvement this season is the major uptick in the show's production values, especially where the CGI is concerned.

While the two prior seasons boasted their fair share of low-fi visual effects, the plentiful monster CGI here looks absolutely incredible, even when watching in 4K, which is quite effective at revealing the limitations of VFX.

Digital effects are used not only for the monster but also some brilliantly grotesque body horror elements throughout, helping evoke a big-budget, cinematic feel rather than a mere superficial gloss.

Elsewhere, from the period production design to the sharp cinematography and thoroughly Lovecraftian creature designs themselves, this is one of the most lavishly produced seasons of sci-fi TV you're likely to see all year.

If prior seasons felt like they were stretching their budgets to breaking point, one suspects Netflix might've spent a little more cash on the details this time around.