Five years ago, Netflix’s Stranger Things season three premiered, providing an exciting binge-watch experience that was perfectly lined up for the Fourth of July. This season in particular drew discussions and comparisons between the other seasons of the show, due to the nostalgic ’80s aura, riveting supernatural elements of the Upside Down, and over-engaging visuals and plot. The premiere occurring on the fourth truly augmented excitement during the summer festivities, making its debut memorable and ideal for the holiday marathon.

The third season of Stranger Things put forward an invigorating change in setting, since the summer vibe added a new seasonal perspective to the plot. The tonal shift enhanced the narrative as well as the audience immersion, since the experience of the Fourth of July was felt on and off-screen, which resonated well with the spirit of July 4th celebrations. Now that July 4th is approaching, what better way to celebrate than with a re-watch of Stranger Things season three?

July 4th Is The Perfect Time To Re-watch Stranger Things Season 3

Re-watching the third season of Stranger Things on July 4th is truly the best way to view it again, because it allows viewers to feel included in the setting – excluding the monster hunting aspect. The holiday atmosphere in the show, matching the timeline of reality, creates an immersion like none other, like how Christmas or Halloween movies are only best around the time of their respective dates. The visuals of fireworks, the Starcourt mall’s vibrant colors, and summer themes amplify the viewing experience as they align with July 4th tropes.

Stranger Things season three holds a bucket of nostalgia, as its premiere on July 4th upgraded the show’s appeal by incorporating themes of Independence Day. Netflix releasing all the episodes at once enabled viewers to sit and binge the entire season in one sitting, which a lot of people did due to the season’s anticipation. Now that July 4th is here, it’s the perfect time to re-watch Stranger Things season three to revisit that sense of nostalgia and immerse yourself in the vibrancy of the visuals.

Stranger Things Season 3’s Summer Setting Was A Fun Change For The Show

The setting shift in Stranger Things season three versus the first two seasons promoted a vibrant energy to the show, adding more intense and lively visuals that captured attention. The summer environment enabled more exciting visuals for the season, incorporating the pool, Starcourt Mall, carnival – all settings with bright colors that the first two seasons lacked in their darker and ominous tones. The atmospheric rearrangement escalates the season’s appeal as viewers are introduced to new places with vivid visuals, especially the Mind Flayer battle at Starcourt Mall.

The season happening on July 4th also enabled the Hawkins kids more freedom, as they aren’t bound by school, homework, or extracurricular activities, as the previous two seasons followed the characters in the fall. This enables a deeper investigation into the characters and their interpersonal relationships, as the summer portrays their conscious choices about what to do with their days and who they choose to hang out with. The longer days, warmer weather, and lack of schoolwork permitted the characters to have a sense of freedom that wasn’t seen in the previous seasons, resonating with the exhilarating atmosphere of summer.

Stranger Things season three premiering on July 4th set the bar for setting immersion, as it takes place at the same time as viewers binge-watched the show – in the summer on Independence Day. Now that the Fourth is creeping in, it is the perfect excuse to curl up, wait for the fireworks to erupt, and press play on Netflix to immerse yourself in the environment once again. Stranger Things’ new season is currently in development, so only time will tell what themes the upcoming project will have and if it matches a specific time of year.