Even though Stranger Things 2 released just this past October, it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve dropped in in on the kids from Hawkins. But the good news is that Stranger Things‘ third season is expected to begin filming in April, with all of the major characters returning. However, there’s going to be one fewer episode when the show officially returns to Netflix.
According to TVLine, Stranger Things season three will only have eight episodes, which is down from the nine episodes from the second season, and back to the original ep count of season one. As for whether that additional hour makes a resounding difference, we look to the second season’s “The Lost Sister.”
Widely regarded as the “extra” episode since it took place outside of Hawkins, many fans felt like it was a wedged-in backdoor pilot episode for an entirely different series about Eleven’s “sister,” Eight/Kali and her band of misfits. Not everyone was pleased about the extended interlude, which essentially placed the rest of the storylines on hold for the length of its run.
That said, “The Lost Sister” managed to expand the world of Stranger Things beyond the borders of Hawkins, and that may prove to be important in the long run. Stranger Things 3Â probably won’t lose too much by dropping a single episode, but it may not have the added benefit of an hour devoted entirely to fleshing out the larger mythology of the show.
If the Duffers stick to only eight episodes, that may help them deliver the best version of the show. But it’s hard to complain about getting the extra episode last year. We’ll take as much of this series as we can get!
How do you feel about Stranger Things 3 dropping back to eight episodes? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: Netflix
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