'Stranger Things 3' is an anxious ode to '80s consumerism
The American mall may be dying, but in "Stranger Things 3," it's alive and well.
When it debuted in 2016, "Stranger Things" became a surprise hit for Netflix by tapping into nostalgia for the pop culture of the 1980s. Following mysterious events in the small town of Hawkins, Ind., in fall 1983, the series - created by the Duffer brothers - enticed viewers with an irresistible mash-up of references to "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Ghostbusters," "Poltergeist," "Firestarter," "Stand by Me" and more.
Set in summer 1985 - as "Back to the Future" rides high at the box office and syrupy-sweet New Coke faces a backlash - the latest installment takes its obsession with Reagan-era consumer culture to a new level. Premiering July Fourth like the blockbuster franchise "Stranger Things" has become, the new season revives two
