#yes season 3 was weird and often lacked depth because it was all about superficiality and toxic junk

[strangertheory]

"It's bullsh*t!"

I've been pondering the Flayed eating toxic substances in Stranger Things 3, combined with the noteworthy increase of "junk food" in the characters' diets as portrayed on-screen as the seasons progress.

Hopper enjoys a lot of chips and junk food in season 3, and it's highlighted on sceen immediately in episode 1. We see Mike consuming junk food messily while laying on the couch complaining about how he doesn't understand El. Then we have Lucas's "New Coke" scene.

I am curious if the writers intended to tie the consumption of "junk that is unhealthy and has chemicals" to the concept of junk media's influence as well, and if that will become a more overt theme in s4 with the new Video Store.

Arguably, the writers have already established that the media is directly influencing the character's thoughts and feelings about their relationships. (Re: @kaypeace21 's observations in this post and many other thoughtful posts that she has written. What the characters are watching on tv is inherently intentional, the question is: to what end?)

We know that El's understanding of culture and society outside of the lab is learned mostly from distanced observation, and she watches a lot of television. She has known incredibly few things about society until recently because she was an abused and exploited prisoner at the lab for most of her life, and many things that she learns will undoubtedly be from television.

Will the themes of ingesting chemicals, eating junk food, and consuming media (and its impact on the characters) kick into higher gear in season 4? Or was that the focus of season 3, and season 4 will reveal more of the consequences of these "chemical leaks" ?

El enjoying Eggos has been a cute character trait since season 1, but I wonder if her enjoyment of a stack of Eggos covered in whipped cream and candies while sitting at dinner with Hopper (in season 2) is going to prove more symbolically insidious by the end of the series.

Many fans have pointed out that a recurring theme in Stranger Things is how what society tells you is best isn't always actually that great. Nancy and Jonathan discussing their unhappy parents (how Joyce and Lonnie "must have loved each other at some point, but..." and how Ted and Karen thought they wanted the stereotypical, picture-perfect family but are miserable) is my favorite example of this, but there are dozens of other examples throughout the series.

I think the themes of consuming cheap romance novels, soap operas, bags upon bags of chips, microwave meals (washed down with a glass of wine), New Coke, and even cleaning chemicals (and fertilizers!) ties back into the theme of societal overconsumption of unhealthy things (or ideas) that the media and society tries to sell to you as something that will make you truly happy.

As a jaded American myself, I find it particularly fitting that this critique of the consumption of trash is being made during the 4th of July festivities in the series. Ah, yes. Let us celebrate what truly makes America Great: New Coke. Flashy, pre-packaged, mass-marketed food and ideas that you need to have in your life. And if you don't, you're unAmerican! It's the appearance that counts, not the true value and substance, right? The Mayor literally tells Hopper that the Hawkins community will forget about the police arresting protestors after they see the spectacular 4th of July festivities that he has planned. Nevermind the rot and the rust, just slap a new coat of paint on things and pretend everything is Great!

I'm curious to see if there is a thematic purpose in the Flayed devouring toxic things that extends beyond season 3. It felt kind-of inconsequential and like a comedically bad, cliché horror movie trope when it was first introduced to me in the season. I kind-of eyerolled. ("Aaa! The toothy blob-monster feeds on chemicals and poop!") But the more I think about it, the more I suspect it's intended as not only a campy horror movie trope but also as a deeper analogy to other kinds of toxic things that people gobble up that don't enrich their lives: like toxic ideas.

And this is why I personally think season 3 was incredibly calculated, and not badly written as some fans suggest. I believe that season 3, and the characters, were very much intended to feel cheap and shallow at certain points. Characters seemed out of character because they were written to be that way. The prioritization of superficiality and appearances rather than sincerity and depth of understanding and honesty. Characters were actively trying to look a certain way, or fit a certain role, repeatedly miscommunicating, often lying to people they claim to care about, and often expecting each other to conform to societal clichés in spite of already openly discussing and contradicting them (re: Hopper's outrage at Joyce for standing him up at their verbally agreed upon definitely-not-a-date dinner.)

Robin keeps a tally of how many times Steve "sucks" as he attempts to flirt with girls visiting the ice cream shop by lying to them and putting on an act, and when Robin suggests he be himself and be honest Steve laughs and shoots that idea down immediately. (Be yourself? Be honest? Why would that work?) Thankfully by the end of the season Steve recognizes how much bullsh*t he believed in that was holding him back from being happy. But I don't think all of the characters have reached that point yet in the series.

Season 3 was a candy-coated mess that had deeper, darker issues lurking just beneath the surface. And that was done on many different levels, both literal and symbolic. Something is not ok in Hawkins, and the Flayed aren't the only ones that are devouring toxic things.

I look forward to enjoying a much-needed respite in future seasons if and when the characters start to communicate better with those they love, sort-out what truly matters to them with real heart-to-hearts, and choose to live their lives authentically and with sincerity in spite of the toxic and superficial trash that society and the media throws at them.

I could be wrong, but I think there were a lot of parts of season 3 that we as fans are set up to ultimately question, and that will be revealed in future seasons to have been "bullsh*t."