Still, stranger things have happened."Cary Elwes is the only person who understands America" is a note I took while watching Stranger Things 3, and I meant it. It’s a much better use of Elwes’ talents, but after the character’s disappointing first appearance, it seems unlikely that the show could pull off this transformation. ![]() Instead of killing off Elwes after a season in which he was barely used, Stranger Thingscould potentially pull off the same trick that the series managed with Billy and Steve, fleshing out the one-note villain into a more complex and interesting antagonist and maybe even redeeming him in coming seasons. Keery’s Steve has gone on to become one of Stranger Things’ most enduringly popular characters and is now a firm fan favorite (one whose character evolution Hopper could learn from), while Montogomery’s performance elevated the otherwise-uneven season 3 with his layered, involving portrayal of Billy, the show’s best villain so far. ![]() Both originally hired to play one-note bullies and minor villains in their respective seasons of Stranger Things, Spree star Keery and Better Watch Out scene-stealer Montgomery each avoided being killed off quickly thanks to the complexity and strength of their respective performances. The most compelling reason to keep Elwes around, though, is illustrated by the performances of his younger co-stars Joe Keery and Dacre Montgomery. Modine and Reiser are yet to reappear in the series, and with plenty of potential seasons of Stranger Things left to come, the show could benefit from continuing to expand its repertoire of supporting stars. For another, Stranger Things has kept fellow 80s icons Paul Reiser and Matthew Modine on their “not technically dead” back burner for some time now, and Elwes would be an impressive addition to their growing stable of character actors who are always available to drop in and offer a spot of exposition or some quality hamminess. For one thing, Stranger Things has already killed off one 80s icon in heartbreaking fashion (RIP Sean Astin’s short-lived Bob Newby), and actors of Elwes’ caliber aren’t easy to come by. Of course, there is an argument to be made for keeping Elwes’ mayor around. As such, offing the mayor could establish the Russian contingent as a real threat in Stranger Things season 4 (where they’ll inevitably need to be major players despite their obvious flaws since the very much alive Hopper is still stuck stranded in Siberia). ![]() ![]() They’re not effective villains, particularly when Steve, Dustin, Erica, and Robin could outsmart them while unarmed, and Hopper killed scores of them without breaking a sweat while entering their (not too hard to uncover) underground lair. Despite being the secondary antagonists of season 3 and boasting a T-1000 inspired assassin among their ranks, the Russians of Stranger Things have killed very few characters onscreen, most notably the lovable Alexei-and even he was a defector from their number, meaning they have barely been a threat to the primary cast. Although their presence is a cute nod to 80s Cold War paranoia, the Russian lab operators of Stranger Things season 3 are easily the least interesting and least threatening villains that the show has ever offered viewers.
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