I love “Stranger Things”. The moment I learned its release was on the Fourth of July (one of my
favorite holidays), I knew I wouldn’t spend it eating hot dogs at a barbecue, or sunbathing at the
beach, or gazing at a magnificent fireworks display. I immediately knew that I’d be watching
“Stranger Things” (maybe while eating barbecue food). The point is, my love for the series
knows no bounds. Which is exactly why I immediately clicked on the season 3 teaser when I
noticed it on YouTube.
But there’s a storyline you have to remember before watching the teaser. Towards the end of
the latest season, Mike Wheeler’s mom, Karen Wheeler, is shown blatantly flirting with Billy. If
you need a refresher, Billy is a teenager who happens to be the same age as Mrs. Wheeler’s
teenage daughter, Nancy. Needless to say, I found their character interaction last season to be
repulsive. Although, I did believe it was supposed to be a really bad attempt at comic relief.
(Someone should probably tell the writers that the Dustin and Steve character duo already does
a spectacular job of that.)
But much to my dismay, the Karen and Billy dynamic took center stage in the season 3 teaser.
The results were, well, a bit gross. The clip starts with Mrs. Wheeler and a group of middle-aged
women sitting by a public pool. They seem to be anxious about the female lifeguard leaving,
and become visibly excited watching Billy come to replace her. At this point in the teaser, my
disappointment hit its peak. Billy eventually comes over to talk to Mrs. Wheeler and compliments
her bathing suits. She looks way too self-satisfied with the comment. At this point in the teaser,
my disgust reaches its peak. Other stuff happens in the teaser, like Billy yelling at a kid for
running. But the takeaway is Mrs. Wheeler being gross.
“Stranger Things” is better than this icky storyline. So for the love of everything good and holy,
let’s hope Mrs. Wheeler and Billy don’t actually start having an affair. It’s not funny or remotely
cute, it’s just nauseating. So I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that I won’t be throwing up a
cheeseburger on one of my favorite holidays of the year.