Set in the summer of 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana, the third season follows the core group of kids as they navigate the transition into teenagers, dealing with new dynamics like blossoming romances and the pressures of growing up. Meanwhile, the newly opened Starcourt Mall has become the center of town life, hiding a sinister secret beneath its consumerist facade. Unbeknownst to the townspeople, the Mind Flayer is still lurking in the Upside Down and seeks to form a physical body by possessing residents of Hawkins, starting with the lifeguard Billy Hargrove. Eleven and Mike navigate a romantic relationship that is closely monitored by a protective Chief Hopper, while Dustin, Steve, Robin, and Erica uncover a secret Soviet base hidden beneath the mall. The season culminates in a massive, emotional showdown at Starcourt Mall to close the gate to the Upside Down once more.