stranger things 3

As they proved in Season 2, ‘Stranger Things’ can easily add new characters to their roster that we will grow to love, (and mourn if they are killed over the course of the season.) It is a special skill, as other beloved shows have tried to add new characters to the mix and had fans grow to hate the new additions, wondering why they did not spend more time focusing on the original characters they were watching the show for in the first place.

With that in mind, news has recently come out that ‘Stranger Things,’ somewhat fittingly, is looking to cast three major characters for Season 3. Here’s how ‘ThatHashTagShow‘ describes the new characters, according to their source:

Mayor Larry Kline.” Described as a classic, 80’s style slick politician, “Kline” is described as pathetic and driven only by his own interests. The studio is looking for a male, 40s-60s, to fill the role.

Bruce.” A morally compromised news reporter in his 50s, “Bruce” was described as outwardly sexist, overweight and bedraggled.

Patricia Brown.” “Patricia” seems to be filing the role of the sweet, neighborhood elder. The studio is looking for a woman in her 70s for the role which will see her spending a lot of time tending to her garden and offering her advice to the neighborhood kids. Given the Duffer brothers affinity for subverting expectations, we find ourselves wondering if this sweet old lady might have some connection to the Upside Down; then again, that might be just the type of thing they want us to think we know and she just ends up a sweet old lady!”

Of course, the significance of any of these characters is anyone’s guess, especially with the sprawling cast the show already has, and the fact that Season 3 only has 8 episodes, but ‘Stranger Things’ has proven adept at using their characters pretty well, so I would not doubt their ability to integrate these new characters in the world of Hawkins in a meaningful way. I like that all three seem to fit tropes of characters from the 1980s that people have certain expectations for, and I cannot wait to see how the show manages to either run with or subvert those expectations.

Do you have any thoughts on the new characters and what they could mean for Season 3? Feel free to share any theories you might have in the comments below!