An increasingly concerned Nancy looks for Barb and finds out what Jonathan's been up to. Joyce is convinced Will is trying to talk to her.An increasingly concerned Nancy looks for Barb and finds out what Jonathan's been up to. Joyce is convinced Will is trying to talk to her.An increasingly concerned Nancy looks for Barb and finds out what Jonathan's been up to. Joyce is convinced Will is trying to talk to her.
- Officer Callahan
- (as John Paul Reynolds)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaClose Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), written and directed by Steven Spielberg, tells the story of Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), an everyday blue collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an UFO. When developing the character Joyce (Winona Ryder), the Duffer Brothers (Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer) "talked a lot about Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, because for much of the show, Winona is entirely on her own and to the outside world, she seems absolutely bonkers." In 'Holly, Jolly', Joyce tips over the edge and chooses to fully embrace the supernatural happenings in her house as reality, mirroring Roy's own character arc.
- GoofsWhen Steve steals Jonathan's pictures, a cell tower can be seen in the background.
- Quotes
Eleven: Why did they hurt you?
Mike Wheeler: What?
[El points to a scrape on Mike's chin]
Mike Wheeler: Oh, that... uh... I just fell at recess.
Eleven: Mike...
Mike Wheeler: Yeah?
Eleven: Friends tell the truth.
Mike Wheeler: I was tripped by this mouth-breather, Troy, okay?
Eleven: Mouth-breather?
Mike Wheeler: Yeah, you know... a dumb person. A knucklehead.
Eleven: Knucklehead?
Mike Wheeler: I don't know why I just didn't tell you. Everyone at school knows. I just didn't want you to think I was such a wasteoid, you know?
Eleven: Mike.
Mike Wheeler: Yeah?
Eleven: I understand.
Mike Wheeler: Oh... okay... cool.
Eleven: Cool.
"Chapter Three: Holly Jolly" to me is a superb episode, one of the best of Season 1 and what 'Stranger Things' is all about. It is a big improvement over "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" and is even better than "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers". Having all its great things and executing them even better, again excelling (while also being much better at doing so) at carrying on from and expanding upon what is already known.
The production values are superb. Very stylish and atmospheric, with some truly beautiful images that one can't believe such high quality comes from a Netflix show. Not to mention the highly impressive special effects that put a good deal of big budget films in recent years to shame. The music has a wonderful 80s nostalgic vibe while also being quite haunting, enhancing the atmosphere beautifully.
Writing is thought-probing and has a lot of brains and heart. The humour is gentle but very subtly witty and funny, while there is a poignancy (without being too sentimental) and tension. Throughout "Chapter Three: Holly Jolly" has creepy suspense, intriguing mystery, inventive sci-fi, affectionate nostalgia and emotional impact. The final act is not awkward at all here and paced just fine, it has tension too and the tone is much better balanced and focused than the previous episode.
As to be expected, the characters are interesting and well written, and it was great to see Joyce's character expanded upon more and in a rootable way. The acting continues to be great, especially from Millie Bobby Brown and Winona Ryder has improved a lot from the first episode.
Summing up, outstanding. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 9, 2021
Details
- Runtime51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix