8.5 Things We Need From Stranger Things 3

We've been championing the youngesters of Hawkins, Indiana, in their quest against the monsters of the Upside Down for three years now, and the next season of Stranger Things is sure to pit Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends against bigger monsters than ever before. We're invested, as Stranger Things is one of the few shows on TV that still feels like a communal experience -- but that also means with each passing season we're more worried we'll fall out of love with this sci-fi gem.

So as we head into Season 3, TV Guide has a few requests for the Duffer brothers, who have already filmed, edited, and locked the entire season. Listen, let us dream, OK? These are the things we need in the next adventure.

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1. Keep Steve Harrington Pure: In Season 1, Steve (Joe Keery) was the problematic popular boyfriend whose ego often overshadowed his pure heart. He eventually found ways to redeem himself, but in Season 2 he became a bona fide hero by saving the kids for most of the season. He went from guilty pleasure to fan favorite in the span of eight episodes, and we know that when a character ends a season on a high it seems like a fun idea to ruin that on the next round. We don't want that. We want Steve to stay the pure-hearted source of joy we had in Season 2, and we want that to never change.

2. Give the Mind Flayer a Clear Objective: The very end of Season 2 revealed that the Upside Down is much more expansive than we thought, but how far does it go? What exactly does the Mind Flayer want for his dominion? What actually is the endgame here? Our troops can't figure out how to win against this inter-dimensional monster if they don't know what it is he's trying to get.

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3. Keep Billy Shirtless: The trailer already confirmed this dream will become a reality, but it's still worth repeating: Billy (Dacre Montgomery) should wear as few clothes as possible. He's kind of the spawn of Satan as a human, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy seeing him on screen. Shirtless or deep Vs only, please and thank you.

3b. Let Billy Hook Up with Mrs. Wheeler: It was just a quick, flirty exchange at the end of Season 2, but the chemistry between Billy and Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) was radiating from their brief exchange. We'd even be OK with Billy wearing clothes sometimes if we get this ridiculous rendezvous to actually happen (assuming he's turned 18 by summer break).

4. Let Joyce and Hopper Get Together: Speaking of hook-ups, the sexual tension between Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) has been palpable since the start of the show. We know that it was really rough to see Bob (Sean Astin) get murdered by Demodogs, but Hopper has been her true match all along. Will Hopper finally make a move and will Joyce finally give it a shot? Here's hoping, because both of them deserve a big dose of happiness.

5. Let Will Be a Normal Kid for a Minute: Will (Noah Schnapp) spent most of Season 1 as a prisoner of the Upside Down, and he spent Season 2 as a vessel for the Mind Flayer, which looked terrible and psychologically exhausting. The kid has been through a lot over the past couple of seasons and it'd be nice if he could have some time to just play D&D with his buddies and not have apocalyptic nightmares ruining his sleep.

6. Nancy and Jonathan Need to Figure Things Out Faster: Every season, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) get wrapped up in a side mystery that eventually provides the kids with the essential answers they need to complete their mission, but most of the season is spent with the two parties missing opportunities to share important information. Two seasons in, everyone's first thought when weird things start happening should be that the Mind Flayer -- or one of his Upside Down demons -- is involved. It's time to start sharing info sooner! The best parts of Stranger Things are when everyone is working together, so Nancy and Jonathan need to stop being such separatists.

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7. Eleven Should Get to Hang Out With More Than Mike: Listen, Eleven and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) are adorable, but going into a third season, its time for Eleven to start making some meaningful connections with the rest of the group -- perhaps even Max (Sadie Sink), the group's only other girl. The trailer hints that the two might finally hit it off, and it's about time. Eleven's chances to bond with kids her age shouldn't be limited to times when the entire town is in danger. Let her make some real friends and pass the Bechdel Test while we're at it.

8. Give Lucas' Little Sister More Screen Time: She only had a handful of scenes in Season 2, but Lucas' sister Erica (Priah Ferguson) was one of the most enjoyable parts of the season. She's been upped to series regular for the upcoming episodes, which means we should be getting a lot more of her fantastic attitude and spunk. The show needs as much humor as it can get!

Stranger Things Season 3 premieres July 4 on Netflix.