This July, the eagerly anticipated third season of Stranger Things premieres on Netflix, so it's no surprise that fans have already been analyzing and theorizing about the just-released first trailer. Opening with a focus on the familiar teen misfits of Hawkins, Indiana enjoying their summer vacation in 1985, the group appears to be handling changes within their personal relationships. Of course, by the teaser's end, a new menace rears its ugly head, making this summer one none of the characters are likely to forget.

Below are some of the major takeaways from the trailer and what they may mean for Season 3 of Stranger Things.

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Awkward Homecoming

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The trailer opens with Dustin returning home from what appears to be a baseball camp, still outfitted in his athletic gear. Dejected that none of his friends seem to be welcoming him back, he greets his pet turtle before noticing all his robotic toys, including an R2-D2 and Optimus Prime, powering themselves up and marching out of his bedroom. Terrified and armed with a can of hair spray, Dustin follows them into his living room where we discover Eleven is using her powers to cause the impromptu parade as part of a surprise coming back party for Dustin.

As the gang shouts their surprise greeting behind Dustin, complete with a small banner, the hair spray-armed teen reacts poorly, much to Lucas' chagrin. The group's close friendship is obviously still at the heart of the show, but even more interesting (and perhaps important) is how Eleven is comfortable in using her powers for something as frivolous as playing a trick on an old friend.

New Status Quo

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The Who's Baba O'Riley picks up as the trailer teases what the gang has been up to since we last saw them, nearly two years ago. Billy now works as a lifeguard at the local pool, Sheriff Hopper is dressed in his Miami Vice-best as he appears to be waiting in a fancy restaurant for a date, and Nancy and Jonathan both appear to be working for the local newspaper, the Hawkins Post.

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However, things don't appear to entirely be fun in the sun despite the shift to a summer setting. Neither Nancy nor Jonathan appear to be content, and look visibly positioned apart from each other in their seats. Similarly, Hopper is shown later in the trailer having an emotional conversation with Joyce Byers, pointing out that everything he's been attempting to do has been a conscious effort to keep her safe. And the trailer shows that not even the close-knit main group of friends may not be as tightly connected as they once were, "welcome back from camp" surprises be damned.

NEXT PAGE: Stranger Things 3 Enters the Teenage Wasteland - And the Upside Down

Growing Up, Growing Apart

While the trailer starts with the popular sense of camaraderie as the gang hoists a makeshift flag on a hill overlooking the town, it's clear that the childhood friends may be growing apart, threatening the group dynamic.

"Did you think we were going to spend all our time hanging out in the basement?" Mike observes. As Will looks at past photos of the boys hanging out and the friends are seen departing in their own directions by bike, the golden days of childhood hangouts past may be coming to an end.

Starcourt Mall

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One of the most prominent locations in the trailer is Starcourt Mall, where Steve is seen working his new fast food job there where he is happily reunited with Dustin. Joined by Max, Eleven is awestruck by the wonders of the food court, with the shopping mall bustling with customers.

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Later in the trailer, the action shifts back to the mall after-hours. Broken glass is seen all over the floor, with Steve visibly hurt and the gang facing some unseen threat.

Dark Carnival

Another key location introduced in the trailer is a summer carnival that has come to Hawkins. The town mayor, Larry Kline, portrayed by Cary Elwes, uses the attraction as part of his reelection campaign, opening the festivities with a speech and adorning it with his campaign posters.

Elwes' new character had first been revealed by casting descriptions leaking in February of last year, prior to the start of principal photography in April. The trailer offers the first glimpse of the opportunistic politician and hints that the carnival will not be spared from the new evil threatening Hawkins.

Injection, Infection

Perhaps the most ominous imagery involved the series' two older teens, Steve and Billy. At one point, Billy is seen showering while examining what appears to be a dark, spreading infection on his forearm. Towards the end of the trailer, a montage of clips reveals Steve sporting a black eye while wearing his work uniform, and in an even more upsetting moment, having a mysterious blue substance forcibly injected directly into his neck.

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While the Netflix series has not shied away from killing off important characters before, the two clips remind us that no one is safe from the dangers of Season 3, and Billy and Steve are each facing their own threats. Judging by the nature of the threat to Steve, it appears the government may once again be involved with its own nefarious agenda.

Masked Man

One of the more intriguing images briefly shown in the trailer is a man wearing a gas mask. This coupled with images of sinister looking men wielding guns in dark corridors indicate the government is indeed back in Hawkins.

Of course, rumors surfaced this past December that the Cold War would spread to Indiana in the third season, with Russian operatives potentially working undercover in Hawkins due to its paranormal occurrences. With this in mind, while the masked man and mysterious figure assaulting Steve could be government agents... they may just not American ones.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

The meat of the trailer ends with a monstrous beast roaring in what appears to be a hospital hallway. While sporting the same visceral, fleshy look as the demogorgons and other beasts from previous seasons, this particular monster has never been seen before.

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Season 2 of the series had ended with Eleven using her powers to close the portals between Earth and the Upside Down, but the trailer hints that the worlds may be linked again as she is briefly seen slipping back into what appears to be the malignant dimension while visiting the beach. Between hat and a new monster in Hawkins, it looks like extra-dimensional horrors have invaded the once sleepy town once again.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Priah Ferguson, Cary Elwes, Jake Busey and Maya Thurman-Hawke. Season 3 will debut on Netflix on July 4.