STRANGER THINGS: Season 3: Chapter 4: The Sauna Test
The strange definitely get stranger — and more dangerous.
Should You Watch It?
“The Sauna Test” is a strong episode that brings its different storylines together effectively. The acting is good, the pacing is confident, and the connected plotlines leave you eager to see what happens next.
The episode also presents a strong Christian and moral worldview, including concern for others and a positive mention of capitalism. Still, it contains enough foul language, violence, frightening material, and high-stakes tension to require mature judgment.
If you are an adult or older teenager who can handle those concerns, this is worth watching. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA dangerous otherworldly creature may be inside a human host, so several characters attempt an unusual kind of exorcism using a sauna. Meanwhile, Mrs. Driscoll is taken to the hospital, Will and his friends call a “code red,” Hop and Joyce investigate suspicious behavior in town, and Dustin, Steve, and Robin enlist Erica to learn what the Russians are doing.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this episode is a particularly effective piece of television. “The Sauna Test” is well-paced and well-acted, with storylines that tie together smoothly.
The episode keeps viewers eager to know the outcome while moving between its different groups of characters.
The Worldview
The episode presents a strong Christian and moral worldview. Characters are genuinely concerned for the safety of others, and a child character speaks about being valued for extending help. The episode also includes a positive presentation of American capitalist values, including a significant mention of capitalism’s benefits.
The episode’s moral concerns are not presented without complication. A mother-and-daughter conversation about not being taken seriously by the world and refusing to accept responsibility for one’s actions is clouded by feminist ideology. The attempted exorcism of an otherworldly creature also places supernatural ideas within the story’s moral and spiritual framework.
At its best, the episode honors compassion, responsibility, and care for others. Scripture likewise calls believers to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (Ephesians 4:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
<strong>
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
</strong> Strong Christian, moral worldview with strong American, capitalist values where characters are genuinely concerned for the safety of others, a child character talks about being valued for extending her help, characters also attempt an exorcism of sorts to get a foreign creature out of its host subtle, a grand mention of the benefits of capitalism, and a positive mother and daughter talk about not being taken seriously by the world and not accepting responsibility for your actions marred by some feminist comments; <strong>
Foul Language
</strong> 15 obscenities, one strong profanity, eight light profanities, and one character thinks he threw up; <strong>
Violence
</strong> Very strong and strong violence involves creature sucks the faces of two characters that are held captive, guards hold guns, two men get into a fight and blood is shown, and one man eventually handcuffs the other man to a bedpost, teenage characters lock a character who might be possessed into a sauna, choking shown, and character gets thrown through a brick wall and gets a rack of weights thrown at him; <strong>
Sex
</strong> No sex; <strong>
Nudity
</strong> Upper male nudity for scenes in a sauna, and one scene with implied frontal male nudity, but audiences only see an upper thigh; <strong>
Alcohol Use
</strong>Liquor seen in an office; <strong>
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
</strong> No smoking but a character takes medication, mention of a political figure doing cocaine, and a chief of police who has a pill-popping problem; and, <strong>
Miscellaneous Immorality
</strong>Lying, sneaking around, character spits at others in protest.
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
Several characters are genuinely concerned for the safety of others. What does it look like to care for someone when the situation is frightening?
Philippians 2:4 · Galatians 6:2The episode includes a conversation about being taken seriously and accepting responsibility. How can we listen well while still owning our actions?
James 1:19 · Proverbs 28:13Characters investigate suspicious behavior and work together to uncover the truth. When should courage and wisdom guide the way we respond to danger?
Proverbs 14:16 · Ephesians 5:15–16The story includes an attempted exorcism of sorts. What does Scripture teach about where true spiritual authority comes from?
Ephesians 6:10–12 · 1 John 4:4The Final Word
This is a well-acted, well-paced episode with connected storylines and a strong moral center. Its foul language, violence, frightening material, and high-stakes moments make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning older viewers, WORTH WATCHING — ADULTS ONLY.
