Directors: The Duffer Brothers
Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard , Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Matthew Modine, Paul Reiser
Language: English
Spoilers Ahead.
Stranger Things on Netflix has given a whole new meaning to the word ‘binge’ and how! After watching each of the episodes of Season 4, each of which might make for a mini-movie by itself, you are a geeky fan of the show (if not already) and are already making plans to binge the next season a year later. And yes, there is another season of Hawkins waiting for us. Season 4, released in two parts – a month apart – takes off a few months after the nail-biting battle at Starcourt Mall, which was set in the summer of 1985. At the end of Season 3, we came to know that Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) was not dead but is actually in a Russian prison.
The Byers, Joyce (Winona Ryder), her sons, Will (Noah Schnapp) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), have now moved to Lenora Hills in California. With Eleven’s powers vanishing, she finds herself being bullied and unable to adjust to the San Francisco ways. Meanwhile Joyce and Murray receive a mysterious package from Russia indicating Hopper’s presence. They soon take off to Russia, hoping to find and release Hopper, not realizing what’s in store for them in the war zone.
While El, Mike and Will are dealing with their own issues, an evil creature Vecna is slowly preying on young minds and killing them, one bone at a time. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) uses her journalistic mojo, and discovers another similar case from the past where the family of Victor Kreel (Robert Englund) met with similar deaths.
The prime suspect though is Eddie Munson (a fantastic Joseph Quinn), the leader of the school’s Hellfire Club. With Max being targeted by Vecna, the kids find a way to save her, resulting in one of the most iconic scenes from the show with Kate Bush crooning in the background. Max finds solace in Running Up that Hill, and finds her way back to her friends. Meanwhile, Eleven, who is back in training with Papa, is trying to get her powers back. In the process she learns about her past, her acquaintance with 001 aka Henry.
In an amazing finale to part one of season 4, we come to know that Vecna is none other than Henry and has been instrumental to all the evil happenings at Hawkins. We also come to know that it was El who indeed opened the gate to the Upside Down.
Meanwhile, Hopper with the help of Joyce and Murray escape from prison, not before fighting on the creatures from Upside Down. As we are taken to and fro from the lives of all these characters, the Duffer Brothers ensure that we are constantly at the edge of our seats, not a mean feat considering we have already been at the edge for 3 whole seasons.
After an excruciating long wait of 30 days, Season 4’s part 2 hit Netflix screens. What would happen to Max? Will Vecna kill El? Will Hawkins survive Vecna’s assault? Will El be able to fight like before? Season 4 part 2 answers all this and more. And of course, in prompt Stranger Things fashion, it also gives us a peek as to what is to come. Yes, Stranger Things Season 5 is officially happening, and that will be the last one, the brothers have confirmed.
One of the best things about Season 4 as a whole is the relationships between the boys and the outside world. As they grow, we grow with them, and that is beautifully and sensitively shown in all characters, especially that of Will’s. Struggling with feelings for Mike, but not able to enunciate them, Will has a lovely monologue which he aces. Millie Bobby Brown easily steals the show. She is stoic, calm and scared all at the same time and excels in switching between emotions.
But season 4 was owned by a few others. Sadie Sink who plays Max has come up with one of her career best this season. She oscillates beautifully between being a quiet independent teenager and also someone who is struggling to find peace with her brother’s death. I have never been a listener to English music, but the scene with Sadie Sink literally saving herself from Vecna with Kate Bush’s song made me a convert. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) also get their own superhero moments in both parts.
The second part also gives a hat-tip to the underdogs and the nerds. While the entire show is a tribute to the nerds, this season focusses mainly on the teenagers accepting their parts and making peace with themselves. “Do we look like heroes”, asks Eddie Munson in a crucial scene. That one scene encapsulates a lot of issues that teenagers face even today, questioning their self-worth, worrying about fitting in and most importantly how they have faced bullying in one form or the other.
Stranger Things 4 is as much about fighting Vecna as it is about maturity, love and acceptance. Harsh truths are revealed and despite it all, there are moments where we can take in the beauty of the ‘now’. Watch out for the scene where Max and Lucas share a laugh while waiting for Vecna to arrive, or the moment when Dustin and Eddie share a bromance that rivals many famous ones, or even the moment when Joyce and Hopper finally kiss. There is beauty in the ‘now’ and kudos to the Duffer Brothers for rejoicing in that in a horror mystery drama.
Season 4 is also way more gruesome and violent than the other seasons, clearly indicating Vecna’s evil. Almost on par, we get to also see the ‘evil’ Russians going to extreme lengths to fight the war. Hopper’s Russian prison break and subsequent fight with the demogorgons are again nail-biting sequences.
However, the second part does not meet the expectations that the first one left us with. Of course, we get the plotline that we hoped for. But dragged-out scenes, and superfluous key characters stood out like a sore thumb. While the VFX is bigger than ever, we could almost see the rushed scenes, courtesy the last minute decision to flesh out another whole season. But hey, who am I to argue as we get to see Hawkins and the nerds one last time maybe next year!
Rating: 4/5
