Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 is one of the most emotional moments in television history, and solidifies Stranger Things as an epic series.
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson, Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
Stranger Things season 4 is one of the longest television events in history, and with an epic finale that was the length of a movie, and jam packed with action and whole lot of emotion, it has now solidified itself as one of the best. Fans had to wait a long time for season 4, and will have to wait likely just as long for the final season, season 5, to come to Netflix. That season will likely be split into two volumes as well, considering how well this split did for Netflix, and keeping the theories spewing.
Warning: Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4 Ahead
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Natalia Dyer as Nanacy Wheeler and Mason Dye as Jason Carver in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
The addition of the football bullies was a brilliant move by the Stranger Things team. This was a wonderful way to have one of the members of the group being pulled away (Lucas) for part of the season, and also allowed him to go through his own arc when he needed to confront Jason. High School is a strange time (no pun intended) for kids of all ages, so to have all of the children going through their own journeys of self discovery this season felt right.
Things between Nancy and Jonathan are still very much strained during the final few minutes of the season, which is sure to set up a rocky road for them in season 5. Will Steve end up with the love of his life? He very well could.
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Tom Wlaschiha as Dmitrti, Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman, Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, and David Harbour as Jim Hopper in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
The biggest weak spot of this season is the Murray, Joyce, and Hopper story line. Right from the start these moments took away from the others, and while there were some really cool monster fights involved, overall the plot here was a bit messy. Yes, it was nice to have Hopper back in Hawkins at the end, but his journey there felt too drawn out. It almost always pulled viewers out of the intense and high stakes storylines that were going on elsewhere.
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
That being said, having the final battle against Vecna take place in three different locations, with three different groupings of characters, was interesting. It was nice to see everyone come together and fight, without even really knowing what the others were doing. Almost instinctual in a way, and showed the bond that they really do all have. Attacking from all angles, and succeeding in hurting him enough to keep him away from Hawkins after the gates all opened up, was a truly epic way for the finale to go.
Of course, having to lose Max briefly, and permanently losing Eddie, was extremely emotional and heartbreaking. For Eddie, it was a bit of a surprise that fans loved him so much after just one season, and him being ripped away from us was gut wrenching. At least he had a truly metal farewell, with his rendition of Master of Puppets.
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington and Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
Stranger Things Season 4 wasn’t all perfect, but it had some incredible moments. The biggest issue was how much the Hopper storyline felt out of place. With insanely long episodes, some of the pacing dragged as well. The final one clocked in at nearly two and a half hours, which made it play like a movie. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but there were a few places it could have cut and been broken up into multiple episodes.
Stranger Things season 5 is sure to focus on the gang going up against Vecna, and hopefully taking him out for good. This season revealed how angry he is at Hawkins and Eleven, and how he is not going to stop at anything until he destroys them. Of course the final shot is a massive cliffhanger, with the Upside Down leaking through. Fans will have to wait a while for the end, but if this season is any indication, it will all be worth it.
Rating: 4 out of 5
NEXT: Best Stranger Things 4 Quotes
About Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1
It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.
Stranger Things Season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.