[WARNING: SPOILERS]
Article by Ella Mariano Graphics by Klarize Bangit
July 27, 2022
A month after the release of Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1, we are ecstatic to receive the last two episodes of the most-watched series on Netflix. It’s longer, darker, and scarier than the other seasons, and we’re all here for it!
In the last episode of Volume 1, we saw Nancy fall into Vecna’s trap. She got to know Henry/001/Vecna’s backstory - where he came from, how he became Dr. Brenner’s experiment, to how he is now. As the story continues in episode 8, he sends Nancy a message about his plans for Hawkins: to open gates to Hawkins and wreak havoc. This time, he’s going all out.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚
They have had enough, and they are taking the upper hand. After Nancy survives Vecna’s trance, they decide to have a plan of attack. Not having Eleven around, it’s riskier to face the master of puppets from the Upside Down, so they need to plan carefully. They divided themselves into three groups and executed their 4-phase plan to take Vecna down. Meanwhile, in sunny California, the Surfer Boy Pizza gang (Mike, Will, Jonathan, and Argyle) are helping El to get her to connect with Max via a DIY sensory deprivation tank. Not only will she protect Max, but she’ll get to face Vecna and, hopefully, end his terror. On the other side of the world, Hopper and Enzo have successfully escaped the Russian prison with the help of Joyce and Murray. However, when they got a call about what was happening in Hawkins, they planned to go back to the prison to kill the remaining Demogorgons and Mind Flayer that the Russians kept in their labs. With this, they could give the kids back in Hawkins an advantage and make their fight easier.
𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤
This season, several characters got the courage to face the tentacled monster invading Hawkins. Every monster they have faced since Season 1 has led up to this, and they know that Eleven couldn’t do this alone. Most characters were willing to risk their lives to face this unknown creature that could kill them instantly. For this season, El, Max, and Eddie took that risk. El has always been the hero right from the start. Max, on the other hand, was willing to sacrifice her life for the others to have a chance to kill Vecna. And with Eddie, we saw a major character development. The once cowardly and afraid Hellfire leader who did nothing but run away in fear stayed and fought. He had enough of being a coward, even if this meant the end of his life.
𝙄’𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚
What I love about this season is the constant reminder that they are not alone. With Mike, he felt that he wasn’t giving enough love to El and was feeling inadequate. Will keeps reminding him that if it weren’t for him, El wouldn’t be as strong as she is now. But every time Will encourages and comforts him, he’s constantly getting his heart crushed. He could never say his feelings to his best friend so as not to break their strong friendship. Jonathan knew that his younger brother needed him more than ever. This is also apparent with Lucas being there for Max as she faces Vecna, and how Hopper got back home to El as he assures her that he won’t go away anymore.
Stranger Things has stepped up its game with all these different storylines, now that the end to this story is getting closer. Some people lost, and some reunited. But one thing’s for sure, the worst is yet to come. As Vecna said, “This is only the beginning. The beginning of the end”. With more questions from Volume 1 answered, more questions remain. Will Hawkins finally know the real reason behind this chaos? Will Vecna kill off more characters? What happened to Max? Is Will going to be a significant character next season? Let us know your theories!
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