Stranger Things 4 (2022) Review

Stranger Things 4 (2022)

Season 4 of Stranger Things follows Eleven, who must train to bring her powers back after an evil entity from her past starts targeting traumatized kids in Hawkins, with Max being the final one on his list. 

For the first time in the show’s history, the 4th season of Stranger Things really feels gearing up towards an ending, in what is truly the show at the top of it’s game thus far. Due to the higher stakes, this is a BUSY season, with so many different plot lines going every which direction, and while it’s easy to get distracted through the first 7 episodes, the final 2 really bring it all together in a way that’s emotional as much as it is action packed. I’d also hazard to say this is first truly scary entry into the series as well, calling back to the first season a lot in terms of El and Vecna’s backstories, going full Stephen King in it’s inspirations. 

And speaking of Vecna, what an interesting villain. It was nice to step away from the  Demogorgan’s and Mindflayer for a change and get a “monster” who didn’t shy away from making himself known, providing an antagonist with very personal stakes for Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins kids. More than ever before too, thanks to Vecna, season 4 also really dials it up on the spectacle that’s attributed to these stakes. Max’s escape from Vecna’s grasp, El reliving her past, Eddie fucking shredding Master of Puppets, it’s all done so beautifully, while hitting us right where we want it to in terms of excitement, emotion, or thrills. 

Season 4 sports one of the best casts yet as well, starring Robert Englund, Mason Dye, Nikola Djuricko, Tom Wlaschiha, Eduardo Franco, Brett Gelman, Matthew Modine, Priah Ferguson, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Maya Hawke, Natalia Dyer, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Jamie Campbell Bower, Joseph Quinn, Caleb McLaughlin, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, and Millie Bobby Brown. Brown, while still not an amazing vocal actor, fully delivers on the physicality demanded of her this season, while side characters like Keery, Quinn, and Hawke all provide some of the best/most enjoyable performances of the season. 

Stranger Things 4, directed by the Duffer Brothers, is packed to the brim with intense storytelling, shifting the focus of the show to not just be about El confronting her past, but all of Hawkins fighting for their survival in a cliffhanger done right. Can’t wait for the final season!

9.1/10