Warning! SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2.
The similarities between Stranger Things 4 and a certain Star Wars movie are abundant, but this connection also reveals several clues about what will happen in Stranger Things' final season. The hit Netflix show is not afraid to wear its '80s influences on its sleeve, from Mike's gang wearing Ghostbusters costumes on Halloween to Eleven basically being the group's own human ET in season 1. Nonetheless, Star Wars' influence on Stranger Things season 4 goes beyond references, and it's possible that could remain the case in season 5.
Although Stranger Things season 5 will be the original series' last hurrah, the immense popularity of the show means that it could follow a similar trajectory to Star Wars and become an extended franchise. The Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, have an idea for a spinoff set in the same universe but are remaining tightlipped. Meanwhile, a new stage adaptation in the Stranger Things universe is planned. While it's unlikely that Stranger Things will expand into as large a franchise as Star Wars, Netflix will be sure to not call time on their hottest property soon.
After Stranger Things' season 4 finale, the Duffer Brothers discussed the ending, the darkest and most irreversible of the series. They disclosed that a major influence for season 4 was a movie from the original Star Wars trilogy, "We always have wanted to do an Empire Strikes Back ending which we tried to do with [Season 4]." In terms of tone and feeling, Stranger Things 4 closely resembles Empire Strike Back, but if anything, Stranger Things outdoes the Star Wars' movies notable dark tone. Despite how revered and important Empire Strikes Back is, there's a noticeable lack of deaths - unlike Stranger Things season 4. Stranger Things welcomed death more than ever, with Eddie Munson, Dr. Brenner, and potentially Dr. Owens dying, making the consequences of season 4 feel even direr. Since the Duffer Brothers spoke about how Empire Strikes Back directly influenced their choices in Stranger Things, there's also the possibility that the creators will continue to reference Star Wars in the remainder of the Netflix show. Here's how Empire Strikes Back influenced Stranger Things season 4, and how Return of the Jedi may influence season 5.
How The Empire Strikes Back Influenced The Stranger Things 4 Finale
The Empire Strikes Back is known for being one of the darkest Star Wars movies. As its title implies, the evil Empire is mostly triumphant by the end credits. This choice shifted Star Wars from well-crafted sci-fi opera into a more mature, edgy series, where actions have consequences, even in the vastness of space. The Duffer Brothers claimed that they wanted to create the same "sense of loss" in the ending of Stranger Things 4. It certainly achieved the overall tone, especially once Vecna's plan comes to fruition, as the Upside Down punctures into Hawkins.
Beyond tone and feeling, Stranger Things season 4 has more overt parallels with The Empire Strikes Back. Max's comatose state after Vecna's assault mirrors Han Solo's fate at the end of the Star Wars movie. Both well-beloved characters are alive, but only just, and they're incapable of moving. Moreover, when Vecna reveals that it's Eleven's fault that his plan is succeeding, it only serves to exacerbate the connection between Vecna and Eleven. While they're not quite father and son like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Star Wars, they're bonded by their time in Brenner's lab - and by sharing this surrogate father, one could say they resemble siblings. Stranger Things season 4 goes beyond plot parallels, however, and even recreated shots from Empire Strikes Back. The Duffer Brothers revealed that one of the final shots of Stranger Things season 4 where the characters watch over Hawkins as spores fall around, indicating the Upside Down permeating into their reality, was meant to evolve "the notion of war, and a supernatural war coming to Hawkins.” This sense of brooding conflict was inspired by the shot in Empire Strikes Back where Luke, Leia, and their favorite droids look at the galaxy outside of a spaceship window.
Will Max Fully Return In Stranger Things 5 Like Han Solo In ROTJ?
Max's fate in Stranger Things is one of the biggest questions after the ending of season 4, and it remains unclear whether she'll return. That obviously won't be revealed until Stranger Things season 5. However, Matt Duffer revealed something about Max's fate: "Yeah, she'd brain dead, but she's alive. Brain-dead and blind." Ross Duffer proved his penchant for gallows humor by adding, "And all her bones are broken, but she's doing great." The most important thing to draw out from their comments is that, just like Han Solo before her, Max isn't dead. There remains the possibility of her returning in season 5. Han Solo was frozen in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back, meaning that his paralysis was more physical than mental. As such, in Return of the Jedi, Luke and Leia spearhead a rescue plan to get Han from Jabba the Hut and are simply able to unfreeze him. Getting Max back to her full self might be more difficult. Max's physical body is safe, therefore there's no need to copy Return of the Jedi's rescue mission. That is unless the gang would have to delve back into the Upside Down if part of her is stuck there after Vecna's attack. Despite this, it seems likely that Max will return properly. However, whether or not Max gets her sight and body back remains to be seen.
Eleven Will Complete Her Training In Stranger Things 5 (With Dr. Owens?)
Luke Skywalker wouldn't have been able to turn the tide in Return of the Jedi if he did not complete his Jedi training with Master Yoda. The final step of his training into a Jedi Master is what truly allows him to defeat his father Darth Vader. Similarly, Eleven will likely have to unlock her final potential in order to entirely defeat Vecna and potentially banish the Upside Down from Hawkins. Even with her powers regained, Will makes it clear that Vecna is not gone for good, and with season 5 set to be the final season of Stranger Things, the stakes and Vecna's powers will be raised. How Eleven manages to do that is a larger mystery though, especially considering Dr. Brenner bites the dust in Stranger Things season 4. Brenner was the one who knew the most about her powers and helped Eleven regain them, after losing her powers entirely at the end of season 3. There's one other person, however, who does know a considerable amount about her powers and could act as her Yoda figure. Dr. Sam Owens' fate in Stranger Things was left hanging in the balance in season 4, as viewers do not see him after Jack Sullivan and his military force invade Brenner's desert facility. It's safe to presume that Owens is alive since the audience didn't see a body. Should he return in season 5, he could act as Eleven's final mentor.
Vecna Could Try To Turn Eleven To The Dark Side In Stranger Things
The earth-shattering twist in The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader reveals that he is Luke's father changes the trajectory of the original Star Wars trilogy. The unbreakable bond between hero and villain means that rather than outright kill Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader wants to turn him to the dark side and rule the galaxy together. Luke's brain flirts with the idea of the dark side. After all, he's Darth Vader's son - but Luke's conflict between light and dark becomes the crux of Return of the Jedi. As previously discussed, Vecna and Eleven have a similar bond, as they're surrogate siblings. Similarly, Vecna isn't afraid to overpower and inflict pain on Eleven, like how Darth Vader takes Luke's hand. However, there's a part of both villains that wants to preserve Luke and Eleven in some way. As Vecna says to Eleven in Stranger Things 4's finale, "There was a time when I had hoped to have you by my side." If Stranger Things season 5 follows a similar trajectory to Return of the Jedi, then there's a chance that Vecna may uphold this wish and try to turn Eleven to his side. The trauma inflicted by Dr. Brenner on Eleven, Number One, and the other test subjects no doubt builds up burning feelings of resentment. Number 1 now seeks to destroy Hawkins and beyond. Meanwhile, Kali also proved that she can favor revenge,and give in to her darker instincts. Back in Stranger Things season 2, Eleven is tempted by the path of revenge that Kali sets for her, but she ultimately chooses against it. There's also a dark part of Eleven that she is in constant conflict with, and Vecna could try to corrupt that in Stranger Things' final season. Whether or not Eleven would turn to the dark side is a different story entirely, as she's likely to display Luke Skywalker's resilience, but it could make for a very interesting conflict in Stranger Things season 5.