Content Warning! This List Contains Spoilers For Season 4 of Stranger Things!
Season four of Stranger Things has come to an exciting and thrilling ending with the final two episodes now streaming on Netflix. They were packed with some incredibly fraught and intense moments, but never lacking in joy or humor.
After a hiatus due to the pandemic, fans were exceptionally eager to return to Hawkins and learn more about the Upside Down and its denizens. Throughout the final two episodes of the penultimate season, fans were sharing their instant reactions on Twitter, mourning the fallen and celebrating the survivors, and here are some of the best hot take Tweets.
Rollercoaster of Emotions
These last two episodes were truly a rollercoaster of emotions, beginning right where the first volume left off. Nancy had been supposedly selected as Vecna’s next victim, right as her group was climbing out of the Upside Down. Hopper, Joyce, and Murray are trying to escape the Russian compound. Eleven had learned the truth of Vecna’s identity, and Mike and his team are headed her way.
The episodes go from thrilling to terrifying to exhilarating to heartbreaking, especially in the last hour of the finale. It's left many fans in an emotional state as they watch some of their favorite characters go through their most dangerous times yet, and it's only going to get worse for them.
Truly Cinematic
As is a going trend among shows like Stranger Things, these episodes are getting longer and longer, with the finale being two hours long. However, they didn’t feel overly packed with frivolous moments. The team and actors helped make each scene feel necessary. They built up the stakes and tension to make viewers believe any character could be the next to die, making it all the more riveting to watch.
The series is becoming more and more cinematic in terms of its scale, effects, and performances. The fifth season already looks like it will expand on this now that the Upside Down has infected the real world. It would really not be that surprising to learn that the series finale would actually get released in some theaters, allowing fans to share in the epic conclusion together, as befits one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time.
Steve Hive Rejoice!
Along with Nancy, many fans were extremely nervous for Steve. It’s quite remarkable how far the character has come from his introductions in the first season. Initially, he was an antagonist, but he started his road to heroism by helping Nancy and Jonathan face off against the Demogorgon. Since then he has catapulted to be many fans’ favorite character in the entire series.
Therefore, viewers were elated that he and his epic hair made it out alive, though not unscathed. The series does a great job in still building up characters, even when the world is close to ending, and Steve is the poster child for that. Here, while he continues to grapple with his own feelings and ambitions, he is happy to help out his new best friend, Robin, with hers.
Vecna's Not Done
A big reason this season was so great was the main villain, Vecna. He was set up as a different type of villain than in previous seasons, mixing the otherworldly power with a familiar sense of humanity. The twist at the end of the first volume – revealing that he is in fact Number One, Henry Creel, played spectacularly by Jamie Campbell Bower – will go down as one of the best in the series.
Dustin had initially postulated that Vecna was the general to the Mind Flayer’s army of hellish beasts, a way for it to connect with the world above. However, it is revealed in the finale that Venca is, in fact, the head honcho, having tamed the chaotic dark force into the Mind Flayer and truly creating the Upside Down. His mission is not finished, and he will – thankfully for audiences – return in the next season.
Give Her All The Awards
Each season has had its MVP as per performances, and among a truly stacked competition, Sadie Sink takes the top prize according to many fans. She is one of the most central figures this season, with “Chapter Four: Dear Billy” being her pièce de résistance. Not only did it reignite a passion for Kate Bush’s music, but it definitely ensured that Max is one of the best additions to the cast.
She backs that up in the emotionally wrought finale, and though her fate is ambiguous, fans can hope to see more of Max. Already, many fans calling for her to at least be nominated for an Emmy Award. She is not alone to receive such appreciation, with Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp’s names also making the rounds.
Eddie Munson Joins The Battle!
When starting the season no one really expected to be so bowled over by such a great new character as Eddie Munson, played by Joseph Quinn. His stellar performance instantly captured viewers’ hearts with his classic rock aesthetic and enigmatic personality. It made him the perfect scene partner, making fans very invested in him and his relationships with Dustin, Steve, and even Chrissy.
They had set up his fate throughout the preceding episodes, but that only made the heroic moment when he started playing Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” and his sacrifice all the more rewarding. Although he was only in one season, he made a definite impact on his new friends and audiences alike, and his absence will be sorely felt next season.
A Rightful Recognition
Fans knew Eddie died a hero, but Hawkins did not. Thanks to the deadly satanic panic Jason and his crew spread throughout the town, he was reviled and feared as a murderer. He never got to clear his name. He helped in trying to save the people who hate him, and they might never know.
The moment when Dustin shares the truth with Eddie’s uncle was exceptionally emotional, and he joins the group with Sean Astin’s Bob and Alec Utgoff’s Alexei as the standout new characters from their seasons who don’t survive. However, now that the Upside Down has broken into Hawkins, perhaps they will be open to learning the truth of Eddie’s life and sacrifice too.
Don't Mess With Nancy
For weeks, fans were nervous over the fates of nearly every single character, especially Nancy. Last she was seen she was seemingly the next victim of Vecna’s curse. Thankfully, fans didn’t have to watch her bones break, as he just wanted her to pass along a message to Eleven – that he is bringing the Upside Down to her, which he, unfortunately, succeeded in.
In light of the horrific things she was forced to see, she didn’t lose an ounce of bravery. She was ready to go and fight in an instant. Jonathan was right, if she hadn’t been there, Hawkins would’ve been lost a lot sooner. She was fearless against Jason, and never faltered from her mission, delivering the “killing” shots to Vecna. She will make for a formidable warrior in the coming war.
One Big Not-So-Happy Family
Among the many exhilarating and jaw-dropping moments, there are some subtle beats and lines that land just as strongly. That would be the case for Joyce Byers, played by the incomparable Winona Ryder. She is the best of what a parent can be, working tirelessly to protect her children, and here she showed that she does include Eleven.
Like she did for Will in the first two seasons and as she did for Hopper in this season, she would go to the ends of the Earth for them. It was a touching moment to see the family finally reunited, and if the world wasn’t coming to an end, maybe they could finally get to be that. Hopefully, fans will be able to see her family intact by the end of the series, but that doesn’t seem all that likely.
There's Trouble Brewing
While previous seasons showed how Nancy and Steve had grown apart, this season pushed them back together, revealing some strong unresolved feelings. This was further exacerbated by the decision to keep Nancy and Jonathan separate, shaking up the established pattern. This has gotten many people debating who should be together in the end.
Many are still Team Jonathan – noting how even in their brief interaction in the finale, the two popped – while others support Steve since he’s matured so much. However, in the end, it's safe to say most would just like to see Nancy happy, and that might mean she goes it alone for a bit. The tension between the three of them will surely play a big role in the next season, so everyone will just have to wait and see what happens.
He Who Deserves Better
Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, has been a major topic of conversation within this season. Frankly, he was largely underutilized, resorting back to a secondary character like in the first season. However, he still had several great moments in speaking with Mike and Jonathan.
Contentiously, the matter of his sexuality is a divisive subject among the audience. Some are accusing the show of queerbaiting as they believe he is gay and harboring feelings for Mike, but he is not out. Rather, if it is as true as it seems, his arc is actually highly detailed and quite moving, showing how difficult of a decision it is to come out, especially at that age when feelings are unreciprocated. Regardless, he remains a fan favorite and people just want to see him finally get a happy ending.
The Wait Begins
Netflix made the unexpected choice to split the release of this season in two, which amped up the suspense and emotional impact. However, now fans will have to wait a long while for the fifth and final season. Most likely, given the trends for the series, it won’t be arriving on anyone’s television until 2024 unless they start filming soon.
While the wait will be excruciating for devoted and invested audiences, there is still other Stranger Things content, like novels and comics, to partake in. Fans will entertain themselves with rewatches and developing some wild theories, but at least they can delight in the fact that there is more to come.