Stranger Things has always been a top-tier show. The plot is engrossing, the cast is beyond talented, and the 80s atmosphere is just the most exquisite cherry on top. Despite the long wait between seasons, dedicated fans never fall completely out of interest — but Season 4 in particular re-emerged with a vengeance.
Season 4 came not only with a change in tune, but a severe amplification in stakes. While the mystery elements of the show aren't as pronounced as Season 1, the horror aspect is on full display. That said, Matt and Ross Duffer evidently decided to embrace the horror element of the Upside Down, and in doing so, took the show to a new level of epic.
9 "The Hellfire Club" Got Things Started
After a 3-year hiatus, Stranger Things needed to up the ante to reignite the hype. In "The Hellfire Club," the premiere episode of Season 4, a lot of new information was thrown out. The D&D crew struggled to recruit members. El was a frequent target at school. Hopper was a hostage, Max was isolating herself, and most devastatingly, Steve couldn’t score with a girlfriend. Each storyline existed separately, yet the transitions were seamless — the Duffer Brothers’ directive skills clearly honed and mastered.
Undeniably, the death of Chrissy Cunningham was cruel, for she was developed just enough for fans to mourn the possibility of her and Eddie as an endearing duo. Nevertheless, as her body was mutilated, the stakes were raised tenfold, a seed of dread firmly planted.
8 Angela Got Her Comeuppance In "Vecna’s Curse"
Chapter Two of Stranger Things' fourth season claimed a second victim in Fred. Like Chrissy, his presence was fleeting, but it was still unnerving to watch as a young boy — whose only crime was surviving — crack under Vecna’s pressure. Darkness was descending upon Hawkins, the stakes rising, but the worst was yet to come.
On the bright side, Eleven nailed Angela in the face with a roller skate. Although violence should not be condoned, it would be a lie to say that viewers didn’t holler with joy as Angela got what she so rightfully deserved.
7 "The Nina Project" Promised The Second Coming of El
Having lost her powers at the end of Season 3, Eleven needed to adapt to life as a normal human, which was far easier said than done. She was left wondering if she was even capable of being a hero. When she agreed to the Nina Project, the return (and improvement) of El’s abilities was more than anticipated. It was demanded.
Delving into El’s past, viewers learned she was no stranger to bullying even before Angela, for she was taunted and undermined by her fellow test subjects. There was also the question of whether she was truly responsible for the September 8 massacre. Answers were on the horizon, but Eleven would have to trudge through bloody hell first. Millie Bobby Brown has earned the biggest, coolest glass of water for the sheer amount of screaming and crying she endured whilst depicting this tumultuous period in Eleven's life.
6 "The Monster and the Superhero" Demanded Characters Choose Their Loyalties
Unfortunately, in the world of Stranger Things, not even justified actions can go unpunished. El is collected by Dr. Owens after having been arrested and proposed with an opportunity to regain her abilities. For prioritizing the path of popularity, Lucas is now doomed to hunt down his friends. Joyce must abandon her children and collaborate with Russian operatives in order to retrieve Hopper. Sooner rather than later, these characters would have to decide where exactly their allegiances lie.
Undoubtedly, Steve, Robin, Max, Dustin, Nancy, and Eddie teaming up laid down the groundwork for one of the best group dynamics Stranger Things has seen yet. In addition to their hysterical shenanigans, this group’s investigative prowess spurred the mystery forward. Still, the reality of their situation was about to strike too close to home, and viewers waited with bated breath.
5 There Was No Turning Back Once Everyone Made "The Dive"
After the death of Patrick, Hawkins was growing paranoid, further exacerbated by Jason’s preachings about satanic cults. Eleven’s progress was stunted because she blamed herself for the massacre at Hawkins Lab. Indulging in a gluttonous feast, Hopper, Antonov, and the other inmates were being seasoned as a main course for the Demogorgon. Everything was getting worse, the odds of triumph were as withered as Mike Wheeler’s capacity for reading people.
To top it off, the last shot of "The Dive" was of fan-favorite Steve screaming and thrashing in pain as he was devoured by ravenous Demonbats. This made for one of the most terrifying moments Stranger Things has delivered so far, and not even the jokes about Steve's "untamed jungle" could temper the horror.
4 "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" Revealed Not Only The Murderer But The Monster
The finale of Volume 1 had one objective: satisfy yet keep the suspense alive. Dustin ingeniously realized how Vecna was using his psychic connection to open up portals. Hopper survived by propelling a spear into the Demogorgon’s mouth in the nick of time. Eddie, Robin, Nancy, and Steve were safely crossing over from the Upside Down, up until Vecna intervened.
Jamie Campbell Bower’s transition from the friendly Peter Ballad to the callous and cruel 001 was startlingly slick, thus making his ultimate reveal as Vecna a riveting plot twist. As Eleven disintegrated Henry, leaving behind an all-too-familiar gate in his wake, the origin of this escalating conflict became that much clearer.
3 Eleven Justifiably Denied Forgiveness In "Papa"
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One kill more and the floodgates between Hawkins and the Upside Down would be unleashed. Russians were breeding Demogorgons. Jopper was officially cannon. Mike Wheeler was somehow blind to his best friend crying right next to him. To claim that fans were on the edge of their seats is a colossal understatement.
Thankfully, the Duffer Brothers offered an opportunity for closure at the episode’s climax as Papa and Eleven arrived at a crossroads. With his last dying breath, Papa asks her if she understood his actions. Even though the man raised Eleven, he also tethered her. “Bye, Papa,” she said sternly, turning away. It was a powerful and well-overdue scene, reinforcing the idea that nobody owes anyone forgiveness.
2 “The Piggyback” Was Non-Stop Action
The only way to describe Stranger Things' Season 4 finale is a relentless rollercoaster. In the wake of his epic metal concert in the Upside Down, Eddie died a fearless hero in Dustin’s arms. Even though Max survived her first encounter with Vecna, the consequences of her second were lethal. Steve, Robin, and Nancy bombastically bombarded Vecna with flames and bullets, yet his body disappeared. Eleven may have saved Max's life, but she remains unresponsive in a coma.
The saving graces of this episode were pizza goggles, El and Hopper’s wholesome, shaven-headed reunion, and Jason getting cut in two when Hawkins split underneath him. In the end, Stranger Things proved that there would be no more reprieve for the crew. Every consequence of their past actions inevitably manifested right in front of them. Like it or not, they were in the endgame now.
1 “Dear Billy” Was A Metaphor For The All-Too-Human Experience Of Depression
Robin’s improvised speech regarding the mistreatment of women was brilliant, and Robert England’s casting as Victor Creel was brilliantly ironic. But the primary reason “Dear Billy” resonated so deeply with fans is because of Sadie Sink’s phenomenal portrayal of Max Mayfield. When she sat down in front of Billy’s grave, unveiling Max’s deepest and darkest desires in a gut-wrenching monologue, Sink captured the attention and hearts of everyone watching.
Suffocated by the guilt of Billy’s death, Max nearly lost the willpower to keep moving forward. As she was lifted into the air, it wasn’t until Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” started resounding through her mind — triggering a montage of her happiest memories — that Max was galvanized to pursue the light. The moment Max fell back to earth and into Lucas’ loving arms, the relief felt insurmountable.