'Stranger Things' Season 4 Review: Netflix show returns with scarier, weirder and most EPIC season yet
In 2016, Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ took the world by storm and introduced us to one of the most passionate sci-fi series of this generation. It’s 2022 now and after more than three years of hiatus, the blockbuster show is returning for its fourth edition and the stakes are higher than ever. So, the Duffer Brothers decided to treat viewers with a “super-sized” season that takes us on a thrilling journey once again.
The fourth season starts with how things have changed in everyone’s lives. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has shifted to a new place with the Byers, while Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) are still in Hawkins. They all are attending high school, but they are still facing the same problem: bullying. Dustin, Mike, and Lucas are considered to be nerds and are bullied by other students. On the other hand, people believe that Eleven, who goes by the name of Jane, is weird. Lucas is trying to detach himself from that situation by becoming a part of the basketball team, but he is still a benchwarmer and hasn’t played a game.
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Now, it’s ‘Stranger Things’ and even though we are seeing characters dealing with real-life problems, something supernatural is still lurking in the deep shadows of Hawkins. This time, the threat is even bigger because the evilest lich in the world is coming to torment them. Despite being miles away from each other, every member of the group is finding it difficult to cope after the traumatic showdown with The Mind Flayer.
The first two episodes of the season set the perfect foundation for things to come. But, it’s the third episode where the gang residing in Hawkins believes that something diabolical is wreaking havoc. The best thing about this season is that it doesn’t waste any time in introducing the good stuff like mysterious storylines and thrilling action sequences. Moreover, the main villain of the latest edition is also introduced in the first episode and fans are going to be terrified by what he does.
To be honest, it was a good idea by the Duffer Brothers to have such an exhilarating start to a season that’s not just super-sized, but also grand in every possible way. If the first three seasons were more light-hearted and focused on a gang of young students trying to save the world, Season 4 is much darker than what people expected it to be and it’s undoubtedly a triumph. The Duffer Brothers wanted to push the boundaries this time around and even though, I haven’t been able to watch the last two episodes, I can say that this is undoubtedly one of the best shows of the year.
It has the perfect balance between the horror and all the coming-of-age stories that we have already seen during the previous editions. However, the horror kept me glued to my screen and if you are a horror fan like me, then you are certainly going to be mesmerized by the latest edition.
Like always, the cast of ‘Stranger Things’ has done a phenomenal job in keeping us hooked. All the young cast members, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, and Priah Ferguson, are stupendous in their respective roles. On the other hand, the older cast such as Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke are terrific as well.
David Harbour and Winona Ryder are a treat to watch. Viewers will like Harbour’s storyline because it’s filled with beautiful sequences.
As far as the new cast is concerned, Joseph Quinn steals your heart with his portrayal of Eddie. Meanwhile, Eduardo Franco as Argyle is remarkable as well. Last, but not least, legendary actor Robert Englund will force you to just stand up and applaud. He still manages to give us that frightening Freddie vibes from ‘Nightmare at Elm Street’. For horror fans, it would be a treat for their hearts to see Englund back on screen.
All in all, ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 is everything that we expected it to be. It is thrilling, scarier, and grander in every way. Most importantly, the story continues to be the strongest point of the series. Apart from that, the epic performances, terrifying horror sequences, and a menacing villain take the show to a whole new level.
Well, cancel all your plans this weekend if you can because you surely don’t want to miss ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 at any cost.
