Stranger Things Season 4 returns this winter, and it has been broken up into two volumes. The first volume will be available from 27 May 2022 and the second volume 1 July 2022. The episodes are significantly longer, with some having run times of over 2 hours. The news of this has some very mixed reactions from fans. Some calling it too long, while others like myself loving the extended episodes. I believe the series deserves an epic movie ending.
The show still retains the 80’s nostalgic vibe that set it apart from anything we had seen before. We continue to follow the adventures of Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Eleven as they try to end the evil that plagues Hawkins once and for all.
Prelude
The show kicks of exactly where it left us, slowly feeding us the pieces that begin to paint the inevitable end. The gang have been essentially disbanded, with Eleven and Will of to another town. Will and Dustin continue their Dungeon and Dragons games while Lucas finds himself in the “cool” squad due to his sporting abilities. Eleven is struggling to find her place in the real world without her powers and the mean kids at her new school isn’t making it any easier. But there are far more sinister fiends to be concerned than nasty high school girls. Deep within the Upside Down an evil grows…
We have watched these kids grow in front of our very eyes, after all who can forget Eleven and Mike’s blossoming relationship, or Dustin’s weird yet cute pearl growl. We watched them grow into young adults. However like all good things the time has come for us to say good-bye.
What the Actual?
The show hasn’t lost its panache for suspense and holding back key information until the last moment. Our favourite 80’s kids are dealing with all the trials and tribulations of teenage hood all while trying to find out what the actual hell is going on. Much like previous seasons the break out into factions, each following different leads. Joyce Byers ( Winona Ryder ) receives a mysterious parcel which leads her to believe that Jim is alive. And we all know that when Joyce gets even a whiff of a loved one being alive she will tear the world apart to bring them back.
While Joyce goes against all odds to bring Jim back, the town of Hawkins all mourns the death of local high school girl Chrissy. The police believe Eddie to be the prime suspect but all is not what it seems.
Review
The show takes it time to slowly reveal the plot if barely, with small doses of adrenaline. As like previous seasons, the show build of less shown is more. This bodes well to build on the tensions and set up some nice chilling scenes. The lack of technology due to the time period is still the best part of the series. It allows for problems to be solved with more thought and actual detective work than just using “hacking” for exposition. This is a big part of what works well for the show.
The cast show that not only have they grown fully into their roles, they really do loves playing the part. Ans sure they may be starting to looses some of their child charm as they migrate into adulthood, but the never loose that spark that made us fall in love with them all those years back.
We only watched 4 of the episodes but damn…. if that is anything to go by then we are in for a treat and one hell of a ride. No doubt the end will have us in tears, of that I am certain. Welcome to the beginning of the end for the Upside Down….
