Stranger Things
Stranger Things Season 4 is the fourth installment in the scifi-horror series created by the Duffer Brothers for Netflix. The fourth season had a 2 batch release with the first set of seven episodes Vol 1 released on the 27th of May 2022, while the second set of two episodes Vol 2 was released on the 1st of July 2022.
The premise of Stranger Things follows the story of a bunch of nerdy kids from the town of Hawkins who amidst their regular growing pains end up having to save their town from a threat that could easily be a few dice throws out of the pages of a Dungeons and Dragons game set.
Season 4 follows the story 6 months after the events of the last season of Stranger Things… (although they do look much much older considering its been 3 years since the last season, how time flies) The production had a significant budget increase and it shows, especially when you look at the episode length, the season finale is almost as long as a feature film.
*While I refrain from spoilers, continuing beyond this point might inadvertently be spoiler territory.
The Good
If Stephen King’s opinion is anything to go by, this season is better than the other 2 and also the darkest and scariest…
The episodes are significantly longer and they went all out to keep you reverted. When I watched it, had to wait for a month for the last two episodes but now it’s fully available for your bingeing pleasure.
The series has a focal group of characters and the directors manage to enlarge its scope using a divide and conquer approach where key characters are in separate settings and have parallel struggles which gives the plot a 3 pronged front.
Brings back 80s music.
The Bad
Coming out 3 years after the last, do yourself a favour and catch a recap compilation before diving into this one.
Longer episodes also mean that it has pacing issues. Particularly if you watched it as it was being released, then the final 2 episodes would have an unbalanced scrutiny since they come right after major plot points have been revealed and all you are waiting for is the final showdown.
The ending is rather anticlimactic but it sets the stage for the next season which is said will be action-packed right from the first episode gearing towards a final battle.
The Ugly
The main villain is rather freakish to behold… whats up with the nose? … kinda reminds me of Voldemort – is there some subtext on the corrupting nature of evil that makes one lose their nose?… Nobody knows
While the characters undergo story arcs which show their growth, probably as a reflection of how they are maturing and becoming self-aware; they tend to come to these realisations via confessional soliloquy with other characters which then fizzle out, without actually addressing any key issues flagged within. But I guess acknowledging a character flaw is the first step in fixing it.
Final Thoughts
I still binged through it regardless of episode length and I guess one can say there’s more of it to love ^_^ and I have a new song on repeat courtesy of the series Running Up The Hill Kate Bush.
The creators of Stranger Things say the fifth and last season will wrap up everything. Hopefully it wont be another 3 year wait.
~B
Becoming The Muse 
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