Editor’s disclaimer: before we head into the Upside Down, please note that this review is filled with more spoilers than pineapple toppings on a Surfer Boy pizza so you have been warned!
Anyone else still rocking out to the “Most Metal Concert Ever” as featured in the final episode of season 4 of Netflix’s Stranger Things series?
That was a banging version of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” hit, played by Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), and the perfect soundtrack for the battle royale between this season’s Big Bad, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), and our unlikely heroes Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Max (Sadie Sink), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Erica (Priah Ferguson), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Steve (Joe Keery), Robin (Maya Hawke), Dustin (Galen Matarazzo), Will (Noah Schnapp), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Argyle (Eduardo Franco).
Our motley crew’s efforts to save Hawkins and the world from Vecna’s global domination were complemented by the parents getting their flame on in Russia. Joyce (Winona Ryder), Hopper (David Harbor). Murray (Brett Gelman) and their frenemies Dmitri (Tom Wlaschiha – yes, the God of Many Faces in Game of Thrones!) and Yuri (Nikola ΔuriΔko) broke out of prison and back into it to set the demogorgons connected to Vecna’s hive mind on fire. Together, they managed to weaken Vecna long enough to help Eleven wound him and just about bring Max back from the brink of death. Unfortunately, Eddie didn’t make it.
Despite our team’s best efforts, Vecna isn’t dead AND he released the Upside Down into our reality. To quote Dustin: “Shit!”
So, how did this season do, despite it ending on such a terrible note? Well, I am absolutely in love with the 1980s all over again, especially since I was only really conscious for the tail end of it, and I am now getting an education in its awesomeness from the Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things.
The decision to split the cast into three teams, each fighting Vecna from different locations, was a smart one. It moves the storyline forward whilst also giving the individual actors each a chance to shine. A special mention to Ryder for displaying Joyce’s more proactive nature this season and giving it her all to save her man. I , frankly, had become quite weary of her frantic, damsel-in-distress act of the past three seasons.
And guys, after three seasons (and six LONG years) of “will they, won’t they?” simmering feelings between Joyce and Hopper, we FINALLY got this:
It’s always tricky to add new characters, and ones that the audience will root for, this late in the game but Quinn’s Eddie and Franco’s Argyle are delightful additions to our Scooby gang. Eddie’s high energy is the perfect polar opposite to Argyle’s chilled “my dude” vibe and helps both of their teams achieve what they need to do to weaken Vecna.
Speaking of… Campbell has always been the type of actor that makes his villains the quiet, unnerving evil that gets under your skin. His young Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Grindelwald still keeps me up at night. Appearing at first as One/Henry who manipulates Eleven as a child in Papa’s Lab, he is creepy. As Vecna, the monster Eleven unknowingly creates when she opens the portal to the Upside Down and sends Henry through it, Campbell is downright terrifying. The make-up and prosthetics are obviously created in 2022 but they match every 80s horror villain and then some.
Vecna’s look and method of torturing his victims in their dreams gave me hectic Nightmare on Elm Street vibes and with good reason too – Freddy Kruger aka Robert Englund himself makes a cameo this season as Henry’s imprisoned and blinded father.
Good casting call there, Duffer Brothers!
The music in Stranger Things is a cast member unto itself and besides Metallica, 80s diva Kate Bush is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to her “Running Up That Hill” hit saving Max’s life and it being downloaded and added to every TikTok post ever. Hey Generation Z, welcome to the era of great music. You’re welcome π
With the final season of Stranger Things two years away, we have plenty of things to worry about until then: Will is getting all tingly with his connection to Vecna;Eleven has her powers back but has lost her confidence after Vecna whipped her butt in their last fight; Nancy and Jonathan seem to be on their way to breaking up; Max is in a coma and oh, did I mention that the UPSIDE DOWN IS HERE?!!!
Hang in there, my dudes, we are in for a rough ride.
Stranger Things Season 4 is available on Netflix.
Keen to keep the 80s love going? Check out Gremlins and Bohemian Rhapsody on Netflix.
