Stranger Things at its best — Season 4. Vol. 1 vastly exceeds expectations

*Review contains minor spoilers of Stranger Things 4. Vol.1

Stranger Things 4 vol. 1 delivers its best season since its 2016 debut.

As Netflix released the first cryptic teases of a new season, I’ll be the first to admit my excitement for the next chapter was at an all-time low.

As popular shows continue into their later seasons, it’s common for the novelty to wear off, and franchise fatigue settles in. Seasons 2 and 3, while enjoyable, weren’t able to fully capture that original magic and spark present in the first season.

Season 3 especially so — it certainly had its moments, but it forecasted a trend of the series expanding faster than it could handle. Good ideas with shaky execution and a somewhat convoluted plot made this previous installment flashy and fun but ultimately underwhelming.

When it came to this season, the fear that it would continue the path carved by season 3 and doomed to be a series that only diminishes with each subsequent release.

Seeing each episode over an hour long was initially concerning. “Do I really love Stranger Things that much?” and questioning whether the story can motivate this screen time without feeling like an endless slog. I’m happy to put those worries to rest. The episodes are long, but nearly every minute is used effectively. Looking at the season as a whole, all that extra time was necessary.

I’m delighted to say that all my worries were unfounded, Stranger Things 4. Vol. 1 was one of the most enjoyable shows I watched this year. This season has heart and soul, with a story that is constantly moving forward and leaving you wanting more but not too jampacked that smaller character moments are lost.

Our cast of characters split up this season, The Byers and Eleven away in California, leaving the rest of the crew back in Hawkins. By mid-season, the characters continue to divide, and five plotlines take place simultaneously.

Dustin, Lucas, Max, Steve, Nancy, Robin and newcomer Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) are still in Hawkins and working together to investigate a new string of mysterious deaths.

Mike, Will, Jonathan and the charismatic new arrival Argyle (Eduardo Franco) escape California to rescue Eleven before the government reaches her.

Hopper attempts to survive and escape from a Russian prison. Meanwhile, Joyce and Murray go on an adventure to rescue him.

Eleven is back in the captivity of a laboratory, reliving her past in an attempt to regain her powers.

A lot is going on in this season, which is why it’s impressive it doesn’t crumble under its own weight. There’s so much good wrapped into these seven episodes, and each of the characters’ stories works without being muddied or vastly overshadowed by the others.

Five storylines, with an ever-growing cast of characters all happening at once, could have been a recipe for disaster, but each plot, for the most part thoughtfully planned out and given amble screentime to be compelling.

Early episodes of season 4 did conjure some worries that it would focus too much on high school drama, but those were quickly put to rest as it reached a safe balance between navigating the pressures of adolescence and attempting to save the world. Especially in Lucas’ character arc cruising between newfound popularity and pressure to fit in and loyalty to his friends.

Of the adventures in Hawkins, the Russian rescue operation, Eleven’s attempt to regain her powers and the California road trip, the road trip plotline is by far the most underdeveloped. Mike, Will, and Jonathan are given the least agency and most negligible impact on the overarching story.

It comes as a bit of a surprise for Mike (Finn Wolfhard), who, next to Mille Bobby Brown, began as one of the most prominent faces of Stranger Things, to be regulated more to the backstage in this installment. Among the many excellent performances present this season, Wolfhard is some of the weakest.

Among the original cast of kids Millie Bobby Brown only improves with each passing year, brilliantly exploring Eleven’s traumatic past. However, It’s Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin who truly steals the show. Dustin in one of the most charismatic, funny, and heartfelt characters in the show, and he continues to pull his weight against the older, more experienced cast members.

The villain Vecna is one of the standouts of the season. The initial teases of a faced, upsidedown twisted humanoid again had me questioning if it was the right move for the series. Up to this point, Stranger Things has utilized much more monstrous antagonists such as the Demogorgon or omnipresent metaphysical threats like the Mind Flayer.

I couldn’t have been more wrong; Vecna’s inability to appear in the physical world but haunt his prey in a nightmarish trance a la Freddy Krueger is the strongest the horror elements have ever been for the series.

Venca’s presence as the personification of depression and guilt stands as such a strong metaphor for suicide and how mental anguish wreaks havoc. Max’s character being targeted explicitly by Vecna gives a spotlight to her emotional struggles and deepens the audience’s connection to her character.

Venca captures the mystery and intangible horror of previous antagonists and for the first time, has more explicit personality and character motivations, making Vecna one of the most compelling and effective villains of the series.

The sequence in episode 4, “Dear Billy,” where Max (Sadie Sink) must confront Vecna, delivered one of the strongest moments for the entire series, with a needle drop so effective and emotionally resonant that it has brought Kate Bush back to the top of the charts.

Season four recognizes that Stranger Thing’s strength does reside solely in its 80s aesthetic, action sequences, or paranormal elements but rather in its characters. The jumping between multiple plotlines works because we care about each character.

This outstanding ensemble cast of characters is what drives the story and makes us care so deeply. They make everything in this series matter; they make it far more than an 80s sci-fi junk-food TV.

I haven’t even begun to touch on so many beautiful elements of the season so do yourself a favor and experience it for yourself.

Season 4 Vol. 1 vastly exceeded my expectations the only thing left to do if wait until July 1st for the release of Vol.2. If the quality of the first volume is anything to go by, it’s safe to say we’re all in for a satisfying conclusion.