“Stranger Things” returns after a month-long gap to bring audiences an action-packed, four-hour event. It takes the show’s beloved characters on an epic cinematic adventure. Season 4 Volume 2 puts “Stranger Things” on a scale never before seen for the Netflix Original. It takes a 180º from the normally Hawkins-located final showdown, opting for an international stage for the climax of this colossal quest. There’s never a dull moment with the second instalment of “Stranger Things” Season 4. It is a mammoth four-hours of storytelling, topfull of gut-wrenching emotion, high stakes, and powerful performances.
Volume 2 picks up directly from the events of the previous episode “Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab,” with Nancy (Natalia Dyer) trapped under Vecna’s curse. It also meets up with a young version of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). She is caught by Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) after sending One (Jamie Campbell Bower) to the Upside Down. What follows in these thrilling two episodes, titled “Chapter Eight: Papa” and “Chapter Nine: The Piggyback” is a monumental race to the finish as our characters attempt to save Hawkins and the entire world from the vicious grasp of Vecna (a grotesque creature from the Upside Down) and stop him once and for all. However, with the characters facing evil on a scale unlike they’ve seen before, will their heroic efforts save the day? Or will Hawkins fall, and their endeavours be for nothing?
Another Volume of Strong Performances
Like the performance she gave in Volume 1, Sadie Sink delivers another masterful turn as Max Mayfield. We see the character come to terms with her true feelings about her brother Billy, and put herself at risk for the sake of saving the world. On top of her turn as the tortured teen, Sink shares incredible chemistry with fellow cast member Caleb McLaughlin (who happens to play Max’s boyfriend Lucas) that makes for some incredible scenes between the pair. This includes a phenomenal scene in “The Piggyback” that will move any audience member to tears.
However, Sink isn’t the only cast member to deliver a brilliant performance across both episodes. New addition to the cast, Joseph Quinn, delivers a brilliant continuation of his portrayal of Hellfire club leader Eddie Munson. Volume 2 even shows Quinn even playing guitar himself in a unique performance of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.” Joe Keery delivers another brilliant turn as fan-favourite character Steve Harrington. He also shares some emotional scenes amid the chaos with ex-girlfriend Nancy that tugs on your heartstrings.
At this point it won’t be a surprise that Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour give incredible performances once again. They share a heavily-anticipated reunion in the final moments of Episode 9. However, cast member Noah Schnapp, playing Will Byers, especially surprises within these two episodes.
Audiences see Will’s character go down a different path this season. Instead of being plagued by the Upside Down, we see Will deal with issues regarding his sexuality amongst other things. Schnapp’s performance in these two episodes is a step-up from his previous outings as Will Byers. He delivers some the most emotional moments of the season. This includes a sentimental scene with on-screen brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton). It doesn’t blatantly address Will’s sexuality (like Robin’s coming-out scene to Steve in Season 3). Instead it opts for a heart-warming scene between the brothers where Jonathan makes sure Will knows he’s always going to be there for him and vice versa.
Fleshing Out the Series’ Many Relationships
Volume 2 continues with the return of the show’s iconic relationships, as well as rekindling former flames or new romances. Volume 2 gives viewers further hints at a potential reunion between past lovers Steve Harrington (Keery) and Nancy Wheeler (Dyer). This includes a scene where Steve tells Nancy about what he imagines in his future, then in a follow up scene telling her that he saw Nancy in his future with him. One of the final scenes sees Robin (Maya Hawke) finally pluck up the courage to talk to her crush Vickie. The two sharing a scene where they realise how similar they are, giving audiences hope for a Season 5 romance.
Also Read: Review: ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Volume 1 Sets itself up to be the Strongest of the Series
(**spoilers**) In addition to this, we also get to see more of Steve and Robin’s iconic friendship in these two episodes, including more scenes where Steve helps Robin with her love life. However, not every relationship in “Stranger Things” is smooth sailing. We see cracks in Nancy and Jonathan’s relationship come to the surface, hinting at issues to be explored next season.
Not only do the characters based in Hawkins have to deal with Vecna head on, but the gang also faces trouble from Jason (Mason Dye) and his gang of jocks on their mission to avenge Chrissy’s (Jason’s girlfriend) death. They do this by hunting down both Eddie Munson, who they suspect of murdering Chrissy. However, her death was actually caused by Vecna, and Eddie’s Hellfire club which Dustin and Lucas belong to. Jason is ultimately successful on his quest for revenge. Finding Lucas results in Max being Vecna’s fourth and final victim. However, Jason ends up succumbing to a brutal death made all the more satisfying after his actions prior.
Some Sad Developments this Volume (Spoilers Ahead)
Volume 2 keeps the Duffer brother’s promise of having a body count. However, the ones that actually end up perishing during the four-hour finale are far from who audiences might expect. Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, Eddie Munson, and Robin Buckley were among the characters audiences predicted to not survive the last two episodes, especially Nancy given her precarious position at the end of Volume 1.
However, three out of four of the older teens in Hawkins do make it out of the final battle alive. (**major spoilers**) But new fan-favourite Eddie Munson is unfortunately among the dead by the time the credits roll, suffering a brutal and avoidable death after sacrificing himself to save the town that now hates him. Eddie’s death is arguably one of the most avoidable in the entire show. Lazy writing results in Dustin failing to reach Eddie in time before the Demobats viciously attack him. This leads to a heart-breaking scene between Quinn and Matarazzaro that will move almost any viewer to tears.
If Eddie’s death wasn’t sad enough on its own, the Duffer brothers make the episode cut from Eddie’s death directly into a truly devastating scene with Max and Lucas, kicking audiences when they’re already down. Although Eddie’s character does get some sort of closure in a scene between Dustin and Eddie’s uncle Wayne (Joel Stoffer) where Dustin tells him a watered-down version of what happened to Eddie. Another character that ends up dying in volume two is Matthew Modine’s Dr Brenner/Papa. He has previously been a father figure and mentor to Eleven. The two share an emotional scene before he dies in the middle of the Nevada desert. (**end spoilers**).
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Episodes 8 and 9 also give audiences more of understanding of how the villain of Vecna came to be. Jamie Campbell Bower, who delivers another terrifying performance as he portrays the horrifying villain, shares a chilling scene with Sadie Sink and Millie Bobby Brown that allows Bower’s to explain his apocalyptic plans to Eleven. This scene features stunning performances from Brown and Bower. It also reveals that Vecna has been the villain ravaging the quiet town of Hawkins all along. This sends the Demogorgons in Season 1 to discover Hawkins’ weaknesses, launching a much larger attack in Season 2, complete with Demodogs and sprawling Upside Down tunnels, and a fleshy monster hellbent on destroying Eleven.
Our Characters Have Grown, and Volume 2 Shows It
The scene is necessary in terms of context. However, the way it’s shoehorned into the final episode ends up causing some issues regarding timing. It’s an issue that results in Steve, Robin, and Nancy appearing to be strangled in the Upside Down for 30 minutes.
Much like how the show’s audience has matured and grown since the release of “Stranger Things” in 2016, Volume 2 shows just how much our web of characters has grown since the first season. We see Eleven becoming her own person, finally free from the grasp of her Papa. Steve also realises how much he’s matured compared to prior seasons (even thanking Nancy for breaking up with him in Season 2, claiming it gave him the thump on the head he needed to become the person he is today).
But we also see how Eddie has grown since he was first introduced in Volume 1. In this Volume, he becomes someone that doesn’t run away from danger. He echoes his words from his conversation with Steve in “The Massacre at Hawkins Lab” where he says, “I see danger and I just turn heel and run.” We also see themes of sacrifice scattered throughout Volume 2, including when Max puts herself at risk so the rest of the Hawkins gang can fight Vecna, and when (**spoilers**) Eddie sacrifices himself for the greater good of Hawkins, deciding to be a hero instead of someone that runs away. And like any other instalment of “Stranger Things,” themes of friendship are strong throughout both episodes.
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Top-Notch Sound and Production Elements
These two episodes are also a continuation of this season’s top-notch technical aspects. Caleb Heymann and Lachlan Milne create stunning visuals that are just another example of the show’s consistently magnificent cinematography. Additionally, composers Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein mix synthy ’80s sounds and intense classical pieces to provide Volume 2. They provide a sensational score that showcases both the horror-focused sides of the show as well as the more upbeat parts of the episodes. We also hear the return of “Stranger Things”‘ reworked version of Kate Bush’s “Running up That Hill” shown in the trailers.
The adapted version of the ’80s hit pairs perfectly for an intense final battle spread across three locations. The first one being when Hopper (Harbour) valiantly slays a Demogorgon with a sword that seems to appear from nowhere. This is followed by the second, when Eleven seemingly defeats Vecna in the Upside Down, and a third scene where Steve, Robin and Nancy attack Vecna’s physical body with molotov cocktails in the Upside Down.
Setting Up the Anticipation for Season 5
Despite Episode 9’s hefty 139-minute run-time, the jam-packed episode doesn’t drag on in the slightest. It delivers audiences a sensational episode to leave the season on. However, the last half hour of the episode spends its time on reunions. Tying off loose ends and setting up Season 5 does end up causing some issues. It leaves some questions around what happened directly after the characters ‘defeated’ Vecna. It also makes us question how the characters in the Upside Down got back to the real world as a result of Vecna’s plan coming partly to fruition.
The final episode also ends Season 4 on a sombre note compared to previous seasons, with a final scene that reveals their fight to prevent the Upside Down from seeping into the real world was unsuccessful, and with red lightning, rotting plants and a return of the show’s iconic theme lets audiences know the Upside Down is never truly gone. It’s hard to ignore the similarities in the ending of Episode 9 and how eerily similar it is to the ending of the 2018 film “Avengers: Infinity War,” with both leaving their characters defeated.
We can only hope that Season 5 (expected to debut in 2024) will be a thrilling follow-up, much like “Infinity War’s” follow up “Avengers: Endgame.”
“Stranger Things” is available to stream on Netflix.
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