What Is the Story About?
Stranger Things 4 resumes months after the evening of the previous season. The friends are now separated, with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) moving to a different High School and dealing with bullies on her own. Meanwhile, one after another, horrific deaths of teens are shaking the world of Hawkins. And the next target is one among the friends, Max (Sadie Sink).
How does Max find out the truth related to the murders? Who is behind them, and can her friends save her? What is happening to Eleven, and will she regain her powers? The answers to all these questions and a few more comprise Stranger Thing’s season four.
Performances?
Most of the critical actors of Stranger Things are reprising their parts. Millie Bobby Brown (as Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Joe Keery (Steeve), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Sadie Sink (Max), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan) etc. redo their teen acts with aplomb. Their chemistry has grown with each season, and it remains a major highlight.
In season 4, Millie Bobby Brown has very little to do with the friend’s gang as she has demons to deal with. She is terrific in the intense moments with the right mix of fear, anger and rage. Joe Keery continues his lovely act, whereas Natalia Dyer becomes more tolerable. The rest of the actors are all superb irrespective of the length. Eduardo Franco is a new addition to them, and he is fun to watch.
We have the adults doing some action and comedy in a separate track. This includes the likes of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Brett Gelman from previous seasons and Thomas Wlaschiha, Nikola Duricko, and Jamie Campbell Bower as the latest entrants.
Winona Ryder doesn’t have much to do in this season, barring a few moments. David Harbour, who slipped into the action hero space in the previous season, continues to revel in the zone. Thomas Wlaschiha has good combination scenes with him. Brett Gelman’s character length increases, and he is alright, providing fun and breaking tension at regular intervals. Jamie Campbell shines in the season’s final moments.
Analysis
The Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators, direct the series along with Shawn Levy and Nimrod Antal. Season 4 expands the universe of the series with a new monster Vecna and connects some previously unresolved threads.
The first thing that is instantly palpable with the new season is that it is more serious than all previous ones. The ‘horror’ track and the monster drive the narrative compared to what we have seen so far. This change in tone makes ‘Season 4’ darker. The seven episodes each have a length of over an hour which makes Season 4 the lengthiest of them all.
However, the screenplay is racy (mostly) and keeps things moving along with one thing or the other happening all the time. A lot is happening and revealed story-wise, which makes the excruciating length worth it.
The problem that occurs is intermediary when dealing with certain arcs. The teen drama doesn’t appeal anymore as it has a been-there-done-that before kind of feel. But, it is still well done and enacted.
The Russian track throws the viewers into a completely different space. There is a visible shift in tone, style and drama. Again, it is well done, but the unevenness and length issues can be felt simultaneously.
And finally, the main thread related to Vecna is superb. Stranger Things 4 gets into straight-up horror space with the track. The connection of all the younger star cast with this thread takes time, especially involving Eleven. It is frustrating in parts, but it all ends with a bang leaving one curious for the concluding volumes to be out as soon as possible. /
Overall, Stranger Things 4 is less fun and tiring due to runtime and theme. But in the end, it is worth the wait and watch due to the core content, related drama and thrills. If you have been following the series, it is an automatic must-watch. Even if not, it can be given a try.
Other Artists?
Matthew Modine has a critical role as the scientist creating Eleven. All his scenes provide an element of intrigue and creepiness, both of which are handled well by the actor. Paul Reiser is fine but is a little underutilised here. The rest of the actors do their parts adequately.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score and the choice of music are extraordinary throughout the show. It is no different in the fourth season. The editing is slick and neat, mixing different threads properly without too much confusion or chaos. The cinematography adds to the mood as always. The writing is consistently good.
Highlights?
Story
Thrills
BGM
Performances
Drawbacks?
Length
Uneven In Parts
Slow Pace
Did I Enjoy It?
YesWill You Recommend It?
YesStranger Things Season 4 Web Series Review by Binged Bureau
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