‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Part 1 Review: The Netflix Sci-Fi Thriller Turns Supernatural Horror

This season proves to be the most thematically conscious yet, exploring the weight of unhealed trauma and the process of grief.

This season proves to be the most thematically conscious yet, exploring the weight of unhealed trauma and the process of grief. In light of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, TX, this theme is disturbingly relevant. After last season’s tragic ending, everyone in Stranger Things seems stuck in limbo. Some are in denial, others are numb, but everyone is grieving – even if they refuse to admit it. 

It’s the spring of 1986, hormones are raging, and all the moms are scared of DND. This season highlights Max, who’s still trapped under the guilt of her brother Billy’s death, while Hawkins is haunted by a menacing demon preying on local teens. The Byers’ fresh start in California with Eleven is a total bust, and Hopper is miraculously alive, albeit trapped in a corrupt Russian prison. Thankfully, some much-needed levity is provided by Steve and Robin’s lovesick antics and new cast members like brazen metalhead Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), who runs the DND Hellfire Club, and Jonathan’s clueless stoner-bud, Argyle (Eduardo Franco). I’m also excited to see spunky straight-shooter Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson) get more screen time since she practically steals every scene.

No one does a throwback like Stranger Things, and this season is packed with more nostalgic nods and Easter eggs than any ‘80s kid or horror movie buff could ever want. The soundtrack, wardrobe, and production design made me feel like I was transported back to The Babysitters Club in the best way. I especially enjoyed the introduction of an ‘80s rocker aesthetic. Of course, believing this season is set a mere six months after the third season took some imagination, considering the three-year gap since we last saw Hawkins in 2019. However, the most challenging aspect of this season for me was the horror content which left absolutely nothing to the imagination in the cruelest way. I get that it needs to be believable – but did we really need a recap of all the paranormal murders every episode? Honestly, no.

To me, Stranger Things has always been a classic good vs. evil story gift-wrapped as a sci-fi dramedy/thriller where the heroes and villains are clearly defined. Unlike its predecessors, this season has us questioning who the good guys are and if they were ever truly good. One of our heroes confesses through tears, “Everyone I love, I hurt”. Concurrently, the supernatural evil terrorizing Hawkins targets those struggling with shame or self-hatred through their thoughts. In previous seasons, each villain certainly preyed on the weak. Still, this time it’s definitely personal and alludes to what I imagine will be the ultimate villain in the final season: original evil. I would love to dive deeper and peel back the spiritual layers hidden in Stranger Things, but this is a review, not a dissertation. 

I respect the Duffer Brothers for allowing Stranger Things to be the canvas for a larger conversation about shame and healing from past trauma. It’s worth noting that multiple characters in this season use art to process their experiences, one of them saying, “…It’s easier to draw it out than explain it”. We’ve seen this before with Will throughout the series, but I felt like it was the Duffer Brothers’ way of reminding us just how powerful and healing creative storytelling can be when words fall short on a larger scale.

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