Alright nerds, we’re almost there. May 27th. You got that? May 27th is the day we’re getting the first half of Stranger Things season 4. Then, we’re getting the second half on July 1st. HooWEE, it’s gonna be a long season. You can do this. We can do this. We’ve already waited through an entire pandemic for this—just a few more weeks and we’ll finally get to return to Hawkins.
But I get it if you’re chomping at the bit for whatever you can get your hands on. Admittedly, I dropped off the hype train as soon as quarantine began, so realizing there was all this juicy info for season 4 was an absolute treat. I now want to impart all I’ve learned onto you, so you have something to jaw on until the 27th.
So strap in, get your butts ready for your couch, and yank those tinfoil hats outta your dresser, because it’s speculation city from now ’til release.
What we do know
Going off the trailers, we can make a few things out. First and foremost, Eleven and Will are having a rough time in high school in California. In particular, focus is given to Eleven, as she’s technically going to school with other kids her age for the very first time—and these kids are Californian, so, speaking as a Californian, they’re gonna be more than a little brutal with the seemingly-bumpkin-y El.
Baby girl, I’m sorry. If you were any other girl, I’d tell you to just wait it out, but it doesn’t seem like you have that luxury.
Indeed, there’s a new peril threatening the world, as we all expected there would be. In another trailer, our new villain is introduced: a humanoid being with tendrils and fleshy, grey ridges of skin, whom the Duffer Brothers have confirmed is named Vecna. Apparently, Vecna is also the name of a character in DnD—a powerful lich with aspirations of godhood. That would certainly pair well with his ambitions for Hawkins, as he tells the kiddos that they’ve “broken everything,” and that their “suffering is almost at an end.”
Not good. And that’s only the half of it.
These trailers, and all the other promotional material, make it clear that this season will be markedly darker than prior seasons. It seems like Stranger Things is having its Harry Potter moment: whereas we once chuckled at the precocious kids swearing and running around town, now Cedric Diggory is dying all over again. Then again, this series was always a little dark and creepy; it makes sense that now, after playing around with absurdist sci-fi tropes in prior seasons, they’re really leaning into the scary bits now.
Poor Max, in particular, will get the brunt of it. The official trailer opens with her visiting her late brother Billy’s grave, which, already, is an ouch. But then she, while surrounded by the Crew, starts levitating, seemingly against her own volition. Some fans are speculating that, like her brother before her, she’ll become a vessel for the Mind Flayer. But I sure hope not, because damn, my girl got shafted last season. Give her a break from boys. Let her have her own damn powers.
Then there’s Hop. Yes, yes, we were all hoping to see Hop, did we really think he was dead though? Come on, it’s Stranger Things—the Duffer Bros are menaces, but they’re not monsters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Hop’s gonna have an easy go of it, as he’s being held hostage by…the Russians, I think? I’m only hesitant because it’s likely a red herring playing off the last season, but we’ll see. I just hope he gets to be reunited with his kid again.
To cap it off, this is Netflix’s official synopsis for the season:
It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.
Netflix
Full Cast
Don’t worry fam, your favorites are coming back: the main cast of last season will be returning, with Robin, Erica, and Murray being bumped up to regulars (huzzah!). Gotta say, though, it’ll be weird seeing the kids as adults playing kids. We can blame that on COVID, of course, but still, it’s a little strange seeing sweet lil bowlcut Will from the last few seasons, and now seeing him with the chin of a grown man, playing a high schooler.
But hey, they’re still younger than the “teenagers” in Euphoria, so it shouldn’t be too hard to suspend your disbelief.
We’re also getting some new cast members—quite a few, in fact! In particular, three new dudes are joining the main cast: Jamie Campbell Bower, Eduardo Franco, and Joseph Quinn. Respectively, they’ll be portraying Peter Ballard, an orderly at the local mental hospital (which will be an important location this season); Argyle, Jonathan’s best friend (yay, he has friends other than Nancy!); and Eddie Munson, the leader of Hawkins’ DnD club (LOL).
But wait, there’s more. More than you probably want to read about, since we don’t know as much about these new casties, but if you’re interested, PopSugar has provided an extensive rundown of the new cast members’ backgrounds. The short and simple of it is, most of them either have to do with El and Will’s new school or the ~super-secret happenings~ behind the scenes.
Perhaps the most interesting additions will be the Creel family, who lived in the frightening house that served as a portal to the Upside Down (which our heroes dealt with previously). We’ll be meeting Victor Creel—the man who snapped and killed his family after unnamed supernatural events—who will be played by Robert Englund. We also have his wife and daughter on the list, most likely coming up during flashbacks, and played by Tyner Rushing and Livi Burch.
…and okay, yes, Mrs. Wheeler is coming back. But so is Ted, so don’t get your hopes up.
Speculations Abound
Many fans are taking their theories and running with them. In one corner, we have the ‘Billy is Vecna’ crew. In another, we have the ‘Barb is Vecna’ crew. And in that corner over there, we have a very vocal minority demanding that we see Mr. Clarke again.
You tell us what you think. Any theories a-brewin’, or has it been too long since the last season and you barely even know where to begin? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
(Featured Image: Netflix)
