It was never confirmed that he had died. I think in season 2 there were rumors and hints that he possibly survived the attack somehow. Which he clearly did as we see now in this season. He does have a big scar on one side of his face as well.
I just hope they are able to do a more creative finale than Eleven showing up last minute and defeating Vecna. They’ve done that every season finale and so it’s very repetitive.
I agree and yet…thats kind of her thing though, right? She comes swooping in at the eleventh (heh) hour and saves the day and we all love that.
Here's my prediction for the finale next month:
In the two hour finale, the Hawkins gang all confront Vecna, obviously they struggle without Eleven. El comes back, more powerful than ever, cool figh with Vecna ensues but shes still not powerful enough and gets beaten by him. He's just too strong from all the souls he's taken. All hope is lost, Vecna prepares to kill Eleven, but then Mike somehow saves her, sacrifices himself and dies. We get a heartbreaking speech thats probably going to break us all where Mike finally tells El, “I love you, I’ve always loved you, I've just been ...too afraid to say it.” Then dies. That then causes El to go all Dark Phoenix and tap into her hidden power and she becomes super saiyan Eleven and she really goes in on Vecna and destroys him. And so the season ends with on a sad emotional note. Eleven is heartbroken ...and determined to find a way to bring Mike back.
I agree and yet…thats kind of her thing though, right? She comes swooping in at the eleventh (heh) hour and saves the day and we all love that.
Here's my prediction for the finale next month:
In the two hour finale, the Hawkins gang all confront Vecna, obviously they struggle without Eleven. El comes back, more powerful than ever, cool figh with Vecna ensues but shes still not powerful enough and gets beaten by him. He's just too strong from all the souls he's taken. All hope is lost, Vecna prepares to kill Eleven, but then Mike somehow saves her, sacrifices himself and dies. We get a heartbreaking speech thats probably going to break us all where Mike finally tells El, “I love you, I’ve always loved you, I've just been ...too afraid to say it.” Then dies. That then causes El to go all Dark Phoenix and tap into her hidden power and she becomes super saiyan Eleven and she really goes in on Vecna and destroys him. And so the season ends with on a sad emotional note. Eleven is heartbroken ...and determined to find a way to bring Mike back.
Normally I'd say "What? They wouldn't dare kill Mike before the finale" but in this case it would pack a stronger emotional punch not just for Eleven but it also seems that Will has feelings for Mike that are more than just platonic, or so the show is strongly hinting. I don't want Mike to die but it would make for some powerful storytelling.
Normally I'd say "What? They wouldn't dare kill Mike before the finale" but in this case it would pack a stronger emotional punch not just for Eleven but it also seems that Will has feelings for Mike that are more than just platonic, or so the show is strongly hinting. I don't want Mike to die but it would make for some powerful storytelling.
make him come out. The show is telegraphing to the audiance that he’s gay; he clearly has feelings for Will, he rebuffs that girl who was flirting with him and he did his hero report on Alan Turing. I know it’s not easy to come out in high school, especially in the 1980s (and it wasn’t any easier in the 1990s, I can tell you from personal experience). But TV shows need to stop with the “are they or aren’t they?” tropes when it comes to LGBTQ+ characters. It doesn’t always need to be a big, shocking reveal to the audience. They already did that with Robin. Even if Will doesn’t want to come out to Mike and his friends yet, they shouldn’t feel like they also have to play coy with the audience.
make him come out. The show is telegraphing to the audiance that he’s gay; he clearly has feelings for Will, he rebuffs that girl who was flirting with him and he did his hero report on Alan Turing. I know it’s not easy to come out in high school, especially in the 1980s (and it wasn’t any easier in the 1990s, I can tell you from personal experience). But TV shows need to stop with the “are they or aren’t they?” tropes when it comes to LGBTQ+ characters. It doesn’t always need to be a big, shocking reveal to the audience. They already did that with Robin. Even if Will doesn’t want to come out to Mike and his friends yet, they shouldn’t feel like they also have to play coy with the audience.
they’ll follow a similar pattern to the last season and Will engages in an emotional conversation with Mike where he finally comes out to him in the penultimate episode of the season, just like they did with Robin to Steve in the mall bathroom.
they’ll follow a similar pattern to the last season and Will engages in an emotional conversation with Mike where he finally comes out to him in the penultimate episode of the season, just like they did with Robin and Steve in the bathroom.
Yeah that’s where I think they are going with it. But I just wish they wouldn’t go that route because they’ve already done that same thing with another character. It’s kind of a nitpick, I know. But it’s still kind of a troubling trope that I’ve seen on a lot of shows (even really good ones).
make him come out. The show is telegraphing to the audiance that he’s gay; he clearly has feelings for Will, he rebuffs that girl who was flirting with him and he did his hero report on Alan Turing. I know it’s not easy to come out in high school, especially in the 1980s (and it wasn’t any easier in the 1990s, I can tell you from personal experience). But TV shows need to stop with the “are they or aren’t they?” tropes when it comes to LGBTQ+ characters. It doesn’t always need to be a big, shocking reveal to the audience. They already did that with Robin. Even if Will doesn’t want to come out to Mike and his friends yet, they shouldn’t feel like they also have to play coy with the audience.
they’ll follow a similar pattern to the last season and Will engages in an emotional conversation with Mike where he finally comes out to him in the penultimate episode of the season, just like they did with Robin to Steve in the mall bathroom.
Yeah that’s where I think they are going with it. But I just wish they wouldn’t go that route because they’ve already done that same thing with another character. It’s kind of a nitpick, I know. But it’s still kind of a troubling trope that I’ve seen on a lot of shows (even really good ones).
I think that Will will come out to at least somebody (Jonathan maybe?) before season 4 is done. I don't think they'd be dropping all these hints like the painting just to leave it for the final season.
make him come out. The show is telegraphing to the audiance that he’s gay; he clearly has feelings for Will, he rebuffs that girl who was flirting with him and he did his hero report on Alan Turing. I know it’s not easy to come out in high school, especially in the 1980s (and it wasn’t any easier in the 1990s, I can tell you from personal experience). But TV shows need to stop with the “are they or aren’t they?” tropes when it comes to LGBTQ+ characters. It doesn’t always need to be a big, shocking reveal to the audience. They already did that with Robin. Even if Will doesn’t want to come out to Mike and his friends yet, they shouldn’t feel like they also have to play coy with the audience.
I thought they already did this in Season 3 episode 3. Will gets mad that no one wants to finish his campaign and runs home in the rain. Mike and Will argue a bit beforehand. Mike says "it's not my fault you don't like girls". Now this could be taken as Will is still not into girls yet, but I just thought he meant that Will is gay. So this new plot in Season 4 seems redundant. Although really only Mike has made mention of Will not liking girls. So this would be so all his friends and family knows.
I thought they already did this in Season 3 episode 3. Will gets mad that no one wants to finish his campaign and runs home in the rain. Mike and Will argue a bit beforehand. Mike says "it's not my fault you don't like girls". Now this could be taken as Will is still not into girls yet, but I just thought he meant that Will is gay. So this new plot in Season 4 seems redundant. Although really only Mike has made mention of Will not liking girls. So this would be so all his friends and family knows.
Mike's comment in season 3 was a lot more subtle and ambiguous than the hints we've been given in season 4. On the surface, I think Mike meant that Will doesn't like girls yet because he still wants to hold on to his childhood but it was also likely a seed planted by the writers in that moment to make the viewers think that Will could be gay.
Mike's comment in season 3 was a lot more subtle and ambiguous than the hints we've been given in season 4. On the surface, I think Mike meant that Will doesn't like girls yet because he still wants to hold on to his childhood but it was also likely a seed planted by the writers in that moment to make the viewers think that Will could be gay.
Season 3 was July 4th the night of the Mall fire. This show picks up March 21/22 so yeah it’s about 8-9 months later. Which for me the kids look right and it works for being that much time between. I have zero issue with it cause it realistically works.
I think this was the best season since season 1. It was clearly inspired by Nightmare on Elm St and It. My only issue is that there were just too many storylines going on. You had:
• Kids solving the mystery of Vecna
• Mike, Will, and Charlie out in the desert
• El trying to get her powers back
• Jocks trying to find Eddie
• Joyce and Murray trying to get to Russia
• Hopper trying to get out of prison
The last two felt completely disconnected from everything else and dragged the season down.
Mike, Will’s, and Charlie’s story felt superfluous as well.
The strength of the kids looking for Vecna, and Vecna being a good villain, is what saved the season.
I loved this season the most since 1… the characters and vibes are just great/peaking. BUT, was getting bored with Russia and almost stopped caring about Hopper. Also, while I liked the twist and reveals surrounding 11. I was getting tired of her being in the tank/in the clinic again. It all felt redundant - yet I really enjoyed her being “normal” and having high school girl clique issues.
Thought we were coming back for 5-7 more episodes. Really sad we’re waiting a month for just two more, while longer, episodes.
These episodes felt like it was mostly set up for what I am sure is going to be an epic, emotional finish next month. I think the two hour finale is going to be The Duffer Brothers' best work and is going to wreck us all emotionally. I am telling y'all
Mike is going to die saving Eleven and that will cause her TRUE power to emerge
Mike is my least favourite principle cast member. I'm sure Finn Wolfhard is a nice dude but some of the characters he plays have major obnoxious jerk vibes.
How Hopper doesn't have some permanent physical damage from all he endures is beyond me.
Max was the MVP.
All the Kate Bush loving made me think of number 1 Kate Bush stan, Big Boi from Outkast
I'm stressing for my boy Steve. There was some potential foreshadowing in the last episode that he may bite it. Won't surprise me since he's so lovable and is the fan-favorite character, so it'll hit hard. As long as it's done well I'm for it, I guess
Great season so far. Love how they went full on horror this time around after being more sci-fi in previous seasons. The actor who plays Vecna is downright creepy and so excellent in his role. His speech to El in episode 7 gave me major Joker vibes
It finally seems that this show is in the final stretch and will be reaching the endgame with one more season, maybe even two but that would be quite a stretch
These episodes felt like it was mostly set up for what I am sure is going to be an epic, emotional finish next month. I think the two hour finale is going to be The Duffer Brothers' best work and is going to wreck us all emotionally. I am telling y'all
Mike is going to die saving Eleven and that will cause her TRUE power to emerge
I doubt they would actually kill off any of the kids. Max I think is the closest thing they'll ever come to pushing that envelope (and the season 1 finale where Eleven 'desintegrated'). If anything, I'd say Steve is the one who's most likely to die now due those injuries (those veins looked really bad) and what might have been foreshadowing dialogue between him and Eddie in that one scene.
I'm stressing for my boy Steve. There was some potential foreshadowing in the last episode that he may bite it. Won't surprise me since he's so lovable and is the fan-favorite character, so it'll hit hard. As long as it's done well I'm for it, I guess
Yep which I’m wondering if everyone forgot it was Will’s birthday. Joyce preoccupied worrying about Hopper. His brother a major stoner now. El focused solely on Mike visiting and being with him. Could be another reason Will was so upset that day. I highly doubt it was an error and the Duffer Brothers forgot, I just don’t see them missing something like that. But it’s possible. I’m curious if it gets mentioned in Part 2.
AS I said earlier, I had the day off and binged the whole season on Friday. Here are my very long winded thoughts of the season so far with no spoilers:
Pros
-Acting still top notch. Especially from Sadie Sink (Max) and Millie Bobby Brown. Caleb Mclaughlin (Lucas) was a smaller standout to me too. He had a few good speeches like the one where he was talking about wanting to be one of the cool kids and a few of his moments with Max/Sink were well acted. Special mention to Charlie Heaton (Jonathan) too. He got to, briefly, flex his comedy chops a bit with the “Schmacked” and risotto scene and he did a good job of it.
-The cast and crew of this show are so good at introducing characters and making me really like them in such a short period of time. I’m always impressed with this. Eddie is great. Dmitri/Enzo in Russia was really cool. Argyle is hilarious, that actor is typecast to hell but he’s always funny. This is one of a few shows that there are little to no characters that I outright dislike. Which for a show with such a big cast, is impressive
-The cast still has great chemistry together.
-Glad to see Bauman (Brett Gelman), Owens (Paul Reiser) and Rob Morgan (Chief Powell) get larger roles. Even if Morgan’s isn’t that that much larger
-They’re able to up the scale every season and it never feels like too much or out of place
-The horror elements: man they were good. Obviously ST has always had horror elements but it was turned up to, no pun intended, 11 this season and it did not disappoint at all. Had me thinking how funny it is that with PG13 you couldn’t get away with most of this stuff except for maybe brief moments, but TV-14 you can see a prolonged shot of someone getting their skull eaten. (and yes I know the rating systems for TV and movies are different and that two differing governing bodies rate TVs and movies. But still it is funny for me)
The whole episode of “Dear Billy.” I try not to say things are the best or worst thing ever right after they come out…but next to “The Disappearance of Will Byers” and “The Spy” this is one of the best singular episodes of the show so far. Sadie Sink’s acting, the Kate Bush scene (one of the best scenes in Stranger Things period imo), the asylum scene, the Creel flashback, and the gun fight…Damn the gun fight. I said it in another thread, but that gun fight is one of the best ones I’ve seen in years. Usually you see a gun fight from the perspective of some bad ass character like recently John Wick or Chris Hemsworth in Extraction; but here it actually made being in a situation like that thrilling and scary (Noah Schnapps’s freaking out acting was great). Haven’t seen that in a long time and even then rarely ever in movies
-I have really been enjoying the villain so far. All the other villains were kinda forces of nature so it was good to get one who also had some more of a speaking role and an interesting backstory.
And now for the cons
-I predicted this going in, but there are too many characters and storylines. This was the main problem. One of the things that made season 1 so good is that it was really tightly paced and structured. Each main story line was like it’s own little genre too
-Plot A: The Party and Eleven doing their Amblin ET thing
-Plot B: Nancy and Jonathan doing their teen horror thing
-Plot C: Joyce and her fantasty mystery storyline
-Plot D: Hopper and his government conspiracy story
All got equal time and converged together at the end perfectly. And also they all were kicked off by one inciting incident: Will disappearing.
In later seasons, this kinda got a way from the makers of the show. ST2, which is tied with ST as my favorite season, had a smaller issue with Eleven just off doing her own thing and feeling really separate from the main plot. ST3 it was a lot worst. And not with ST4 the characters feel so far removed from each other. Not just physically.
In ST4 this is how I’m looking at the plotlines
-Plot A: Joyce and Baumann trying to get Hopper out of Russia
-Plot B: Hopper trying to get out of Russian prison
-Plot C: The California crew
-Plot D: Eleven's story
-Plot E: The Hawkins storyline. But this one is interesting because there are a bunch of little sub storylines in this plot that
-Plot E1: Dustin, Steve, Max, and Robin searching for answers
-Plot E2: Nancy doing her reporter research thing
-Plot E3: Lucas and The lynch mob
And sure a lot of those subplots did converge, but then depending on the episode you had Robin and Nancy going off and doing their own thing creating a whole new subplot. And some of the plots felt so disconnected. Like Joyce, Baumann, and Hopper have no idea what’s even going on in Hawkins. The California gang has some idea but they’re more concerned about Eleven than getting to Hawkins to help. As I said about season 1, it was best structured when there was one inciting incident that kicked off all of the plots. And due to all the plots some thing fell off the radar
Some characters suffered due to this. Mike has nothing to do other than pine after Eleven (been the case since s2). Jonathan has been pretty aimless since the end of season 1. Will has had nothing to do the last 2 season other than them hinting (more like hitting with a sledgehammer) the fact that he’s closeted gay and be sad*. Would’ve rather had seen them get more to do instead of focusing on the, still good but one-note characters. Like Argyle is hilarious but that’s all he really is. Comedy relief. Jason is an interesting character. But do we really need that much time with him? Is he even needed at all? Stopping the whole show to go to Utah and having that whole Cheaper By the Dozen routine? Very funny…but was it needed Again I didn’t dislike any of the characters, but I would’ve removed or retooled the Lynch mob and Nancy being a reporter subplots. Just felt like they ate a bit of screentime.
-Kinda going off of the last point, due to there being too many plot the pacing was way off. I don’t know whose idea it was to supersize the episodes, but that didn’t help at all. Still not enough time and honestly made the plots get stretched out. Hopper along with Joyce and Baumann’s subplot really dragged as the season went on. So did Eleven’s but at least the pay off is great. Hopefully Hopper and Joyce’s storylines pay off well in the next 2 eps
-The whole Steve and Nancy romance tease feels very unnecessary and honestly makes Nancy seem kinda annoying. Yes, I get that that is realistic and people do this all the time. Doesn’t mean I want to see it in Stranger Things. Break up Jonathan and Nancy, sure. But we resolved the love triangle like 2 seasons ago. No need to bring it back. Especially when the characters had grown and moved on and there’s already so many plots and subplots.
-*Will’s sexuality. I think it’s cool they’re making Will gay. However, it seems like that’s the only thing they know what to do with him. The way the handle Robin is great. Her being a lesbian is a big part of her, but it’s not all her character is. She’s smart, she’s funny, and she actually feels more involved in plots. She had that great moment in the asylum director’s office. Will hasn’t had that so far this season. Will hasn’t even really gotten comedy moments or happy moments. It’s just a bummer almost every time this kid is on screen. We don't even get to see him interact with I wish they at least gave him some friends in Cali. Not even a boyfriend and it doesn’t even need to be a lot. Just at least 1 other than Eleven. At least this season we finally see Jonathan with a friend. Give him something other than a) he's sad b) he's closeted
-I hated how often they used “SMASH CUT TO BLACK” in the middle of episodes. They used it effectively in “Dear Billy” but it was pretty obnoxious. Yes, you can just check how much runtime is left in an episode but it felt weird that they kept trying to trick viewers into thinking it was the end of the episode
-I’m getting a bit tired of the bullying. I’m not saying it’s not realistic. I’m not saying this kind of stuff didn’t/doesn't happen. But it’s a bit excessive and very over the top. You can be realistic and still over the top. And it seems like the ST writers (and a lot of writers of high school stuff) only know how to depict bullying in one way. It’s gotten really boring and it’s starting to lose its effect seeing the same high school bully tropes over and over. I don’t care that it’s an homage, I don’t care if it’s realistic. It’s not compelling anymore
Minor nitpicks/thoughts:
-Characters have gotten to slasher movie levels of silly/stupid. This started in season 2 but got worse
-I feel like the 80s references keep getting amped up each season and now it's just too much honestly. It's gotten to the point things don't feel inspired by or homages to various 80s shows, music, films, etc. They feel like parody and even caricatures.
-This isn't an issue just an observation about the villain
I was sure that the school counselor was going to be Vecna.
-Very unforunate release timing with some of the scenes with the Uvedale terrorist attack. As I said days ago, I wasn't personally bothered but I see why they added the disclaimer
So that’s my English essay on Stranger Things 4 PT 1. Still think it's a really good season. I know PT 2 is only 2 eps but I’m hearing a rumor that they will be super sized. 1 ep being 90 mins and another being around 2hrs30 mins…we’ll see.
AS I said earlier, I had the day off and binged the whole season on Friday. Here are my very long winded thoughts of the season so far with no spoilers:
Pros
-Acting still top notch. Especially from Sadie Sink (Max) and Millie Bobby Brown. Caleb Mclaughlin (Lucas) was a smaller standout to me too. He had a few good speeches like the one where he was talking about wanting to be one of the cool kids and a few of his moments with Max/Sink were well acted. Special mention to Charlie Heaton (Jonathan) too. He got to, briefly, flex his comedy chops a bit with the “Schmacked” and risotto scene and he did a good job of it.
-The cast and crew of this show are so good at introducing characters and making me really like them in such a short period of time. I’m always impressed with this. Eddie is great. Dmitri/Enzo in Russia was really cool. Argyle is hilarious, that actor is typecast to hell but he’s always funny. This is one of a few shows that there are little to no characters that I outright dislike. Which for a show with such a big cast, is impressive
-The cast still has great chemistry together.
-Glad to see Bauman (Brett Gelman), Owens (Paul Reiser) and Rob Morgan (Chief Powell) get larger roles. Even if Morgan’s isn’t that that much larger
-They’re able to up the scale every season and it never feels like too much or out of place
-The horror elements: man they were good. Obviously ST has always had horror elements but it was turned up to, no pun intended, 11 this season and it did not disappoint at all. Had me thinking how funny it is that with PG13 you couldn’t get away with most of this stuff except for maybe brief moments, but TV-14 you can see a prolonged shot of someone getting their skull eaten. (and yes I know the rating systems for TV and movies are different and that two differing governing bodies rate TVs and movies. But still it is funny for me)
The whole episode of “Dear Billy.” I try not to say things are the best or worst thing ever right after they come out…but next to “The Disappearance of Will Byers” and “The Spy” this is one of the best singular episodes of the show so far. Sadie Sink’s acting, the Kate Bush scene (one of the best scenes in Stranger Things period imo), the asylum scene, the Creel flashback, and the gun fight…Damn the gun fight. I said it in another thread, but that gun fight is one of the best ones I’ve seen in years. Usually you see a gun fight from the perspective of some bad ass character like recently John Wick or Chris Hemsworth in Extraction; but here it actually made being in a situation like that thrilling and scary (Noah Schnapps’s freaking out acting was great). Haven’t seen that in a long time and even then rarely ever in movies
-I have really been enjoying the villain so far. All the other villains were kinda forces of nature so it was good to get one who also had some more of a speaking role and an interesting backstory.
And now for the cons
-I predicted this going in, but there are too many characters and storylines. This was the main problem. One of the things that made season 1 so good is that it was really tightly paced and structured. Each main story line was like it’s own little genre too
-Plot A: The Party and Eleven doing their Amblin ET thing
-Plot B: Nancy and Jonathan doing their teen horror thing
-Plot C: Joyce and her fantasty mystery storyline
-Plot D: Hopper and his government conspiracy story
All got equal time and converged together at the end perfectly. And also they all were kicked off by one inciting incident: Will disappearing.
In later seasons, this kinda got a way from the makers of the show. ST2, which is tied with ST as my favorite season, had a smaller issue with Eleven just off doing her own thing and feeling really separate from the main plot. ST3 it was a lot worst. And not with ST4 the characters feel so far removed from each other. Not just physically.
In ST4 this is how I’m looking at the plotlines
-Plot A: Joyce and Baumann trying to get Hopper out of Russia
-Plot B: Hopper trying to get out of Russian prison
-Plot C: The California crew
-Plot D: Eleven's story
-Plot E: The Hawkins storyline. But this one is interesting because there are a bunch of little sub storylines in this plot that
-Plot E1: Dustin, Steve, Max, and Robin searching for answers
-Plot E2: Nancy doing her reporter research thing
-Plot E3: Lucas and The lynch mob
And sure a lot of those subplots did converge, but then depending on the episode you had Robin and Nancy going off and doing their own thing creating a whole new subplot. And some of the plots felt so disconnected. Like Joyce, Baumann, and Hopper have no idea what’s even going on in Hawkins. The California gang has some idea but they’re more concerned about Eleven than getting to Hawkins to help. As I said about season 1, it was best structured when there was one inciting incident that kicked off all of the plots. And due to all the plots some thing fell off the radar
Some characters suffered due to this. Mike has nothing to do other than pine after Eleven (been the case since s2). Jonathan has been pretty aimless since the end of season 1. Will has had nothing to do the last 2 season other than them hinting (more like hitting with a sledgehammer) the fact that he’s closeted gay and be sad*. Would’ve rather had seen them get more to do instead of focusing on the, still good but one-note characters. Like Argyle is hilarious but that’s all he really is. Comedy relief. Jason is an interesting character. But do we really need that much time with him? Is he even needed at all? Stopping the whole show to go to Utah and having that whole Cheaper By the Dozen routine? Very funny…but was it needed Again I didn’t dislike any of the characters, but I would’ve removed or retooled the Lynch mob and Nancy being a reporter subplots. Just felt like they ate a bit of screentime.
-Kinda going off of the last point, due to there being too many plot the pacing was way off. I don’t know whose idea it was to supersize the episodes, but that didn’t help at all. Still not enough time and honestly made the plots get stretched out. Hopper along with Joyce and Baumann’s subplot really dragged as the season went on. So did Eleven’s but at least the pay off is great. Hopefully Hopper and Joyce’s storylines pay off well in the next 2 eps
-The whole Steve and Nancy romance tease feels very unnecessary and honestly makes Nancy seem kinda annoying. Yes, I get that that is realistic and people do this all the time. Doesn’t mean I want to see it in Stranger Things. Break up Jonathan and Nancy, sure. But we resolved the love triangle like 2 seasons ago. No need to bring it back. Especially when the characters had grown and moved on and there’s already so many plots and subplots.
-*Will’s sexuality. I think it’s cool they’re making Will gay. However, it seems like that’s the only thing they know what to do with him. The way the handle Robin is great. Her being a lesbian is a big part of her, but it’s not all her character is. She’s smart, she’s funny, and she actually feels more involved in plots. She had that great moment in the asylum director’s office. Will hasn’t had that so far this season. Will hasn’t even really gotten comedy moments or happy moments. It’s just a bummer almost every time this kid is on screen. We don't even get to see him interact with I wish they at least gave him some friends in Cali. Not even a boyfriend and it doesn’t even need to be a lot. Just at least 1 other than Eleven. At least this season we finally see Jonathan with a friend. Give him something other than a) he's sad b) he's closeted
-I hated how often they used “SMASH CUT TO BLACK” in the middle of episodes. They used it effectively in “Dear Billy” but it was pretty obnoxious. Yes, you can just check how much runtime is left in an episode but it felt weird that they kept trying to trick viewers into thinking it was the end of the episode
-I’m getting a bit tired of the bullying. I’m not saying it’s not realistic. I’m not saying this kind of stuff didn’t/doesn't happen. But it’s a bit excessive and very over the top. You can be realistic and still over the top. And it seems like the ST writers (and a lot of writers of high school stuff) only know how to depict bullying in one way. It’s gotten really boring and it’s starting to lose its effect seeing the same high school bully tropes over and over. I don’t care that it’s an homage, I don’t care if it’s realistic. It’s not compelling anymore
Minor nitpicks/thoughts:
-Characters have gotten to slasher movie levels of silly/stupid
-I feel like the 80s references keep getting amped up each season and now it's just too much honestly. It's gotten to the point things don't feel inspired by or homages to things. They feel like parody and caricatures.
-This isn't an issue just an observation about the villain
I was sure that the school counselor was going to be Vecna.
So that’s my English essay on Stranger Things 4 PT 1. Still think it's a really good season. I know PT 2 is only 2 eps but I’m hearing a rumor that they will be super sized. 1 ep being 90 mins and another being around 2hrs30 mins…we’ll see.
Have to agree big time on the pacing. Glad I’m not the only one. I remember when i initially found out that the episodes this season were going to be oversized, my initial reaction was excitement because…that means more content, right? And more time with Stranger Things cant be a bad thing. But i think that this was a prime example of why most tv shows stay within that 40-50 min range with their episode times.
I found myself mentally checking out a few times and I dont think ive ever been bored with ST before. Now I definitely believe its directly linked to the supersized runtimes and how everything was paced. Dont get me wrong, its not that was happening on screen was bad or anything but i found it hard to be engaged at times.
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