The following review will contain spoilers for "Stranger Things" Vol. 2. If you haven't seen it yet and would like to avoid spoilers, please click away.
I was really looking forward to "Stranger Things" Vol. 2. Summer is the most difficult time for me mentally, and I really needed something to comfort me during these times. Instead, what I got was a numb feeling, hours of crying and venting on the internet. It's not just that "Stranger Things" Vol. 2 was sad, it was terrible. The characters felt off, the deaths were clearly just there for shock value, the writing was horrible, and as one of my friends said, it just felt like another show entirely. I loved Season 4 Volume 1, so I'm really disappointed in this season.
First, I want to address something that keeps me rageful. Let's talk about the politics of "Stranger Things." Before you tell me it's a show about monsters and mythical creatures, let me say something. We are living in a world where art is inherently political. Representation has become increasingly politicized unfortunately and even so much as two women kissing on screen will cause an outrage (for example, the outrage over "Lightyear"). Although as a white Christian I cannot address all aspects of the representation, I will talk about what I can. I do think it is important to inform all of you that the scenes with Hopper in season 4 were filmed in a Lithuanian prison in which Jewish people were murdered during World War II. A petition has been created to hold Stranger Things accountable for this atrocity and I strongly recommend you read and sign it.
Although I am not Black and cannot directly address this, many Black fans were outraged at the complete racism this season. Lucas, the only Black main character, had a plot revolving entirely around his white girlfriend, who also died. Him and his sister, Erica, are both violently assaulted by white characters. Erica is 11 years old. To many fans, this was strange. Especially considering the blatant racism shown to Lucas in seasons 2 & 3 with the character of Billy Hargrove, who even tells Max that "There are certain people in this world you stay away from," and Lucas is "one of them." (Note: this can be found in season 2 episode 4 at about the 33 minute mark). In an interview with Vulture, Ross Duffer stated, "[Billy] is racist, I think." Yes, "Stranger Things" takes place in the 80s, but it's a piece of fiction. Why put one of the only Black characters through such deep-seated trauma?
Despite my ability to discuss the politics of "Stranger Things" all day, I think those are the biggest two aspects to address. Okay, you've been waiting for it. Let's talk about the deaths, specifically the death of the beloved character Eddie Munson. I'm going to be honest, I was disappointed with the deaths. Not only was I heartbroken to lose a character like Eddie, but many of the other deaths felt anticlimactic. We were promised 5 deaths of major characters. Is Jason really a major character? Also, what is with "Stranger Things" and killing off fan favorites? Eddie was beloved by so many. I get that he's just a fictional character, but many people, including myself, saw ourselves in Eddie. He's the "freak," the one who never quite fits in anywhere, and yet he created a safe space for a group of people where they could just play D&D and be nerds. I never really hurt this much before over one of the deaths from "Stranger Things" until Eddie and Max. Max. Poor Max. Although in the end I believe she'll live, she deserved so much better. After all the trauma she went through, why kill her off? It's such an unsatisfying conclusion to her ending and a trope that has become far too common in popular media.
Another thing that felt off this season was the dialogue. That whole scene where Will talked to Mike and said "you're the heart" was genuinely so cringey it hurts to watch. As noted by some fans, volume 2 is the one "season" the Duffer Brothers wrote alone, and you can tell. Some of the monologues were good, such as Will's monologue to Mike about his feelings for him (although he's talking about Eleven's feelings for Mike, it's clearly him talking about his own feelings), but the majority just felt off. Some of the things these characters say are things no one would ever say in real life. I absolutely hated Mike's monologue to Eleven and I thought Finn Wolfhard's acting was off.
The character of Mike also felt incredibly out of character this season. Mike is a character who once was willing to jump off a cliff for his best friends with no hesitation. Yet since season 3 he's become deeply unlikeable. The way he neglects all of his friendships for El is simply not healthy. It almost feels like his character is regressing instead of progressing. Also, the fact that he didn't even notice Will was crying was ridiculous. Are you really that insensitive that your supposed best friend is going to cry (loudly enough that Jonathan noticed) right next to you and you're thinking about your girlfriend? Frankly, this might be unpopular, but I don't want Will and Mike to get together like many fans do. I'd much rather see Will get a boyfriend who will treat him the way he deserves to be treated.
One highlight of the season despite all the negatives was the acting. Actors like Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Gaten Matarrazo (Dustin Sinclair), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven Hopper) really shown through this season. The fact that they're child actors only makes their phenomenal acting even more impressive. One of the most painful scenes to watch was Max dying in Lucas's arms while she delivers a monologue about how she doesn't want to die yet. Sadie Sink delivered these lines so beautifully and I truly hope she is nominated for an Emmy. Considering the fact that she is only 20 years old, she should truly be commended for her tremendous performance. Caleb McLaughlin also depicted the pain of losing a loved one so beautifully. Another actor who should be lauded for his acting this season is Gaten Matarrazo, who as I said earlier, plays Dustin Sinclair. The scene where Dustin watches Eddie, his mentor and friend, die, is utterly depressing. Matarrazo handled this with grace and did an amazing job depicting grief.
At the end of the day, I wasn't happy with "Stranger Things" season 4 volume 2. With that being said, I will definitely be tuned in for season 5. That cliffhanger ending was amazing and I can't wait to see what happens next. I just hope that the Duffer Brothers are not the only ones writing season 5, because as we saw in this season, they are not what makes the show so enjoyable.
