Stranger Things Season 4’s deeper meaning, explained - Why it’s better than ever

Stranger Things’ epic fourth season hits close to home: unlike in the previous two seasons, the threat feels personal. Venca is a villain targeting individuals by preying on a vulnerability we can all relate to in today’s day and age. We also get to see new dimensions of old characters, exciting protagonists like Nancy Wheeler are foregrounded with a unique vigor, and a fresh antagonist digs into everyone’s emotional baggage. Here’s our take on the three ways that Season 4 of Stranger Things is a great return to what made the show so successful in the first place – and on what Season 4 all really meant.

If you like this video, subscribe to our channel and support us:

We are The Take (formerly ScreenPrism).

00:00 3 Reasons Stranger Things S4 is better than ever!
01:18 Reason 1: A more intriguing villain
04:30 Reason 2: Nancy's satisfying and empowering arc
07:16 Reason 3: Returning to its roots
11:00 So what's next for Stranger Things Season 5?

[AllieOk]

I seriously need the Duffer Brothers to drop the Steve-Nancy-Jonathan love triangle because Nancy's character is too interesting to be stuck in that stale narrative

[aidankeohane]

Not only was Vecna a great villain, but he had a genuinely great origin story that tied all of this season’s arcs together. He was like Freddy Kruger meets Magneto and it was awesome. Stoked for the final showdown in season 5

[pikachick]

I think they need to develop Jonathan better in Season 5. In season 1 he was great but once they paired him with Nancy he did nothing. In fact half the time I forgot he was in the show

[trinaq]

My favourite season since the first, they really knocked it out of the park! Vecna was such a chilling villian, in that he preys on his victim's fears and insecurities, which could be construed as a metaphor for battling PTSD, depression, anxiety or addiction, and how to overcome it with the help of your loved ones.

[Msladyrae]

I love how mental health was so cleverly weaved into the storyline. Grief and the effects of sadness are so prevalent. Will’s sexuality struggles make sense, and aren’t just planted out of nowhere.

I know it’s morbid but I love the way they are dying this season. The breaking of the limbs are like nails on a chalkboard

[ZinniaGulden]

The scene of max running away from vecna, towards her to her friends was so powerful. The symbolism behind how friends love/support and even music can help pull you out of your dark thoughts, yet at the end of the day it was still maxs decision to choose hope in the end

[Hailey-Poulton]

One thing I love about the show's focus on friendships is that they emphasize that family doesn't have to be biological. You can choose your family too! An example is Dustin being raised by a single mom, yet both Steve and Eddie are the fathers he never had.

[rahbeeuh]

The way Stranger Things seems to be planned out reminds me of how shows like Orphan Black and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend were also planned. Most of the best shows leave us wanting more and last for 4-5 seasons. Anymore than 6 or 7 seasons seems too much unless you've got extremely good writers behind it. Stranger Things is definitely THAT show and season 4 has returned the show to form. Excited for the 5th and final season

[trinaq]

They have a trend of introducing lovable characters, only to kill them off within a single season. Barb, Benny, Alexei, Bob, Chrissy and now Eddie! 😭💔

[flawedsanity]

Max's arc and Sadie Sink's acting overall were what really made this season the best for me.

[ElizC]

I think social media, especially TikTok, helped make ST S4 an even bigger, communal event that's shaped pop culture consciousness and the online/offline fandom. I mean, look at how Kate Bush and Metallica are trending everywhere too. Even though there wasn't a weekly episode drop, it felt like we were all collectively invested and could share our reactions and theories together in tandem with watching the show. This is quite an achievement in a day an age where streaming has created such niche fandom communities, rarely has a tv show (like GOT and Breaking Bad) really united fans and the public like this.

[pinkyhc]

Stranger Things feels so planned out, and so mindfully written that the quality just follows. Great charismatic cast and writers who've actually met humans before :)

[robchuk]

Season 4 MVP for me was Sadie Sink. I've been a fan of Max since she debuted. There's a lot of hate for Season 2, but I still love it. This is where Hopper adopted Eleven, and where Dustin and Steve became a pair, and I'd argue these are 2 of the best relationships of the whole series. In one, it effectively rehabilitates the show's biggest bully. And in the other, a man learns how to be a father again, to a super-powered child who has been abused by authority figures her whole life. Along with Max and Lucas, and even Joyce moving on with nice guy Bob, there's some great character work in this season that gets ignored because it had 1 bad X-Men episode?

[Lorena-ehcl]

I kind of disagree with the Nancy arc. The writers still seem to be diminishing her role to a love interest now that she’s swaying back towards Steve. And I don’t think Robin would keep encouraging her to go for Steve. I think she’d encourage her to be herself. It feels like the writers are pushing her towards Steve again because his character is a lot more popular with viewers. I agree with this, but it’s a really cheap reason to reverse an entire romantic development. Either keep her with Jonathan, or have her be single. She doesn’t need a boyfriend!

[cassiloca]

I don't think anything Hopper did was out of character. he's been through a lot and was under a lot of stress (eleven wasn't making it easy in him either understandably since she's also been through a lot) it's only natural that he'd snap at times, he always had her best interest in mind even if he sucked at communicating that

[annabananna]

After part 1 of season 4 I thought Vecna was hands down the best villain of the four seasons. But after part 2, he’s revealed as THE villain. He is the source of it all as the monsters/realm are under his control. It’s even more fascinating that he was human showing the complexities found within human nature, with a few capable of committing some of the greatest evils.

[aubreydeangelo]

It was great season. I was sad all the characters weren't in Hawkins but vol 2 really makes up for that. Only thing to improve the show was that we got very little from Jonathan, Will and especially Mike. I loved seeing more of Lucas this season as he was a bit overshadowed season 3.

[staceyvegangirl]

Season 4 is so good, because it's smart and planned out. So many times shows forgot to explain things or keep with the core feelings. Stranger Things season 1 had that music emotional touch, that Season 4 used too.

[Chuuzus]

stranger things volume 2 was so excellent! this season was so expensive to make but the cgi, acting and story telling was worth the 3 years wait

[ymanueld]

It would be a shame if they didn't bring back Kali in the final season because with her powers they can distract Vecna (something eleven cannot do). They went to Susie this season why wouldn't they go to Kali to ask for help next season... Them fighting Vecna together would be epic.