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Warning: The next comprises main spoilers for Stranger Issues 4: Quantity 2.
Effectively, it is lastly right here. Stranger Issues 4: Quantity 2 — all Four hours of it — has arrived on Netflix. And boy, was it quite a bit. There have been tentacles, there have been guitar solos, and on the finish of the day, there was a physique depend.
However had been there solutions? Earlier this week, we outlined 11 questions we completely wanted Quantity 2 to reply, starting from which characters would die (gulp) to which fan theories had been appropriate. Now, after ending all of Stranger Issues 4, it is protected to say we bought solutions for many — however not all — our burning questions. Here is what we realized.
1. Is Nancy OK?
How did Nancy escape from Vecna’s clutches? Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Sure! Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is okay — at the very least, as tremendous as she may be after being traumatized by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and virtually strangled to loss of life by his squelchy, squelchy tentacles. As an alternative of escaping Vecna’s Thoughts Lair by listening to her favourite track, Nancy is definitely launched by Vecna himself. Her freedom comes with a worth: He offers her a imaginative and prescient of his plans for Hawkins and tells her to go that message on to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
A extra environment friendly villain might have simply killed Nancy because the fourth sacrifice and ended the world proper then and there, however Vecna is aware of now we have a 4-hour runtime to kill. So he sends Nancy on her merry approach. Actually, the most important tragedy of this storyline will not be determining Nancy’s favourite track. Is it Madonna? Bowie? Blondie? The world must know!
2. Is Vecna Eleven’s father?
Vecna, you aren’t the daddy. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
No! Whereas Stranger Issues 4 by no means straight denies that Vecna and Eleven are associated, as posited by one fan principle, it additionally by no means actually entertains the query. Plus, a reveal like that might be an ideal bombshell to drop within the finale. Since we do not actually hear something about this principle in these final two episodes, it is protected to say that Vecna will not be Eleven’s pricey outdated dad. And thank goodness for that. The very last thing we’d like is the Rise of Skywalker-ification of Stranger Issues. Generally highly effective individuals simply aren’t associated, however their relationships can nonetheless be compelling. Working example: Eleven and Vecna.
3. How will Stranger Issues handle Will’s queerness?
Please simply let Shall be blissful. For as soon as. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Very, very subtly. Will (Noah Schnapp) doesn’t explicitly come out in Quantity 2, however his romantic emotions for Mike (Finn Wolfhard) have by no means been clearer. Take into consideration the portray he made for Mike (which he falsely claims Eleven commissioned for him). Take into consideration his assertion that Mike is the “coronary heart” of the occasion. If that wasn’t sufficient, Will even delivers some fairly heavy-handed strains about how individuals deal with you once they know you are totally different. At this level, the subtext is mainly textual content.
Different characters appear to be catching on to what followers have been choosing up on for some time now. The scene the place Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) tells Will he’ll all the time help him as a result of he is his brother seems like an oblique acknowledgment of Will’s queerness, and an invite for him to speak in confidence to him ought to he must. Till additional discover, this query stays on the desk for Stranger Issues 5.
4. Do Joyce, Hopper, and Murray escape Russia?
So you have escaped jail. What now? Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
They do certainly, but it surely takes them a really, very very long time. Their haphazard escape entails a jail break-out, a helicopter named Katinka, a jail break-in, and a name to the US Authorities. After some time although, they’re in a position to make it house. Alongside the way in which, Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) lastly act on their emotions for one another, and Murray (Brett Gelman) will get to barbecue a complete bunch of Demogorgons.
5. Does Eleven formally have her powers again?
Get ’em Eleven. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Looks as if it. The Nina Mission did its job, and now Eleven is ready to elevate heavy objects, blow up helicopters, and enter individuals’s minds. That final potential proves extraordinarily helpful in these ultimate two episodes, as she’s in a position to confront Vecna as he hunts Max (Sadie Sink) by her reminiscences. Her long-distance superpowers are a helpful workaround to the truth that she and her mates are hundreds of miles from Indiana. It is a fairly environment friendly approach to be a part of the California crew and the Hawkins occasion, though it sadly offers characters like Mike, Will, and Jonathan little or no to do apart from present help.
However all of that’s simply scratching the tip of the iceberg, as a result of now Eleven appears to have the ability to convey individuals again from the lifeless. Max totally dies for a minute after dealing with Vecna, permitting the fourth gate to open and destroy Hawkins. Nevertheless, Eleven is having none of it. She brings Max to life, though not again to consciousness. She’s nonetheless in a coma, however given how Max was such a pivotal participant this season, I am certain we’ll see her once more quickly. Till then, bringing individuals again to life looks as if a reasonably neat talent for Eleven to have in her again pocket. Is there something she will be able to’t do?
6. Why do the Russians have a Demogorgon?
Allow them to struggle. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Actually, it is in all probability simply so Hopper and Joyce’s storyline this season may join not directly to the ultimate act of the California and Hawkins plots. The Russians have a ton of Upside Down monsters, together with a number of that they’ve experimented on, however we by no means actually study why past “they’re the baddies.” Having Demogorgons and Demodogs round does permit Hopper and Joyce to struggle at the very least one a part of the Upside Down hive thoughts, proving to be a much-needed assist to everybody preventing Vecna head-on. Will we study extra in regards to the Soviet Demorgon program subsequent season? Or has that plot died together with all of the Russian jail guards?
7. Why has Vecna returned now?
Critically, what is that this man’s deal? Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
We nonetheless do not know why Vecna waited seven years after being banished to the Upside Down earlier than beginning his murderous rampage. At this level, I am undecided we ever will. Nevertheless, it is not like Vecna was twiddling his tentacle-y thumbs for seven years. We discover out that he created the Thoughts Flayer and has been attacking Hawkins because the starting. Maybe he was simply attempting to preserve his power in these early seasons, and it was solely when he realized simply how highly effective Eleven was that he determined to convey out the massive weapons: teenage homicide.
8. Is Ms. Kelly the steering counselor working for Vecna?
Generally a clock is only a clock. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Completely not. Ms. Kelly (Regina Ting Chen) is nowhere to be seen in these final episodes, shutting down the fan principle that she was an ally of Vecna’s. However what about her connection to the homicide victims? What about her grandfather clock necklace? What in regards to the ticking sounds when Max spoke to her?
The reply to the primary query is fairly easy: She’s a faculty counselor, and it is her job to hear to distressed teenagers. She in all probability did not draw a connection between all of the victims as a result of she has no approach of realizing about Vecna’s curse. The clock references like her necklace or the ticking might not be plot-relevant, however they’re nonetheless instruments that assist construct stress round Vecna. For instance, the ticking clock when Max talks to Ms. Kelly after being cursed is an ideal reminder of her time working out — and of the truth that she may see the Creel clock at any second.
9. No matter occurred to Vickie, Robin’s love curiosity?
Good factor this wasn’t her solely scene this season. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Stranger Issues 4: Quantity 2 may as nicely be subtitled Vickie’s Return, as a result of she’s again! Robin (Maya Hawke) spots her fellow band geek and crush Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) on the Struggle Zone, a military surplus retailer, together with her boyfriend. One Upside Down battle later, Robin and Vickie reunite whereas volunteering to assist Hawkins residents displaced by the earthquake. Vickie reveals she and her boyfriend have damaged up, and he or she and Robin hit it off immediately. Looks as if McNulty will probably be sticking round in an even bigger approach in Stranger Issues 5. Good, that is the star of Anne with an E we’re speaking about! She deserves this.
10. How is the basketball crew’s Hellfire Membership hunt going?
Steer clear of her! Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
The basketball crew’s Satanic Panic-inspired hunt of the Hellfire Membership throws a significant wrench into our heroes’ plan to defeat Vecna. Jason (Mason Dye) and his squad confront Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Erica (Priah Ferguson) at Creel Home, leading to a full-on fistfight. Jason breaks Max’s Walkman, and his interference straight results in her (momentary) loss of life. So thanks for that, boys.
Jason dies when the fourth gate to the Upside Down opens, however his Satanic Panic lives on. Within the aftermath of the battle, Hawkins residents consider that Eddie (Joseph Quinn) and the Hellfire Membership triggered each the murders and the earthquake. This can absolutely complicate our heroes’ lives shifting ahead, as Mike, Lucas, and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) had been all members of Hellfire.
11. Is Steve Harrington going to die?
Carry him house. Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Nope, King Steve (Joe Keery), mom of Hawkins, remains to be alive and kicking! Phew. There have been a number of moments after I thought he was for certain a goner, like that monologue about his dream household, however he makes it out of the Upside Down in a single piece.
Sadly, we will not say the identical of a number of different characters this season. Jason will get disintegrated by the Upside Down portal. Sorry about your witch hunt, bro. Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) additionally dies after attempting to flee the Nina Mission with Eleven. He continues the proud Stranger Issues custom of characters whose names begin with a ‘B’ dying each season: Barb, Bob, Billy, and now, Brenner. Good riddance to him.
However in fact, the loss of life that folks will probably be saddest about (past Max’s, which solely lasted a minute) is Eddie’s. The writing was on the wall for him as quickly as he claimed he and Dustin weren’t heroes. You knew proper then and there that’d he’d do one thing heroic — and pay the worth for it. Eddie was clearly this season’s breakout character, together with his love for Dungeons and Dragons and his candy friendship with Dustin immediately endearing him to audiences. And who can neglect about his rocking guitar solo within the Upside Down? Extraordinarily metallic. He’ll be missed in Stranger Issues 5.
The place can we go from right here?
What does the long run maintain? Credit score: Courtesy of Netflix
Stranger Issues 4 ends with a fairly large trace at the place Stranger Issues 5 will go. Vecna remains to be alive, and Hawkins is slowly remodeling into the Upside Down. Now that the gang’s all again collectively, it is probably that they will unite to lastly take him down, as soon as and for all. The Duffer Brothers have floated the thought of a time bounce, so we might be leaping into a really totally different Hawkins than the one we left. The one factor we all know for certain is that Stranger Issues 5 would be the present’s ultimate outing. So savor this last-ever hiatus between seasons, followers. See you on the opposite facet.