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Stranger Things season 4 premiered in two parts in 2022, leaving fans eager for the next chapter. The first volume released on May 27, 2022, and the second on July 1, 2022. The season has raised a great standard for what's to come, with its compelling plot and darker subjects.
Stranger Things season 5, expected to premiere in 2025, is drawing increasing excitement. This last season looks to solve the riddles of Hawkins, Indiana, and bring the Upside Down tale to an end. Viewers can watch all four seasons exclusively on Netflix.
In Stranger Things season 4, several plotlines unfold, creating a complex and thrilling narrative. Eleven is in California with the Byers family, grieving Hopper’s supposed death. Meanwhile, Hawkins is haunted by brutal murders connected to a powerful entity from the Upside Down, dubbed “Vecna.” With the stakes higher than ever, this season dives into the characters' struggles against new threats.
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The most recent season has enthralled viewers with a complex narrative, superb ensemble performances and dramatic events that leave fans yearning for more. From fresh horrors in Hawkins to El's path of rediscovery to get ready for what lies ahead in season 5, here's a synopsis of everything that transpired in Stranger Things season 4.
Hawkins’ New Evil: A Recap of Stranger Things season 4
In Stranger Things Season 4, viewers are brought back to the town of Hawkins, where a sinister force begins to terrorize its residents. The season opens with a flashback in Hawkins Lab, where Dr. Brenner discovers Eleven amidst a grisly scene.
Flash forward to 1986, and Hawkins faces gruesome murders linked to Vecna, a terrifying creature from the Upside Down. Eleven, now in California, is pulled back into the chaos as her powers and past come under intense scrutiny.
Episode-by-Episode Recap of Stranger Things season 4
Chapter one: The Hellfire Club
The season kicks off with Eleven struggling with high school life in California, while back in Hawkins, a brutal murder shakes the town. Cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham is the first victim, setting off a sequence of terrifying events that hint at a new dark force — Vecna.
Chapter two: Vecna's Curse
Hopper’s fate is revealed: he survived the Starcourt explosion but is now imprisoned in Russia. Meanwhile, Eleven faces bullying, leading to a violent confrontation. Dustin and his friends suspect supernatural involvement in the murders and name the unknown entity “Vecna.”
Chapter three: The Monster and the Superhero
With Hawkins in danger, Dr. Owens takes Eleven to a facility to regain her powers. Joyce and Murray head to Russia to rescue Hopper, while Nancy and Robin investigate the town’s history and learn about Victor Creel, a man who encountered a similar evil in the 1950s.
Chapter four: Dear Billy
Max becomes the next target of Vecna, experiencing eerie visions of her brother Billy. The gang learns that music might break Vecna’s control, and, in a gripping scene, they play her favorite song, “Running Up That Hill,” allowing her to escape Vecna’s grip — temporarily.
Chapter five: The Nina Project
Eleven begins to unlock her suppressed memories in a secret lab, slowly recovering her abilities. Back in Hawkins, the group investigates the Creel house, discovering that it connects to the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Hopper and Joyce prepare for a dangerous mission in Russia.
Chapter six: The Dive
Nancy, Steve, Robin and Eddie dive into the Upside Down to save Steve, discovering yet another gate beneath Lover’s Lake. Eleven, meanwhile, recalls the lab massacre, a crucial memory that helps her confront Vecna’s power.
Chapter seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab
The shocking truth about Vecna’s origin is revealed: he was once Henry Creel, a powerful child who had become Brenner’s first test subject. Eleven banished him to the Upside Down, where he transformed into Vecna. In Russia, Joyce and Hopper reunite, battling against the Demogorgon.
Chapter eight: Papa
Eleven defies Dr. Brenner’s control, realizing he used her to harness Henry’s powers. As a confrontation ensues, Brenner dies, while Eleven escapes with her friends. In Hawkins, the group prepares to confront Vecna, using Max as bait to draw him out.
Chapter nine: The Piggyback
In a climactic showdown, Max lures Vecna into a trap, while Eleven taps into her powers to fight him from a distance. However, Vecna overpowers Eleven, momentarily killing Max. The season ends with Vecna wounded but alive, while Max is left in a coma, and a new portal to the Upside Down ravages Hawkins.
What’s Next in Stranger Things season 5?
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things promises an epic ending. Last season production began in early 2024 and is halfway complete for a 2025 release.
After Hawkins, the group will prepare for one last battle with Vecna. The episode titled "The Crawl" and "The Bridge," hints at new challenges for the beloved characters as they face the ultimate threat.
Production, direction and music
The Duffer Brothers produced Stranger Things season 4 in addition to Shawn Levy and other associates. Renowned for its nostalgic 1980s backdrop, Stranger Things season 4 direction and production design faithfully caught a sinister, tense mood.
Curated by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the soundtrack included classic songs like Metallica's " Master of Puppets" and Kate Bush's " Running Up That Hill," which were highly relevant in pivotal scenes and connected with listeners all around.
Cast of Stranger Things season 4
With Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, David Harbour as Hopper, Winona Ryder as Joyce, Finn Wolfhard as Mike and Sadie Sink as Max — whose performance won praise — the show brought back known faces.
Joseph Quinn, who rapidly became a fan favorite, was among the new cast members. Eddie Munson Strong performances by the ensemble cast — including Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin and Natalia Dyer as Nancy — raise the dramatic tone of the season.
Hawkins on the verge of ruin and Vecna still threatening marked the cliffhanger that concluded Stranger Things season 4. With its original mix of horror, adventure and nostalgia — along with strong character arcs and high-stakes conflicts — the show has kept viewers riveted.
The finale of season 5 promises to address questions and wrap up the narrative that has enthralled viewers since its premiere as they await it.
