Stranger Things is a phenomenon that has clearly left its mark on pop culture. The Duffer Brothers have been able successfully to craft a unique blend of genres that seamlessly flow together. It’s been three long years since we have been able to check in on our favorite Hawkins residents, and for many fans there’s been a lot of worry that the show has lost its lightning in a bottle spark. I always had faith that the show had more to say, and by the end of the first episode “The Hellfire Club ” I knew I was right.
Hello, California
We start this season with a fractured group. The Byers and El have settled in California, Max is distant, and Lucas is questioning his place in the new world of High School. Seeing the fall out of everything that has happened so far began to weigh down on this group hit me with a bittersweet wave. I was so happy to see everyone again but things are different now and a bit of innocence was taken from them as a result.
It goes without saying that I loved this season for the same reasons everyone else has! Everything from stand outs like newcomer Eddie, Max finding her place as the heart of this season, and the use of Kate Bush’s dangerously catchy track Running Up That Hill. All of which deserves the praise they are getting but there’s so much more to admire about this season.
I knew right off the bat that this season delivered multiple moments that are easily best of the series so far. Max using the love she has for her friends to get away from Vecna (also…Kate Bush), Eddie playing the most the perfect Metallica song for the situation “Master of Puppets”, Vecna’s reveal, and the final shot itself were all phenomenal, but there’s one scene that wins me over for best.
Running Up That Hill
As El found her inner strength and we hear a reprise of Running up That Hill mixed beautifully mixed with the stranger things main theme I couldn’t help but be fully immersed. Even when they’re apart the characters we have followed for the past 7 years unknowingly worked together. Team hopper taking down the last of the demogorgons, the older kids attacking, and El pigging back to confront Vecna herself left me speechless. This sequence isn’t just extremely satisfying but made it undeniably clear that the only way to win this is with all hands on deck. It left me reeling for a bit before the last second reveal me with a ton of bricks.
I have stewed on this season ever since I was sitting in my living room with Siouxsie And The Banshees’ Spellbound playing over the credits going by on my TV. This season felt different, but at first I wasn’t sure why. As I passively scrolled through twitter trying to get it all to click it finally hit me. I could see the full Stranger Things picture.
An Imperfect Perfect Ending
The reveal of One/Vecna/Henry finally gave us a peek behind the interdimensional curtain and the last moments were the grand reveal. We don’t end with everything perfectly tied up but for once we are left with more answers than questions. The haunting shots backed up with a fantastic arrangement of the main Stranger Things theme set the stage by letting us know that *this* really is everything we have been waiting for. Our once fracture group has come back together, staring down the fallout of dominos that turned their lives upside down in the first place.
Our heroes lost, Max is on the brink of death, Hawkins is destroyed, and the universe is fractioning right in front of them. The full stage is revealed and set for one last chance to put an end to the Hawkins Curse once and for all. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to see how it all wraps up. I have a lot of faith in the Duffer brothers to give a fitting send off to the world they’ve created. It’s going to be bittersweet but its always better to know when to end vs dragging it out until its a shell of it’s former self (looking at you Walking Dead…..). I can sit and talk about how challenging sticking the landing will be, but if I’m being really honest as long as Steve lives ill be happy. See you in a few years Hellfire Club.
