It has been three years since the last installment of the series came out and finally, it has arrived. Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 dropped on Netflix in a bulk with the last two episodes left for Volume 2. Here’s the question, is it worth watching?
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1! Read at your own risk!
Is Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 Worth Watching?
Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 has a lot of stories to tell, that is for sure, but the show managed to, somehow, make it all work given the number of episodes the series has. Each of the episodes are like movies connected to one another and albeit long, every run is so packed that you would not feel time running.
It feels like an anthology, each of the storylines followed a different path and somehow, they are interconnected in the end. Putting the analogy into it, there are four stories: Eleven’s rediscovery of her powers, the fiasco with Vecna and search for Eddie at Hawkins, the journey to save Eleven, and the escape of Hopper.
However, with so much narrative to tell, there are some characters that seemed to be left out in the picture. An example is Will who has been a pivotal character from the start but has been sidelined throughout the show. Given that there are a lot of characters in the show plus the new additions, there’s only so much the series can focus on.
There was also a notable plot hole in the narrative. In the first season, when the Hawkins gang met Eleven, she could hardly say yes or no, but in Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1, while under the Nina Project, she speaks fluently during her time at the Hawkins National Laboratory. if the show could reconcile it in Volume 2, that would be nice.
The addition of Vecna as a villain proves to be working well for the show and the big reveal of his true identity in the end was a total shocker that would make your popcorn fall off your hands. Not to mention, Jamie Campbell Bower did a spectacular job and he really understood the assignment.
Millie Bobby Brown definitely hit it once more as she encapsulated the struggles of Eleven as a student in California and as one who lost her powers and trying to get it back. Another standout is Sadie Sink and she really delivered her acting prowess in the Dear Billy episode where she would, no doubt, get the praises.
The style of Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1, though, makes it stand out from the previous installments of the series. The horror movie vibes of this season really proved to be a fresh touch and the makers of the show pulled it off by adding a lot of creepy elements such as the house of Victor Creel, the eerie prison in Russia, and Eleven reliving her memories of the Hawkins National Laboratory.
Related: Are Vecna And The Mind Flayer Connected In Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1?
The selection of the sets where the show was filmed paid off really well in settling up the vibes that the series is going for. It perfectly fits the narrative that the makers would like to portray. The visual effects made it even better.
The use of 80s hits also made the show a remarkable one. Kate Bush’s Running Up The Hill is back on the charts thanks to Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1. Overall, the musical scoring of the show is impeccable. It will definitely make you feel like you’re in the 80s. Oh, and the costume department did well, too, with the fashion of each of the characters being apt to the time.
So, is Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 worth watching? Yes, absolutely! However, to get a deeper appreciation of the show, it’s best to watch Season 1 to 3 first before diving into the latest installment of the series.
Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Vol. 2 will be released on July 1, 2022.
Stay tuned to EpicStream for more news and updates about Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1!