Warning! Contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4!
Stranger Things season 4's pre-release footage created fears that the latest installment might suffer from the same subplot issues as seasons 2 and 3. While early Stranger Things season 4 teasers gave the impression that the new season would streamline its story to refocus on the Hawkins Lab and Dr. Brenner, subsequent trailers revealed the scope would be much larger than Hawkins, with clusters of characters in multiple locations, each having their own arcs. However, thanks to longer episode runtimes and solid pacing, the Stranger Things season 4 subplots were juggled well, and season 4 hasn't been the overstuffed mess many fans felt season 3 to be.
Combining coming-of-age dramedy, monster-movie thrills, and a whole host of homages to Stephen King and Steven Spielberg alike, Stranger Things is a nostalgia-fest with heart and a solid story at its core. The talented multi-generational cast helps, although it wasn't until Stranger Things season 2 that emerging ing stars like Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery got a chance to shine. However, Stranger Things is not without its problems, and the series has run into a few narrative dead-ends, particularly when the plot grows too labyrinthine to follow as was the case in season 3. Season 1 is widely regarded as one of the best shows to debut in the last decade. Many fans wanted a return to the deep yet followable pace of Stranger Things' first season, but the advanced peeks at season 4 hinted at impending disappointment. Yet, when the series aired, it was lauded as a renewal of everything that made season 1 great, even with the myriad story arcs.
locations beyond Hawkins and wider cinematic scope also helped rather than hindered, as geographical distance kept subplots distinct and easy to distinguish between.
Where Stranger Things Season 3 Went Wrong
From its opening scene introducing a Soviet version of Hawkins Lab to the Mind Flayer body-snatching storyline to the Mayor’s convoluted land-grab subplot, Stranger Things season 3 simply had too many story strands for viewers to become invested in any single story. Season 3 wasn't bad, but it was definitely seen as a step backwards for the show overall. At some points, the new approach paid off handsomely, with the debut episode’s mention of Dustin’s presumably imaginary girlfriend Suzie setting up their eventual The NeverEnding Story singalong in the finale – arguably one of Stranger Things season 3's best scenes. However, Stranger Things is more of a drama than a comedy. While the setup/payoff approach worked in cases like this, the sheer number of plot threads left dangling made emotionally investing in any one story implausible.
Hopper’s struggle with parenting Eleven was ultimately turned into a touching moment by his (short-lived) self-sacrifice, but his explosive anger at Mike (and Mike’s unexplained newfound arrogance) was set up for a single scene and never addressed again. Similarly, Hopper’s sudden infatuation with Joyce Byers was obviously intended to make his (apparent) death more poignant. However, since Stranger Things season 3 was busy telling the tale of small-town bully/villain Billy’s possession, there was little time for this plot to pay off as anything more than Hopper boorishly asking Joyce out repetitively despite the recent death of her boyfriend, Bob Newby. None of the season’s subplots were notably weak in isolation. In fact, Dustin, Steve, and Robin’s pursuit of the Soviets was a refreshing comic-relief subplot, but it didn't truly fit into the bigger picture right away. Rather, Stranger Things season 3 set up a lot of narrative spinning plates early on but struggled to manage them in unison, and as a result, lost tension with meandering digressions.
Why Dr. Brenner’s Return Was Good News
Stranger Things season 4 subplots are numerous, but they feel connected thanks to the return of Dr. Brenner. In Hawkins Post newspaper staff as human villains. Brenner was a memorable villain, but his return for season 4 didn't mean Stranger Things was cutting back down to a single antagonist. Season 4 has multiple threats, including the Soviets and Vecna.
Dr. Brenner played a central role in the setup of Stranger Things as a whole and has an impactful emotional connection to Eleven. This was used to let Stranger Things season 4 streamline its storytelling despite the disconnection of its characters. Flashback sequences of a young Brenner experimenting on Eleven and his reaction to the Hawkins Lab massacre have fleshed out the deeper Stranger Things lore. Vecna, the season's antagonist, was One, the first of Brenner's test subjects. Outside of the flashbacks, the newly returned Brenner and the NINA Project are critical in Eleven regaining her powers. Tracking NINA to find Eleven has kept Will, Mike, Jonathan, Argyle, and Suzie tied to her Nevada activities, which are, in turn, linked to Hawkins through Vecna's shared past with El and Brenner. As well as being an incredibly engaging human antagonist in a show where visual spectacle-heavy foes like Vecna exist (an impressive feat), Dr. Brenner has been the foundation that props up season 4's many subplots.
How Stranger Things' Season 4 Subplots Avoided The Common Problems
Stranger Things season 4 has been well received by both fans and critics. Many are praising it as a return to what made season 1 great. This is a little surprising though, since the seasons are incredibly different on paper. Everything from the runtime to the setting has changed since season 1, so why is Stranger Things season 4 so good even though it has more going on than season 3? The longer episode length has been a key factor here. More time between the opening sequence and credits has meant nothing integral getting cut to make room for other subplots. Everything progresses in such a way that viewers don't feel cheated by obvious intended story arcs that went nowhere. It also meant season 4 could avoid the cliffhanger oversaturation problem some felt previous seasons had. Aside from the increased runtime, season 4 brings a lot to the table that ensured its action-packed episodes haven't received complaints of being too long or accusations of repeating season 3's mistakes.
Stranger Things' core horror essence. Yes, all these subplots and new characters mean that part 2 of season 4 has some significant payoffs to deliver, but the skill with which part 4 interweaves them is the reason fans are still invested and haven't written off the season for repeating the sins of its predecessor. Stranger Things season 4 feels like season 1 but all grown up; a show that's matured and now heading out into the wider world after finding its feet (even if it did have to go through a rough season 3 to find itself).
Stranger Things season 4, part 2 releases on Netflix 07/01/2022
Want more Stranger Things season 4 articles? Check out our essential content below...
- Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 Ending Explained (In Detail)
- Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 Release Date (& How Many Episodes Are Left?
- Why Eleven Doesn't Have Her Powers In Stranger Things Season 4
- Stranger Things Season 4 Cast & Character Guide
- Stranger Things' Vecna Identity, Powers & Origin Fully Explained
- How Hopper Survived Stranger Things Season 3's Ending
- How Many Kids Were In Hawkins' Lab (& How Many Are Dead)
- What The Grandfather Clock Means In Stranger Things Season 4
- Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 Easter Eggs & References
