Note: This story won an honorable mention in the “Review” category of the 2024 Pennsylvania Press Club Awards. Congratulations, Abby!
By Abby Hernandez ‘24
Stranger Things season four takes the audience on a thrilling new adventure. New mysteries and discoveries occur, the CGI has advanced to enhance the experience, and heart pounding events happen that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The Duffer Brothers, who created the show, do an amazing job at giving this season a more chilling and intense atmosphere to keep the fans engaged throughout the long episodes. They take the genre of the show, which is science fiction and horror, to a whole new level.
The first season of Stranger Things premiered worldwide on July 15th, 2016. Followed by season two which came out in 2017, and then season three which came out in 2019. Due to Covid filming was delayed, but finally in 2022 the long awaited arrival for season four finally came out. Fans were shocked when they saw the length of these episodes, with episodes one to eight being over an hour long, and the finale being over two hours long. Season four was also released in two volumes. One in May and the other in July. Some fans complained about this, but it definitely kept the excitement alive longer. This season made fans cry, laugh, and even scream at their tv.
What stands out the most about this season is the dark and mysterious tone of the episodes. The unexpected plot twists and events that take place help this season to stand out, along with the terrifying new creature called “Vecna” that shows no mercy. During this season we see how Vecna is the main focus of the show and what problems it causes between the group. It affects the main characters in ways that have never happened before, all while making it an emotional experience for the fans.
To add on to that, the character development shown by all of the actors is very obvious. Our favorite characters like Eleven who is played by Millie Bobby Brown, Mike who is played by Finn Wolfhard, and the rest of the group face new challenges and grow in many unexpected ways. The audience gets to see deeper layers into their personalities and witness them confronting their fears head on. We also get to see how friendships and relationships are tested due to many specific issues, how new alliances are formed in the heat of battle, and how those relationships progress. It’s very interesting to see how these dynamics evolve and how it impacts the overall narrative of this season.
Lasty, the use of CGI has evolved and it looks even more amazing in comparison to the other seasons. The visual effects have been taken to a whole new level, making the Upside Down and its creatures even scarier and more realistic. It adds an extra layer of excitement and suspense to the show, and it makes the experience more immersive and realistic for the viewers. The areas where the CGI has improved the most this season was in the Upside Down, and the new monster. The realism used for both of those makes this entire season more terrifying yet captivating. The level of detail in season four truly makes the overall viewing experience much better.
Overall, the exhilarating new turn that the Duffer Brothers gave to season four of Stranger Things took the series to a whole new level. The way the CGI has evolved enhances the viewer’s experience, the darker and more intense tone will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the characters continue to captivate us with their growth and development. For all of those interested in sci-fi, horror, and dramas, this is definitely a season that no one would want to miss out on.