Highlights
- Season 4 of Stranger Things introduces more horror and action elements, setting the stage for an even more intense Season 5.
- The stakes are higher than ever after the Season 4 finale, with Vecna’s threat still looming over Hawkins and the Upside Down.
- Season 5 has the potential to be a culmination of every storyline, with action-packed sequences and a focus on character development, especially for Eleven.
Season 4 served as a tonal shift for Stranger Things as the series pivoted from strictly supernatural to adding elements of gothic horror and gripping segments of pure action, a trend which should continue in Season 5. While Stranger Things isn’t particularly known for being action-packed, the stakes are higher than ever after the Season 4 finale. Vecna has presumably been defeated, but Hawkins and the Upside Down are no longer two separate domains.
Stranger Things Season 4 was a perfect blend of horror, action, and comedy. In one scene, Joyce and Hopper banter back and forth about a proposed date. In another, Max fights for her life against Vecna in the Upside Down. And at the center of it all, Eleven ends her story arc with Papa. But while Season 4 does get the adrenaline pumping, Stranger ThingsSeason 5 has the potential to take things a step further, especially as the final showdown will undoubtedly feature the entire cast. In many ways, Season 5 will be to Stranger Things what TheAvengers was to the MCU.
Stranger Things Season 4 Amped Up the Scare Factor
In many ways, Stranger Things Season 4 was utterly terrifying. The Hawkins gang were exposed to the unforeseen horrors of the Upside Down more than ever before; Hopper went toe-to-toe with a Demogorgon, Eddie Munson took on a swarm of Demobats, and Vecna served as a constant looming threat. Chrissy, Fred, and Patrick’s deaths were all grotesque and horrifying, like a scene ripped straight out of a Saw movie. But the Duffer brothers are surely looking to send Stranger Things off with a bang, so a stark contrast between Season 4 and Season 5 might be the way forward.
Season 4 was a blend of supernatural, psychological, and body horror. As for Season 5, now that audiences are fully aware of what Vecna and the Upside Down are capable of, it might be time to shift focus. Season 4 did have a fair share of action sequences, such as Henry Creel’s massacre at Hawkins National Laboratory, Max’s confrontation with Vecna in the Upside Down, and Hopper’s prison break. However, Season 5 could afford to capitalize on some of Season 4’s most memorable scenes, which, despite being horror-centric, happened to also be action-heavy.
Despite Vecna seemingly perishing at the hands of Steve, Robin, and Nancy, they fail to identify a body. In fact, after Nancy shot Vecna through a window in the Creel house, the trio rushed outside to confirm Vecna’s death, but the body had disappeared. All of this to say, Vecna is most likely still alive. His master plan to open all four gates between Hawkins and the Upside Down comes to fruition and the aftermath can be felt as Hawkins slowly deteriorates. There’s every chance that Vecna will recuperate and strike again in Season 5 to confront Eleven and finish what he started.
Stranger Things Season 5 Should Pivot From Horror to Action
This scenario opens Stranger Things Season 5 up to a lot of potential action sequences, especially when Eleven and Vecna come face-to-face again. There’s a lot of speculation suggesting that either Eleven or Steve will die to put an end to Vecna’s reign once and for all. Naturally, if this were to be the case, some sort of ensuing fight must be the ultimate cause of death. But the call to action doesn’t just fall on Eleven’s shoulders. The Hawkins gang are discovering their strength in numbers, despite lacking the telekinetic abilities that Eleven possesses. Nancy, Steve, and Robin were at odds with Vecna too, so there’s room for everyone to get thrown into the lion’s den at one point or another.
Although Stranger Things Season 4 was a massive hit with fans, it could be argued that the horror elements overshadowed the show’s true appeal, which lies in its rare moments of conflict and its slow-burn relationships. Season 5 could have a real shot at developing and enhancing the story by taking Stranger Things down the road less traveled. Although the show has dipped a toe in the action waters before, the key to an impactful finale might be a full-body immersion.
One of the most compelling parts of Stranger Things has always been Eleven, whose complicated upbringing and psychic powers have always been a significant plot point. As has always been the case, Eleven steals the show in every scene she’s in, even over Stranger Thing‘s newer faces. It would be a shame to not have such a powerful character unleash her full potential in Season 5, especially after scratching the surface in Season 4. While it can be assumed that Eleven will be at the heart of the fight to reclaim Hawkins, several of the other characters have also proven their resilience and tenacity in the face of adversities, especially the older teens.
So it’s possible that Eleven could be sharing the stage with her fellow Hawkins residents in Stranger Things Season 5. Various theories have also suggested that Eddie Munson survived his encounter with the Demobats and actually became Kas, known in the Dungeons & Dragon’s lore as a servant of Vecna, until they face off in an epic battle and Kas defeats him. All of these theories further hint to the fact that Season 5 could be the culmination of every storyline and every encounter, setting the stage for lots and lots of action.
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