Top 10 Things You Missed in Stranger Things Season 4 Part 1
#10: A Nightmarish Season
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Various The long-awaited fourth season of the Netflix hit went from a fun sci-fi adventure to a straight up horror show, and we love it. We got major “A Nightmare on Elm Street” vibes from the trailers, but new antagonist Vecna is more Freddy Krueger than Mind Flayer. In a trailer breakdown for IGN, the Duffer Brothers discussed their love of classic 80s horror villains, so it’s no surprise that the season feels like an homage to the dream demon. The glowing red and foggy Upside Down even resembles Freddy’s boiler room, as noted by Dustin. And instead of a shrieking Demogorgon, we hear Vecna verbally taunting his teenage victims, stalking them in the nightmare fantasies. Other references pop up, like the Freddy cutout in Family Video.
#9: El’s New Look
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Various When we left off last season, Eleven was headed to California with the Byers family for a fresh start. The teen’s personal style is still evolving, and in her new home of Lenora Hills, she clearly takes inspiration from her pseudo-mom Joyce. The brown hair with bangs and the effortlessly cool tee and flannel combo with jeans looks are nearly identical. El, now called Jane Hopper by the outside world, does experiment with some uber 80s threads, but she seems most comfortable in her Joyce-esque attire. No matter what her outfit is, she still wears the blue bracelet from Hopper.
#8: The Hellfire Club
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“Chapter One: The Hellfire Club” Other than being a rad name, the Hellfire Club holds some historical significance. In the 18th century, this was a common name for exclusive clubs attended by the wealthy elite, like gentlemen’s clubs, or high society figures wishing to keep their activities secret. Mike and Dustin’s new D&D crew of outcasts is more likely inspired by the mutant group in the X-Men comics. We already know Dustin’s a big X-Men fan, and Eleven’s story has been likened to Jean Grey in “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” Plus, Dustin’s creation dubbed Cerebro, after Professor X’s device used to amplify his psychic abilities, comes in handy again this season.
#7: Eddie Munson
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“Chapter One: The Hellfire Club” One of the newest and coolest characters on “Stranger Things” this season is Hellfire Club leader Eddie Munson. He’s a metalhead who resembles a young Eddie Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne and other rockers of the time. But we wonder if it’s a coincidence that his name sounds an awful lot like Eddie Munster. When he first appears on screen we hear “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” by The Cramps. We’re not saying he’s a werewolf, but his style and hobbies surely made the people of Hawkins uncomfortable, especially during the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s (xref). Whatever the inspiration behind his name, we love the kind-hearted hellion and look forward to more of him in the future.
#6: Dustin Quotes Han Solo
“Chapter One: The Hellfire Club” “Stranger Things” loves a “Star Wars” reference, but did you catch one of Han Solo’s iconic quotes? During the D&D game, Dustin says to his fellow Hellfire Club members: “Never tell me the odds!” This line was said by the hero in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back.” And in the third episode of season 4, we catch a glimpse of Will and Jonathan watching “Ewoks,” ABC’s animated series based on the furry creatures from the “Star Wars” universe. The show ran from 1985 to ‘86, and since the season is set in Spring 1986, it definitely would’ve been a favorite amongst the characters.
#5: The Cunninghams
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“Chapter One: The Hellfire Club” Another new addition to the show was Chrissy Cunningham, a popular cheerleader who’s unfortunately a victim of Vecna. It’s implied that she’s been haunted by the otherworldly creature for some time, while struggling with her body image spurred on by her mother. In her confrontation with Vecna, he creates twisted versions of her parents that echo the look of the Deadites in the “Evil Dead” franchise. Her mother’s voice becomes demonic, and she turns around to reveal a devilish grin and white glazed eyes, reminiscent of the trademark trickery of the Deadites taking over loved ones. Jonathan’s had an “Evil Dead” poster on his wall for a while now, but this might be our first taste of true evil in Hawkins.
#4: Music & Dreams
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“Chapter Five: The Nina Project” With all the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” connections, dreams are obviously a big theme this season. When Robin and Nancy go to visit Victor Creel at the mental institution, he tells them the story of what happened to his family, and mentions hearing Ella Fitzgerald’s “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” But before that, the doctor takes them through the music room, explaining how music can reach a special part of the brain. On the chalkboard, we see dream-themed song titles like “I’ll See You in My Dreams” and “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.” “Moonlight Serenade” is another song listed, but the original title in 1935 was – wait for it – “Now I Lay Me Down to Weep.” As for “Red Sails in the Sunset”...we got nothing.
#3: Billy Hargrove’s Headstone
“Chapter Four: Dear Billy” At the beginning of this season, we find Max still feeling the sadness and guilt over her stepbrother’s death. When she thinks she’s Vecna’s next victim, she writes letters to her friends, parents, and Billy. Max goes to read the letter at his grave, which we caught a glimpse of in the trailer. But there’s a weird difference between shots. The trailer shows the headstone marked “Billy Hargrove.” In the series, it’s been changed to read “William Hargrove.” We’re not sure why this would’ve been changed, but it’s an interesting discrepancy, nonetheless.
#2: Vecna’s Origin Story
“Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab” Chapter Seven finally reveals how Vecna, aka Henry Creel, aka One, came to be. As he tells his story to Eleven, a familiar tune plays in the background. It might ring a bell for anyone who’s seen 2009’s “Watchmen.” The same instrumental tracks “Pruit Igoe” and “Prophecies” were featured in scenes recounting the origin as Dr. Jonathan Osterman, a nuclear physicist who got stuck in a test chamber that literally tore him apart. He progressively reformed his body as a blue god-like being, later dubbed Doctor Manhattan. While their beginnings are certainly different, the haunting music, some of the imagery, and the 1950s setting had us thinking back to stylistic comic book film. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Cooler King Hopper, “Chapter Four: Dear Billy”
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Enzo Says the “American” Is Like Steve McQueen, Who Famously Played a Character Frequently Trying to Breakout of a German Prison in “The Great Escape”
There’s Something in the Water, “Chapter Six: The Dive”
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Steve Harrington Has a “Jaws” Moment Before He’s Pulled into the Upside Down
Jif Peanut Butter, Various
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More Eggos for El, “Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero” (or Various)
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Her Favorite Breakfast Appears a Few Times Throughout the Season
Another Shoutout to Phoebe Cates, “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club”
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#1: Michael Myers References
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Various Way back in season 2, Max went trick or treating with the boys wearing a Michael Myers costume. During Max’s run-in with Vecna in Chapter Four, a broken headstone that looks to say “Myers” appears in the cemetery. It could actually say “Ayers,” but we think the former would be more fitting, don’t you think? Eddie’s uncle also tells Nancy about the infamous Victor Creel, a man arrested for seemingly killing his family and sent to Pennhurst Asylum, which is the name of a real haunted hospital in Pennsylvania. With the recent murder of Chrissy Cunningham, Eddie’s uncle thinks he could’ve broken out. He likens him to the killer from the “Halloween” franchise, which is ironic since Creel is played by another horror icon, Robert Englund.
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