Stranger Things

:

Season 4
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 15, 2016
Season #: 5, 4.5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 175 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 133 out of 175
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 175
  3. Negative: 19 out of 175

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User Reviews

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  1. Jealto
    Jun 2, 2022
    2
    Since season 2 the series sadly goes downhill, i just cant take it serious anymore. The characters always to the same mistakes and they get annoying fast. The story is plain boring
  2. Lookingforheart
    Jun 26, 2022
    2
    This is disappointing. Algorithm-generated or not, this is the most derivative Stranger Things yet, I don't think there is a single original idea here. Not a one. In all seriousness, other creators, especially Katsuhiro Otomo, could probably sue for infringement and win if they were so inclined. I enjoyed the original season even though it gave very obvious nods to the past; I thoughtThis is disappointing. Algorithm-generated or not, this is the most derivative Stranger Things yet, I don't think there is a single original idea here. Not a one. In all seriousness, other creators, especially Katsuhiro Otomo, could probably sue for infringement and win if they were so inclined. I enjoyed the original season even though it gave very obvious nods to the past; I thought season two was a derivative mess with very little point to it, and I felt the writers redeemed themselves somewhat with the very fun season three. Season four is just uninspired, even based on its own merits. Really, the only thing that saves it are the performances, which are still quite good. Can't fault the cast for the writers' shortcomings. It is also visually very impressive, for whatever that is worth.

    If a viewer is younger, or has no idea who someone like Otomo is, or has never read 'Carrie', this might very well seem like the coolest series since sliced bread, but for those steeped in the pop culture of the number of decades, well, there is fan service, and then there is whatever this melange of 'borrowing' is supposed to be. The current dearth of genuine imagination or originality (enough with remakes and reimagining, already) is a sad, ongoing trend in modern entertainment, and Stranger Things season four is a great poster child for it.    … Expand
  3. kirkender
    Jun 12, 2022
    4
    A marginally better experience than season 3, but there is no real reason for this show to exist. Initially a fun nostalgic adventure, now each episode strains the definition of entertainment with the absolute minimum of character and story every 60-90 minute episode. The streaming TV bloat is very strong with this one. A bunch of scenes with no stakes for the first 95% of the episode andA marginally better experience than season 3, but there is no real reason for this show to exist. Initially a fun nostalgic adventure, now each episode strains the definition of entertainment with the absolute minimum of character and story every 60-90 minute episode. The streaming TV bloat is very strong with this one. A bunch of scenes with no stakes for the first 95% of the episode and ending on a cliffhanger is so played out and exhausting. The productions values are good, and the visual effects aren't terrible. Oh and it's not "strange," it's barely to the level of bad X-files episodes.… Expand
  4. stoneymahoney
    Jul 1, 2022
    5
    The show still suffers from many of the same problems that have been developing since Season 2. The cast has become even more bloated with many legacy characters becoming purposeless, existing out of pure habit like the writers just can't bear to throw anything away. The cinematography is still extremely basic and has all the narrative subtlety of a ten tonne weight, relying on theThe show still suffers from many of the same problems that have been developing since Season 2. The cast has become even more bloated with many legacy characters becoming purposeless, existing out of pure habit like the writers just can't bear to throw anything away. The cinematography is still extremely basic and has all the narrative subtlety of a ten tonne weight, relying on the enormous budget and computer graphics to make up for it's shortcomings in even the simplest fundamentals. The story itself has too many disparate threads and the runtime of each episode is approaching ridiculous at this point, often padded out quite obviously through characters making extremely questionable decisions.

    But the primary antagonist is a compelling villain, well presented and built around, grounding the series in a way that Season 3 lacked. If the show runners had been brave enough to strip out a third of the cast, cut the run time of each episode by 20-30mins and fire the idiot in charge of cinematography, this could have been an excellent return to form, expanding the world and lore in a logical way. Instead it's merely passable.    … Expand
  5. tlrelement
    Jun 29, 2022
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really wanted to love it. However this the most disappointing season by far. The sheer amount of plot holes, ass pulls and macguffins is overwhelming. It's clear they had no vision this far into the show and are earning that dollar. The acting is phoned in or somehow inexplicably actually got much worse as adults.The characters in the show don't even seem interested in what they're doing, but how could they?… Expand
  6. Whitson77
    May 28, 2022
    1
    This season is a big bag of a$$. What happened to the writers. This season is the laziest writing with the worst stereotypes. Moron jocks. D&D makes you kill people storyline. Insane bullying that would never happen. They were all over the map. The Hopper storyline was a total waste. All the storylines were pretty bad. Everyone has become pretty unlikable.
  7. mike4156
    Jun 2, 2022
    1
    Show felt like it iwas forcing stereotypical settings for the first 2 episodes so far.. im not impressed overall.
  8. JessiKat
    Jun 2, 2022
    3
    If y'all are trying to brainwash people into agreeing with y'all starting the new world war with Russia, just say that. Y'all aren't slick, you aren't cute. We see the little subconscious "evil Russia" things y'all are throwing into every piece of media. Just the way you did to my entire generation when we were 13 years old in 2001.
  9. Rincemac
    May 31, 2022
    5
    "Punish me more, Stranger Things!" is how you'll most likely feel for watching Season 4 (Part 1) - a jumbled mess of loose threads the Duffers couldn't all pick up if they both were octopi - I fear they'll be pulling a "Lost", "X-Files" or "Game of Thrones" on this one - but sure hope not!

    Letter to you, the adoring fan: If you, like me, watched other nostalgia reboots trying to    "Punish me more, Stranger Things!" is how you'll most likely feel for watching Season 4 (Part 1) - a jumbled mess of loose threads the Duffers couldn't all pick up if they both were octopi - I fear they'll be pulling a "Lost", "X-Files" or "Game of Thrones" on this one - but sure hope not!

    Letter to you, the adoring fan:

    If you, like me, watched other nostalgia reboots trying to re-capture the essence of the weird hairdo, synth music and similar 80's pop culture, to carry you over the almost 3-year wait for Season 4, I salute you for your endurance!

    I hope you, the reader of this unimportant review, won't join me for being disappointed to see Season 4 fail to get into old form almost from the get-go. Unlike in me, I hope that small flicker of hope is still more alive in you after watching the "Part 1" of the "please subscribe at least two months, will ya?" cash grab.

    If you hoped for a great send-off for your beloved actors, who've mostly now outgrown their roles (age-wise) since Netflix didn't film them in time to appear their now supposedly 15 year-old selfs, I tell you: good luck with that! I'm rooting for you.

    Oh, Netflix! How you chagrin your fans with creating multiple convoluted storylines while introducing even more new characters like the mouth-breathing jocks. Unfortunately, your story is now all over the place and you seem unsure which of the loose threads you spun to pick up first. Then you decided to pick them all at once and tie them into an incoherent knot before ending the series. Congrats.

    To add insult to injury, you also decided to go with "Volume 1", making the ones among your fans who still believe you can somehow pull it off. Then you make us wait for "Part 2" (a two-parter, to add irony) for the series finale.

    For anyone who wants to hear a guess: You set yourselfs up to pull an "X-Files (Season 9)" or "a Lost Series Finale" in the end. Or you could "Game of Throne" it, if you so wanted, using the last eposide to untie the epic ball of yarn you've spun in a time warp for the ages, undoing years of setting up in one tiny series finale?

    Hope you prove me wrong, Netflix and Duffer Brothers - I will be there just for the LOLZ anyway.    … Expand
  10. UncleWillard
    May 28, 2022
    5
    Not a huge fan of this past the first season, but what's with all the crying? I can't believe they brought the annoying sister along. Did they learn nothing? Erica is worse than the monster.
  11. Littlegizmo
    May 27, 2022
    10
    part 1 is epic, amazing, scary, emotional... and tye best show on Netflix right now... can't wait for part 2... enjoy it you guys or get some waffles
  12. All_ButTrU4
    May 29, 2022
    7
    It's commendable and miles above the disappointing trudge of a 3rd season. It sometimes aims higher than it reaches but due to it's wholesome cast,very specific cinematography and mystery thriller aspirations it's enough to keep you watching. Part one is more rounded than the penultimate episodes but thats not a surprise given this shows track record. It's a respectful farewell to anIt's commendable and miles above the disappointing trudge of a 3rd season. It sometimes aims higher than it reaches but due to it's wholesome cast,very specific cinematography and mystery thriller aspirations it's enough to keep you watching. Part one is more rounded than the penultimate episodes but thats not a surprise given this shows track record. It's a respectful farewell to an already cult classic. The plot twist was exhilarating and the performances better than they've been before. The first few episodes are slow and stuffed with uninteresting plot points which seems expected when each episode is almost an hour long.… Expand
  13. ICRED
    May 27, 2022
    9
    Just Improves on everything season 3 didn’t do right which wasn’t much. It may be longer but the pacing dosent seem to falter that much. The new villain is great and I’m excited to see where it goes. I feel it brought back the mystery again in the earlier episodes with giving us a satisfying if not cliche twist. Overall one of the best seasons yet.
  14. Tesseract
    May 28, 2022
    10
    Still don’t understand why this awful site lets subhuman filth like OlivierPiel post stuff. Is this cretin from the 30s? “Useless generation”? When were you “born?THIS IS THE 80s. Good Lord.

    Anyway, much better than parts of 2 and 3, it’s finally headed into the direction at least some of us predicted and wanted after season 1. Much better than parts of 2 and 3, it’s finally headed into    Still don’t understand why this awful site lets subhuman filth like OlivierPiel post stuff. Is this cretin from the 30s? “Useless generation”? When were you “born?THIS IS THE 80s. Good Lord.

    Anyway, much better than parts of 2 and 3, it’s finally headed into the direction at least some of us predicted and wanted after season 1. Much better than parts of 2 and 3, it’s finally headed into the direction at least some of us predicted and wanted after season 1.    … Expand
  15. lasse_223
    May 27, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Absolutely thrilling. I love it! The wait was so worth it! The change of mood around Max after Billy's death is well chosen.… Expand
  16. Kritiqeu
    May 30, 2022
    10
    This show is just outstanding - and Season 4 Volume 1 is just a well balanced piece of work. Every question raised is answered leaving the viewer satisfied. The VFX are really pleasing to watch and art direction is still spot-on. Well done Duffer Brothers. Waiting anxiously on Volume 2.
  17. Badabadaboom
    May 28, 2022
    8
    Very powerful, impacting, deep aftertaste, vast, and a couple of easter eggs and fan services.
    But the sensibility, freshness, and the nostalgia that they gave us to fell love in this series is in not where.
  18. bertobellamy
    May 30, 2022
    8
    Really like the direction the show is taking. The horror aspect of it is truly terrifying, and the drama around trauma and not belonging is solid. All the new characters are great additions, and it's nice to see everyone get the spotlight. It would've been great if they have kept Hopper's fate a secret until release. That would've been a shocking way to start the season!
  19. BreakerPlatnum
    May 29, 2022
    8
    I don't know what to say about this abysmal excuse for a fourth season with episodes that last longer than an hour each that barely explore or develop any meaningful plot unless you single out one of the seven subplots going on all at once. In this season unfortunately continues where season 3 left off with the stereotypes and here is drawingly bad. From jocks to Bullies to traditionalI don't know what to say about this abysmal excuse for a fourth season with episodes that last longer than an hour each that barely explore or develop any meaningful plot unless you single out one of the seven subplots going on all at once. In this season unfortunately continues where season 3 left off with the stereotypes and here is drawingly bad. From jocks to Bullies to traditional Russian villain this season has no sense of identity instead of continuing the story in a way where season 2 elaborated on the world outside of Hawkins we are still worried about the experiments that happened way back and season 1 although that's storyline was concluded in season 2 The villain this season is supposed to be scary yet most of his murders come off as cheesy and corny maybe it was purposeful but for me personally I was falling asleep and almost every episode hopefully Volume 2 is a lot better because in general I think this show should have ended in season 2 there's no need for another three additional seasons with season 5 plans to be the final. This is an actively makes you hate a lot of classic characters Dustin especially even Lucas Mike has been a terrible character since season 1 but they were made sure to force that on you this season well let's still trying to portray him as the the level headed main character and on the note of 11 we are basically going through her development that she had in both season 2 and 3 again just because they had nothing better to do with her this season it's silly and stupid and honestly you'd have to expend your disbelief they've butchered characters such as Jonathan and to a certain extent Joyce to these comically horrendous excuses of characters that are supposed to be the follow-up to three seasons of actual development. If you are planning to watch this volume just wait until the entire season is released because the first seven episodes are some of the worst television I have ever watched it's honestly on par with killing Eve season 1 difference is this show no longer has any charisma like villanelle and the character that we did have like that Steve has been relegated to Dr Phil status of importance while Dustin and Max take on that primary role that Steven Robin had in season 3… Expand
  20. OlivierPiel
    May 29, 2022
    0
    The only "Strange thing" about this corporate-dictated, algorithm-generated show without an ounce of originality or beauty is that people find this strange, as in "odd" or "shocking" or "stunning". It is the exact opposite. Irony is lost on this most degenerate and illiterate generation.
  21. M4JD
    May 27, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Stranger Things 4 (Volume 1) proves that Stranger Things might be one of the best Netflix shows out there.

    Sadie Sink’s performance really wowed me, specifically in the fourth episode, ‘Dear Billy’. She is a young actress that really stands out to me, with a very bright future ahead of her. The way they handled the ending of this volume is jaw-dropping. Jamie Campbell Bower does a great job at playing his character in the finale, Bower is outstanding and had me tricked. The Duffer Brothers knew exactly what they were doing with the big reveal, or should I say big reveals? Personally, the reveal is truly surprising. Maybe you predicted that Peter Ballard was 001, but you didn’t predict him to be Henry Creel or Vecna. This reveal is made to leave you shocked no matter what you may have predicted. Let’s talk Vecna. Vecna’s VFX is insane. The way Vecna takes out it’s victims is interestingly creepy, from it’s first victim, Chrissy Cunningham, to the attempt to kill Max Mayfield, Vecna is a big threat. Perhaps, the biggest threat? The one that’s been behind everything? The first being to be banished to the Upside Down, could Vecna be the one behind everything in the past 3 seasons?    … Expand
  22. damocles1974
    May 31, 2022
    10
    I can't fathom how anybody could not acknowledge season 4 for what it is: the best piece of television written in recent history. The monologue in "dear Billy" will, in the coming years be quoted alongside with "The drumhead." Stellar performances by the whole cast and something to savour every moment. I fear it won't be possible to make a better season 5.
  23. Jose1996
    May 29, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best season by far ep 4 especially stands out with a great twist ending in ep 7… Expand
  24. Sophietamu
    May 28, 2022
    10
    Eine gelungene 4. Staffel mit vielen Emotionen, und Ernsthaftigkeit dahinter! Bin stolz!
  25. mrahtapot
    May 30, 2022
    8
    Season 2 was mediocre and 3 was really bad in my opinion. The first episode of season 4 also gave me similar vibes so I was really worried, but it picked up its pace in episode 3. It slowly got rid of the unnecessary subplots or tied them well by the end of part 1. Oh and I love the darker, and A Nightmare on Elm Street-ish vibe of the season.
  26. McGamor
    Jun 6, 2022
    8
    A well-written season so far through the first half Netflix has released. Also glad they left out any wokeness.
  27. Seattleite
    May 30, 2022
    10
    A monumental step forward after that disappointing 3rd season. This might be the best season yet outside of the original.
  28. brockcheese
    Jun 1, 2022
    7
    This season is probably the best since the first season, although a lot of the annoying teen drama stuff is there, this season leaned heavier into the horror.
  29. brpoconnor
    Jun 9, 2022
    9
    Be warned: This season is significantly darker than its predecessors. If you're into that, then it's excellent. This is the best season since season 1.
  30. Superwotman
    May 27, 2022
    9
    Loved the first half of Season 4 (7/9 Episodes ), it had everything Scary, emotional, funny and epic scenes. Had a very good time watching the 7 Episodes. Sure it was a lot of the same as the last season’s and it felt like there was a little bit more filler stuff, but the show stayed true to it self and did not disappoint. Hope the last two episodes are enough to finish all the open plot lines.
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Shirley Li
    Jun 13, 2022
    79
    Amid the show’s ballooning scale and scope, Stranger Things finds an unexpected anchor not in its ensemble of fan favorites but in its latest villain: a supernatural serial killer dubbed Vecna after—what else?—a Dungeons and Dragons character. Vecna resides in the Upside Down, but unlike previous visitors, he’s humanlike, with a voice, a face, and, most chilling of all, a worldview.
    Read full review
  2. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Jen Chaney
    Jun 2, 2022
    80
    The visual effects are more sophisticated and so is the filmmaking; the transitions between scenes, which track four different running story lines, are more elegant and make a sprawling season feel relatively cohesive. Does it feel bloated given those longer run-times? At times, yes. But by episode three, I was again invested in what’s happening in Hawkins (as well as some new locations), and less concerned about the amount of minutes that investment required.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Lorraine Ali
    May 31, 2022
    80
    There is plenty of fun to be had in “Stranger Things 4,” which both celebrates and parodies a decade that pushed conformity, conservatism and questionable style.
    Read full review
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