Netflix has finally dropped volume one of season four of Stranger Things and wow. Just wow. Matt and Ross Duffer have really outdone themselves. While I spent most of the last two-plus years patiently waiting for the epic sci-fi series to return, I was also worried about how this would all play out. Would the time in between be too much to fall back in love with the series? Would they be able to top season three? What was going to happen when they split up most of the cast?
But it’s clear that we can put all those worries aside because the first seven episodes of season four were amazing. Now, we just need to wait for a little over a month to get the epic conclusion to season four. And since we are going to have time to wait and rewatch Stranger Things, we’ve decided to share with you some questions and possible theories for just how this story is going to play out. So, without further ado, here are six questions we need answered when Stranger Things season four returns on July 1, 2022.
DISCLAIMER: We are chatting about events from Stranger Things season four episodes one through seven and theories for eight and nine. So spoilers. Duh. If you aren’t caught up, we highly suggest watching the series here.
RELATED: Keep up on Stranger Things with our recaps!
Is El Okay?
At the end of Stranger Things‘ seventh episode, El (Millie Bobby Brown) relives the terrifying moments of the Massacre at Hawkins Lab. She spent much of the season struggling with the idea that she is more a monster than a superhero. Then she believed that she was responsible for the deaths of her fellow siblings, only solidifying her belief that she is a monster. But then, in a twist I don’t think anyone saw coming, we learn that the friendly orderly (Jamie Campbell Bower) who has been on her side this whole time is actually 001 and the one responsible for the massacre.
But, what we don’t see is how El reacts after she uncovers the truth. I’m sure there will be some relief that it wasn’t her hands that killed them, but she unleashed this monster. Knowing El, this will weigh even heavier on her than the idea that she killed them in a fit of rage. Will she forgive Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) for not telling her the truth? Will she trust herself enough to know that she is different from 001? We really hope so because Hawkins needs her.
Is Nancy Okay?
Similar to El, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) is in some trouble at the end of episode seven. While El is getting the story of the birth of Vecna in her simulation, Nancy is hearing it in real-time while trapped in a trance. It appears that Vecna, who is choosing his victims that have things haunting them, has tapped into her feelings about Barb’s (Shannon Purser) death. She is even thrown back into the pool where Barb died.
But just like El, we don’t see if Nancy makes it out of that trance alive. If Vecna is following the same rules he has been for the others, Nancy is owed some days of headaches, bloody noses and weird clock visions first. Hopefully, Steve (Joe Keery) can figure out what her favorite song is and Max (Sadie Sink) has an extra tape player to share. Because if Nancy doesn’t make it back to girl-boss with Robin (Maya Hawke) for the rest of this season of Stranger Things, I don’t want to see it.
RELATED: TV Series Review – Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1
What Is Jason Up To?
Another character we don’t see pop up in episode seven is Jason (Mason Dye). The last glimpse of him we get is at the town hall meeting where he undermines Chief Powell (Rob Morgan) and gets most of the town on his Satanic Panic bandwagon. It makes me terrified for Eddie (Joseph Quinn) and what will happen if and when they find him. Will the entire town believe what is going on with the Upside Down, Vecna and the Mindflayer? Or will Eddie fall victim to their fear?
We have a feeling that Jason’s story will be a big part of episodes eight and nine. The Duffer Brothers have always done a fantastic job and introducing factual fears from the 80s throughout Stranger Things. In season three, we saw mentions of the fall of small-town America, fear of war with Russia and other things. Now, they are tackling the Satanic Panic and with everything else going on, it makes sense that this would be front of center for the end.
Will the Cali Crew Make It to Nevada?
The last we saw the Cali Crew, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Argyle (Eduardo Franco), they were saying goodbye to Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo) and heading to find El in Nevada. But that was in episode six. We never get the chance to see what happens to them in episode seven! Not even a “hey look we crossed some state lines” comes up. Hopefully, they aren’t picked up by Lt. Col. Sullivan (Sherman Augustus) or any of his men.
If and when they reach El, I wonder how she and Mike will interact. El already thinks that he believes she is a monster after everything that happened earlier this season. Now that she knows she is responsible for unleashing 001 on her siblings and essentially having a part in the massacre, will she be able to accept that he doesn’t see her as a bad person? Or will she cut herself off from her friends and those who care about her?
How Will Joyce, Hopper and Murray Escape Russia?
Another big moment in Stranger Things’ episode seven was the battle between Hopper (David Harbour) and the Demogorgon. And Hopper beat the Demo-tush wholesale. And then to make it all better, when he and “Enzo” (Tom Wlaschiha) made it out to the otherside, he came face to face with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Murray (Brett Gelman). I rewatched the reunion scene so many times I feel like I could write an entire story based on Hopper’s smile.
But they aren’t out of the woods yet. They are still in Russia’s most dangerous prison with a Demogorgon possibly still on the loose. Just like one does not simply walk into Mordor, it can be said that one doesn’t simply walk out of this place. But we need them back in Hawkins so we need to know how they are going to get out of Russia. Yuri’s (Nikola Djuricko) plane is out of commission but I’m sure they can find something.
What Is Vena Up To?
We have undercovered quite a bit about Vecna and his past by the time to credits roll on episode seven. And while we have some theories about what he is up to, we aren’t entirely sure. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) believe that he is more like a general for the Mindflayer and has the ability to open portals between the real world and the Upside Down. But it seems like more than that though. If he just needed to open a portal to get into the world, why didn’t he come through the first one?
When Max and Nancy find themselves in Vecna’s warped version of the Creel House, we can see Chrissy’s (Grace Van Dien) and Fred’s (Logan Riley Bruner) bodies tied up against pillars. If you take a look around, you can see that there are more of them. I assume Patrick (Myles Truitt) can be found there as well. Maybe, just maybe, he needs more than one sacrifice to open up a portal large enough to escape through. He does have Nancy and Max on his list. But what will he do when he gets through? Will he bring the Mindflayer with him?
What questions do you need to be answered when volume two of Stranger Things‘ fourth season drops on July 1, 2022? Let us know in the comments below and on social media!
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Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
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