[SPOILER WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2—last chance to turn back!]
Stranger Things 4 Finale: The End That Left Us All Sighed‑deep‑in‑our‑pockets
When the episode came on, the town of Hawkins looked like the aftermath of a giant cosmic pizza delivery gone wrong. Bodies, broken bones, and an entire city soaked in meteor‑like spores made the finale feel more like a bad dream than a cliff‑hanger. But, as the Duffer Brothers told us, they didn’t just throw us down a dark drop‑tube; they pulled the classic Star Wars “Empire Strikes Back” vibe and turned it into a mini‑Saga.
Why “The Empire Strikes Back”?
The creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have a penchant for nostalgia. They wanted to make the last half‑season feel like passing the baton in a relay race where everyone’s tired, bruised, and ready for a sprint. The mid‑movie superhero duel? Check. The desperate, frantic finale? Check. They’re basically saying, “You think Star Wars was epic, wait till you see Hawkins in the final scene.”
Key Elements They Chose to Emulate
- High‑Stakes Loss: Dr. Owens and Dr. Brenner die—no TV shows ever get us quiet (except maybe “Sunset ‘12” and “500 Days of Summer”).
- Eddie the New‑Kid: Joseph Quinn’s Eddie lightheartedly becomes a fan‑fav. He gets thrown into emotional roller‑coasters, just like a kid on a roller‑coaster at the mall.
- Max’s Coma: Picture Han Solo in carbonite, but with a less smooth freeze. Max lies on the floor, hurting less than a bunch of battery cables.
- Spore‑Plumes: They aren’t the usual gasses—think sad, forgettable Garfield fur, but for a sci‑fi universe.
- Hawkins as Destiny’s Stage: The town’s normality gets ripped apart, as if the Rebel Alliance had a sudden Sahara‑sweater firestorm.
Why Was It So Dark?
The drama, the conversations, the quick summations—to back the idea of a “supernatural war” sliding into town—goes well beyond the usual run‑away constants. Thanks to the plot, the Duffers wanted to convey that this war is not going to stay away—it’s like a massive, aggressive chili spreading in a kitchen. They watched to see if a world’s broken, complicated, and gross‑old person can withstand these new stresses.
Season 5? It’s Time for Rushed‑High Stakes
Rumors about Season 5 say the battles kick off on a speed‑truck montage, but TV critics have noted that each episode might be a tad shorter—save the full finale for the run‑of‑the‑mill full‑length. And the most anticipated part? The finale’s biggest combat effect that will inevitably leave hearts racing and little finger‑tapping.
We’re All Still Waiting
If you lost your life moments during the final episode, guess we’re on same page. Let’s hope the second season of Season 5 will play with stakes—and create an epic that goes far beyond our expectations, like how a full-body spoiled robin goes through a sinister challenge.
