Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 (Mini-Review)

Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 picks up right where Volume 1 ended. After Vecna speaks to Nancy Wheeler, she realizes his plan and informs the gang in Hawkins. They then enact a plan that, if successful, will spell the end of Vecna and all the monsters from the Upside Down. Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers, and Murray Bauman realize that the only way to help their children is to break into Kamchatka and cause a distraction. Meanwhile Eleven has escaped her new prison and is determined to find a way to help her friends. Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 was released on Netflix in 2022.

To me this was well worth the wait. While there were only two episodes this time around, they were both extremely long and the second clocked in over two hours. While both episodes were extremely long, they seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Yet...there seemed to be some things that were left on the cutting room floor. Miss Kelly didn't appear at all even though it seemed hinted at that she was important. There's also the fact that the Hawkins police played no part in the final two episodes even though they should have been there as they would be interested in a mob forming.

Hopper and Joyce's relationship started to move towards the next level. I am a big shipper of the pairing and am so glad that they started to admit the depths of their feelings for each other. The scene where they nearly did the nasty had some cute dialogue. It basically revolved around Joyce asking him what he's been dreaming about. He hasn't had a good diet and so, of course, starts listing some of the food he'd like to eat. I honestly don't blame him for his answers as I'd have done the same. Heck, I list off different foods when I get hungry around dinner time.

Max Mayfield has one of the most tragic arcs this season. Previously she had been abused by her brother Billy. But by the end of Season 3 Eleven had been able to get past his trauma which allowed him to sacrifice himself. Ever since then Max has carried guilt over the death of her brother. Guilt that attracted Vecna to her. It's an extremely chilling moment when he admits that she was brave. Her fate won't be answered until Season 5 comes around. So I'm not going to have an easy time getting to sleep.

In the first season it was hinted at that Will Byers wasn't straight. This season really hammers it home that he isn't straight to anyone who hasn't caught on before. He shows Mike the painting and lies that Eleven told him what to paint. You can hear his heart break as he comes so close to telling his friend that he feels more than friendship towards him. Later Jonathan tells Will that nothing will make him stop loving his brother. Paired with Will's previous conversation with Mike, the conversation with Jonathan seems to also hint that Will is gay.

I would highly recommend Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 to fans of the series. I would also highly recommend Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 to fans of horror and science fiction.