Stranger Things Season 4: 10 Things Fans Want To See, According To Reddit

It has been nearly three years since fans have been able to watch their favorite A.V. club kids fight the darkest of supernatural monsters against an 80s synthwave backdrop. The cultural phenomenon Stranger Things has announced its return to the screens in an epic two-volume penultimate fourth season dropping on May 27th and July 1st of 2022.

Whether it be the nostalgia for 80s movies, appreciation for dungeon divers, love of childhood bickering, or the mystery of the Upside Down, Stranger Things has something for every viewer. With fans eager for each new trailer, Twitter post, and coded message, many have headed to Reddit to discuss their hopes for the types of stories season 4 may hold.

El & Hopper’s Reunion

Season 3 of Stranger Things left fans with a lot to process. In the tear-jerking scene where El reads a speech from Hopper, he jokes “for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches”. It’s a bittersweet moment and could’ve been a perfect way to bookend that relationship. But Stranger Things loves false deaths.

Reddit user ZombieColor is thankful for the three-inch window, writing, “personally I just can’t wait for the Hopper and Eleven reunion (if there is one this season lol). Definitely will cry my eyes out.” Sarahcrunch1 agrees, hoping to see “El get her powers back and how she reunites with Hopper so bad!”

A New Villain

It is no question that Stranger Things has some of the biggest villains, whether they be human or monster. With each new season, Hawkins keeps expanding and the Upside Down only deepens. Often stemming from Dungeons & Dragons, Season 4 is just another opportunity to take their villains even further. Based on previously announced episode titles, Redditors think the party is likely to face a Vecna this time around.

Maximum_Ant_8325 knows it is “going to be a big one. I think this season will be more intense and game-changing than we think.” Utilizing D&D knowledge, Foreign_Tourist8309 explains that a Vecna “is a wizard who became a lich, a being that uses magic to defy death itself.” Regardless of how this new villain enters the picture, Maximum_Ant_8325 wants to end “the season with defeat, the Vecna or whoever else is victorious over the party” sending them into an epic final season.

The California Plot

In the aftermath of Season 3, the Byers family and El pack up the house and drive off toward the Golden State. In need of a fresh start, California is the place for Joyce and her family to begin again. From various trailers, it seems their new home won’t stay peaceful for too long.

Many fans are anxious to discover what all that entails but are excited to see “the Byers getting more screentime together as a family” as SnakeLuvr1 writes. _DaughterOfHades_ agrees, hoping for “sweet Byers/El moments” as she is now a part of that family. Being without a mother, El is in need of a loving maternal figure and ZombieColor can’t wait for “some Joyce/Eleven mom/daughter moments.”

Dr. Brenner’s Return

The villainous “Papa” has haunted El ever since Stranger Things’ first season, whether it be through memories, flashbacks, or hallucinations. Though he was thought to be dead thanks to the Demogorgon in season 1, some Redditors think it isn’t quite over.

Sarahcrutch1 writes, “I want to find out if Dr. Brenner is still alive” and rsxiuu hopes for a “Brenner return.” Regardless of if he is dead or alive, Dr. Brenner is sure to appear in flashbacks of Hawkins Lab with El and her other test-subject siblings.

Self Discovery For El

This season, El is finally able to attend school like a regular kid in California. Having been through so much, season 4 is a great chance to see her grow as a person, away from Mike, Hopper, and Hawkins Lab.

Redditor No_Kaleidoscope_2431 writes, “I’m so excited for her to finally be able to question herself and where she came from” as well as watch her “discover a lot of things about herself this season: adapting to new life, life without power, being ordinary.” Eleven is one of the bravest characters in Stranger Things and Michael-Balchaitis agrees that “her story is the most interesting.”

Sibling Content

While Stranger Things does have some of the best couples, many fans love the sibling relationships the show has and the different ways those are characterized. Through bickering, fighting, or working together, each pair has a distinct version of what it means to be a sibling.

Season 3 introduced Erica as a genuine character to work against Lucas and _DaughterOfHades_ “can’t wait to see Lucas/Erica’s scenes, maybe funny banter but also emotional scenes.” Though there are many pairs, Season 4 has the ability to utilize Will and El’s pseudo-sibling relationship after being adopted into the Byers family. _DaughterOfHades_ thinks it would be”cool to see more Will/El content, maybe them fighting alongside?”

Emotional Screentime For Max

The lovable Dig Dug champ, skateboarding Zoomer, and giver of advice on boys, Max has gone through a lot of trauma in seasons past. First the abuse from Billy, and then losing him altogether, it is time for Max to process everything that has happened.

Reddit user GayandEuropean1 is “pinning quite a lot of hope of the ‘Dear Billy’ episode for some Max emotion/character development/screen time.” Given the previously released episode titles, ‘Dear Billy’ is the perfect opportunity to dive into Max’s character in depth and ZombieColor agrees writing, “Max is one of my favorites and I’m looking forward to that episode too and for her character development!”

Another Nancy & Jonathan Mystery

Hawkins resident Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy are a great pair when it comes to solving a mystery. Though distance will play a role in all of this, as Jonathan is in California and Nancy is in Indiana, fans desperately want more from this duo and the show will undoubtedly pair them together again.

Following their first case looking for “the monster without a face”, to uncovering the truth about Hawkins Lab, and working the ‘rabid rats’ case for the newspaper in season 3, fans like Sarahcrutch1 need another “Nancy and Jonathan adventure (I love them sleuthing together)” from season 4. Regardless of the villain at hand or the stress on their relationship, Nancy and Jonathan are sure to dig for clues whenever possible.

Steve Harrington

The redemption arc of the show, fans love Steve Harrington regardless of if he is slinging ice cream, swinging nail-covered baseball bats, or watching the kids. Season 3 saw Steve at a low point, graduating from high school and struggling to flirt until another mystery came to put him back into action. After trying to force something with Robin, season 3 included one of Redditor’s favorite scenes in Stranger Things for the pair.

From the trailers, season 4 will be pairing Steve and Dustin up again for more bickering and lady advice no doubt. Redditor _DaughterOfHades_ “can’t wait to see the Hawkins crew’s teamwork” as Steve tries to wrangle the forces. A fan-favorite for sure, Ivanisntbroken lays out exactly what season 4 needs, writing “S T E V E.”

A Fallen Party Member

Stranger Things has its fair share of character deaths, whether they be false or forever, and fans think another is in order. With only two seasons left to go, the show will begin snowballing toward its climax, and some think season 4 should end all hope being lost.

Redditors like _Maximum_Ant_8325 spell out their thoughts by writing “the characters are left devastated for season 5 where they make their final stand. God it’s gonna be so epic” and ZombieColor agrees with “oooooh I hope this happens.” Other fans may think otherwise, but the consensus points to “one or more of our beloved characters might die, leading to an explosive, non-stop final season” as godom514 writes. Only time, and the ticking clock of Creel House, will tell.

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