The highly-anticipated final two episodes of Stranger Things' fourth season have finally arrived on Netflix. These feature-length episodes find our heroes split off in different parts of the world, forming their own plans to take down Vecna. Along the way, the show changes irreversibly from its simple beginnings in season 1.
In the final episode especially, which spans over two hours, Stranger Things hits a climax that will have every viewer gnawing on their fingernails. The endgame to the thrilling pop-culture phenomenon is officially on its way. But for now, let's look back at some of the most memorable moments from these two episodes.
10 Eleven Stands Up To Papa
Most of episode 8, titled "Papa," finds the characters setting up for the conflicts they'll face in episode 9. However, this Stranger Things chapters does feature a significant moment in Eleven's character arc. Since she was a child, Eleven has been subjected to experiments at the hands of Dr. Martin Brenner, turning her into the psychic superpower she now is.
After helping Eleven escape from his underground lab as it's overrun with military forces, Brenner is shot down by a helicopter gunman. After taking down the helicopter with her powers, Eleven is freed by Brenner. However, she refuses to give him the satisfaction of telling him that she understands why she had to suffer abuse from him.
9 Hopper And Joyce Make A Date
The end of episode 7 found Hopper reuniting with Joyce after escaping from imprisonment by Russians. Episode 9, however, finds them having their first vulnerable moment with each other since their reunion. As they change into new clothes, Joyce notices Hopper's visible scars from his captivity.
What proceeds is a flirtation between the two that fans have awaited for many seasons. Hopper describes what he planned for his date with Joyce before getting captured, which includes lasagna, wine, and breadsticks. Although she chastises him for thinking about food, they inevitably kiss.
8 Max's Speech About Billy
Max has had one of the most compelling character arcs of this Stranger Things season, as well as the whole show. The fourth episode, "Dear Billy," saw her confessing her guilt over his death at the end of season 3. However, in episode 9, she delves deeper while trying to summon Vecna as part of the group's plan to attack the monster.
As Lucas stands beside her, Max admits to wanting Billy to die for years. However, after watching him die and doing nothing, she feels as if she's the one who deserves to die next. It's a powerful moment, thanks to Sadie Sink's incredible acting, and it works; Lucas transforms into Vecna and begins his chase of Max.
7 The Master Of Puppets
Once Max is under Vecna's spell, the group's plan is officially underway, with little time to spare. In the Upside-Down, Dustin and Eddie team up to distract the bats that attacked the teens in episode 7. They do that the only way Eddie knows how – by grabbing his guitar and playing "Master of Puppets" by Metallica.
As the iconic guitar sounds throughout the scene, Max runs from Vecna, avoiding him baiting her with visions of Billy. Meanwhile, Eddie completely shreds the guitar solo, luring the Demobats closer and closer. As Dustin later points out when the two retreat inside Eddie's trailer home, it's the most metal concert of all time.
6 Eleven Rescues Max
Things look pretty terrible for Max at several points in the final episode. As she runs from Vecna, Eleven sits in a pizza dough freezer filled with salt water, trying to find her through her memories. Eventually, at the eleventh hour (no pun intended), Eleven reunites with Vecna, pulling him away from killing Max.
It makes for a pretty awesome scene to see Max and Eleven reunite, even though it's only in Max's mind. Eleven then faces off with Vecna, threatening to kill him if he touches Max again. Unfortunately, their attempt to fight him leads to both of them being trapped by Upside-Down tentacles in his lair, and all hope seems lost...
5 Mike Tells Eleven To Fight
...That is, until Mike, with the help of Johnathan, Will, and Argyle, pulls Eleven from the sensory deprivation tank. Trying to wake her up, Mike speaks to Eleven, telling her everything he'd been too unwilling to say before. Not only does he love her, but he's always loved her, ever since he stumbled upon her in the woods in season 1.
As Mike's words echo in Eleven's head, she slowly frees herself from Vecna's tentacles. She's a few seconds too late, however, as Max's limbs have already begun breaking. Still, Mike's encouragement of Eleven to fight works, and after the screen cuts to black, we return to see Eleven throwing Vecna across the air.
4 Running Up That Hill
Kate Bush's iconic song, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" played a big role in the first volume of Stranger Things season 4. After discovering that music can keep people out of Vecna's control, the song is used to save Max from the monster nearly killing her. By the time Vecna returns to Max, however, her Walkman has been destroyed by Jason.
"Running Up That Hill" plays non-diegetically this time, as Eleven keeps Vecna levitating, the trio of Steve, Nancy, and Robin assault the villain's body with Molotov cocktails and a shotgun. Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, Hopper takes up a sword against a Demogorgon, going full Jon Snow on it to save Joyce's life.
3 Eddie Finally Graduates
The gang's plan succeeds in the end, though not without a casualty. After going against Steve's advice and "becoming a hero," Eddie succumbs to Demobat wounds in the Upside-Down. Once Dustin arrives, viewers pretty much know that Eddie's death is a done deal, despite Dustin's pleas that they can save him.
What's most heartbreaking about Eddie's death, however, is how he remarks once again in Dustin's arms, that this year is "his year" to finally graduate high school. Later, Dustin tearfully informs Eddie's uncle of his heroism, despite the town of Hawkins' belief that Eddie was a cult leader and responsible for the destruction of Vecna.
2 Eleven Leaves The Door Open
Things are not so light-hearted as Mike, Eleven, Will, Jonathan, and Argyle arrive in Hawkins. An "earthquake" has ripped through the town, opening a portal to the Upside-Down. Many families flee Hawkins, while Max lies in a coma, alive but possibly to never wake up. However, there's one silver lining in all this.
As Eleven cleans her room in the cabin, Hopper himself enters. The two tearfully hug and compliment each other's new hairdos. In the most heart-wrenching moment of all, Eleven remarks that she left the door open three inches. Eleven also gets a nice reunion with Joyce, and Mike and Hopper share a well-earned hug.
1 Hawkins Is Forever Changed
Most seasons of Stranger Things end on a pretty conclusive note, but season 4 changes things. After the earthquake opens a portal to the Upside-Down all throughout Hawkins, many people have taken up residence in Hawkins' high school gym. Meanwhile, our characters know the fight is far from over.
In the final sequence, the characters realize that the particles in the air from the Upside-Down are appearing in Hawkins. Eleven and the rest look over the town from a high advantage point, seeing red, stormy clouds surfacing. Not only is Vecna returning, but he's not giving them time to wait, although fans will have to.
Stranger Things 4 Volumes 1 & 2 are now streaming on Netflix.