A new video from Stranger Things has revealed the titles of the nine episodes that will make up the series' fourth season.
Previous seasons of Stranger Things have proved how the episode titles relate to the episode's content. Some titles are vague, like "The Flayed" (season 3, episode 5), while others spell the plot out plainly, like "The Case of the Missing Lifeguard" (season 3 episode 3). Now that the titles of the upcoming Stranger Things season 4 episodes have been revealed, there's a lot that can be learned from the nine names.
The 53-second clip reveals the nine-episode titles in order, beginning with "The Hellfire Club." This is followed by "Vecna's Curse," "The Monster and The Superhero," "Dear Billy," "The Nina Project," "The Dive," "The Massacre At Hawkins Lab," "Papa," and "The Piggyback." Following the release of the titles, the teaser says, "In the spring of 1986, the adventure continues..." Stranger Things then allows its signature title card to come together with a vibrant number 4 behind it. The teaser closes with the release date that is aimed for the summer of 2022.
The episode titles give great insight into what may be in store for Mike, Lucas, Max, Dustin, Will, and Eleven. In November of 2020, the official Stranger Things Twitter account revealed some of its newest cast members, including Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson. They revealed that Eddie is the head of the Hawkins High D&D Club called the Hellfire Club. As the title of the first episode in Stranger Things season 4, "The Hellfire Club," suggests, the remaining members of the gang in Hawkins will have to acclimate to high school and Eddie's leadership. "Vecna's Curse" is also D&D-related. The evil forces of Vecna likely mean that the second episode will reveal the villains of season 4.
Following Billy's death in season 3, the fourth episode, "Dear Billy," will likely focus on Max as she continues to come to terms with what has happened and what that now means for her within her family setting. Episode 5, "The Nina Project," is likely a reference to Nina Kulagina, a Russian woman who had alleged psychic powers, specifically psychokinesis. With Eleven's known powers and Stranger Things dealing so heavily with Russia, this is a significant connection. Perhaps the final most significant episode title revealed is "Papa." This is most often associated with what Eleven called Dr. Brenner during her time in Hawkins Lab, but the connection here is likely to David Harbour's Jim Hopper, who has already been revealed to be alive in what is presumed to be Russia.
Typically, the final episode title revolves around the impending battle at the end, leading some to wonder if "The Piggyback" will change to something else before the series is released on Netflix. However, it is possible that "The Piggyback" will hold major significance that will only be understood with the proper context from Stranger Things season 4. Following what will likely be an emotional episode in "Papa," it's impossible to rule anything out just yet.
Stranger Things season 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.
Source: Stranger Things/YouTube