Can you believe it’s been nearly three years since we last caught up with the gang from Hawkins and their exploits in the Upside Down? We don’t exactly blame you if the details from the previous seasons are a little fuzzy. After all, in that space of time, we’ve also had to fight off a deadly entity of our own, the equally relentless coronavirus. With Season 4 of Stranger Things just around the corner, here’s a little refresher on what you need to know and what you can expect on May 27th.
Billy Hargrove Is Dead
Billy, the notorious step-brother of Max, took on a bigger role in Season 3 and became the host for the Big Bad. Under the Mind Flayer’s influence, he helped capture and kill several residents during the attempted takeover of Hawkins. Eleven, however, manages to stop him by awakening his sentient self.
Billy decides to sacrifice himself to save everyone at the very last moment, redeems his character and bring his arc to a full circle. But as it turns out, it might not be the last we see of him. Actor Dacre Montgomery is set to return in the upcoming season in an episode titled “Dear Billy.” Whether it’s set in a flashback sequence or in the present day is unclear, but we are definitely excited to see more of Dacre as Billy.
Now if they’d only bring back Barb.
Jim Hopper Is Alive and Held Captive in Russia
The last we saw of Hopper in Stranger Things was right before he gets blown to smithereens after the Russian machine is destroyed. If that doesn’t jog your memory, you’ll surely remember the complete sobfest we all had when Eleven reads his letter at the end. We didn’t just cry. We bawled. We wept. We sobbed our eyes out. It was ugly.
All of our tears, however, were in vain, because Hopper is still yet to meet the Grim Reaper. It was hinted in the post-credits scene of Season 3 that he might be “the America” stuck in that shady Russian prison. But it wasn’t confirmed until Netflix released “From Russia with love…” last year (God that feels like such a long time ago!) that showed Hopper, alive and seemingly well, working as a labourer on a construction site. It’s unclear how he survived, or why the Russians are holding him captive, but we’re definitely thrilled to have our resident sheriff back on the series. Even if it’s nowhere near the vicinity of Hawkins.
Eleven and the Byers Family Leave Hawkins
Only chaos has plagued Eleven and the Byers Family throughout their time in Hawkins. From Eleven being treated like a lab rat, to Will going missing in the Upside Down, to the Mind Flayer basically wreaking havoc on the townspeople. Not even a sliver of happiness in sight. The innumerable losses and trauma in the span of three seasons finally get to them because a few months after Hopper’s “passing,” the Byers family and Eleven leave Hawkins. And we don’t blame them for trying to move on from their distressing past. But from the looks of Season 4, things aren’t going peachy for Eleven and Will over in California. You can leave Hawkins, but it seems like Hawkins certainly can’t leave you.
Eleven Has Lost Her Powers
Everyone’s favourite telekinetic seems to have exhausted her ammo. In season 3, the Mind Flayer returns with a vengeance against Eleven for sealing the gate to the Upside Down. This leads to several gruelling battles of which she is not only gravely injured but with her telekinesis severely weakened. Three months later, she still finds herself unable to use her abilities.
It’s unclear whether the fights had caused a rift in accessing her powers, or if it has simply depleted over time, but it seems possible that Eleven’s telekinesis may not return in the new season. Which makes us wonder how on earth are the Hawkins gang going to go up against their latest foe?
The Gate to the Upside Has Been Closed (Again!)
It’s been a wild ride since the first season of Stranger Things. What once began as a lab experiment to spy on Russians soon led to the accidental discovery of the alternate dimension known as the Upside Down. And with each season, more and more chaos has ensued. Not only has the wrath of the monstrous creatures intensified, but so has the level of our fear factor. After Joyce, Murray, and Hopper destroy the Russian key, the gate is closed once again and the Mind Flayer loses its link to the Upside Down.
That said, the Demodog’s unpleasant appearance in the Season 3 post-credits scene tells us that the Russians might have found access to the Upside Down after all. That only spells trouble with a capital T. And who knows, we might even see Hawkins gang finally take a trip over to the other side this upcoming season.
Hawkins Has Some New Faces
Each new season of Stranger Things has brought us new arcs and new characters. Some of which we might even be familiar with. We have Netflix’s Anne with An E star, Amybeth McNulty, joining the series as the mysterious Vickie, a student at Hawkins High. Over in California, Jonathan will be getting a best friend in light-hearted Argyle, played by Booksmart’s Eduardo Franco. Even Hopper will find friendship over at the Russian camp with Dmitri, played by Game of Thrones alum Tom Wlaschiha (aka the Faceless Man). Meanwhile, Twilight and Harry Potter star, Jamie Campbell Bower, will play Peter Ballard, a kind orderly at a psychiatric hospital. And finally, saving the best for last, we have Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, coming on as a recurring character! He plays Victor Kreel, a creepy patient at the psychiatric hospital with a murderous past. That’s enough to give you goosebumps.
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