By Chinyere Omeife
In 2016 Netflix dropped its hit show Stranger Things. Ever since then the show’s popularity (as well as my addiction to the show) has grown exponentially. All of the Stranger Things seasons are exceptional, but there are little things that put some seasons over others. Let’s dive into my rankings, and the craziness that is Stranger Things.
*DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS*
4. Season 2
Season 2 was crazy. Although it's a great season, what puts it at the bottom is the lack of action throughout the majority of the season. It isn't till the end of episode 5/beginning of episode 6 that things start to happen. Hopper is trapped underground and the crazy drawings Will is making turn out to be a map. Joyce and Bob find Hopper and when scientists from Hawkins Lab come to burn down the underground place, Will falls to the ground having a seizure, letting out an earsplitting, almost siren type sound.
There are two outstanding scenes this season. The first is the scene where Joyce, Nancy, and Jonathan cast the Mind Flayer out of Will. This scene showed us the true power of the Mind Flayer. He choked Joyce and the only way he would let go was by being burnt. This scene also showed how empathetic Jonathan is towards Will. The second is when Bob died. Joyce found love with Bob after her horrible ex-husband but had to watch him die in front of her.
3. Season 3
The ONLY reason season 3 is at the bottom half of my list is because it's a sequel to season 2 and I expected a new monster. This season, instead of the mind flayer just being a spirit, it becomes a tangible thing by possessing people called "The flayed". And when the flayed come together they combust and congeal together to become a part of the mindflayer. This season was exciting with many twists and turns. Erica, Robin, and Murray became main characters which was a great choice. The Scoops Troop (Dustin, Robin, Steve, and Erica) were essential in finding the secret Russian base and helping Murray, Joyce, and Hopper find the gate opening machine. The sauna test scene was brilliant and terrifying and I felt like I was in the room with the lead characters.
There were several sad things that happened in season 3. Billy's redemption this season was incredible. Throughout this season we got to see how Billy's upbringing made him the way he is. Eleven gets Billy to break free of the mind flayer by reminding him of his mother. This led Billy to sacrifice himself to save Eleven and that sacrifice gave Joyce enough time to stop the machine that was opening the gate. And Alexei, his death was unexpectedly devastating. Alexei gave up his life as a Russian scientist for the greater good and was living out his dream of being an American when he was shot by Gregory for his betrayal of his motherland.
One thing I won't stand for in this season is the WILL SLANDER. Will missed two years of his childhood due to being chased by the demogorgon and possessed by the mindflayer and his friends care more about their girlfriends than him.
2. Season 4 Volume 1
Season 4 was a shock compared to the past seasons. It is darker and more gory. But what puts season 4 at the top is Vecna. Vecna is a human-like monster that can speak and has a more constructed approach to his murders, which varies from the Mind Flayer and Demogorgon who just killed people. Vecna taunts his victims with past traumatic memories before finally killing them by breaking their bones and gouging their eyes out all while levitating them. All of the victims had some sort of depression which made their killings even more emotional and connected us to the characters.
Also, the writers played us the ENTIRE SEASON. From the beginning we are left thinking that Eleven killed everyone in Hawkins Lab when she was younger. But the show shattered all our conspiracies in the last episode. Finding out that Peter Ballard (the guy who tried to help Eleven escape) killed everyone at Hawkins lab and that Peter was also 001/Henry Creel/Vecna was the greatest twist of all time. I can't wait to see what antics the writers are up to in volume 2.
1. Season 1
Nothing can beat the excitement of watching the kids encounter their first supernatural dilemma. The mixture of childhood innocence, danger, and discovery are the perfect combo. Throughout this season we get to see all the characters grow into better, more confident people. The acting in this season was top tier. Specifically, the scene where the police "find" Will's body was amazing. The kids' grief radiated through the screen.
I love that unlike seasons 3 & 4 where Will is put on the back burner, throughout this season 99% of the cast are focused on finding Will. The ending of this season was fantastic. When Hopper and Joyce do find Will, he's dead. The flashbacks to Hopper's daughter dying and Hopper performing CPR was heart-breaking and when Will comes back we all let out a sigh of relief. The joy everyone exudes when Will wakes up at the hospital is something that can't be faked.
What is your favorite season? Don't forget to stream Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 on July 1st!!!!!!
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