: A series of gruesome, supernatural murders plagues the town, with high school outcast Eddie Munson

A risky narrative decision in Season 4 was the physical separation of the central cast. At the end of Season 3, the "Core Four" (Mike, Dustin, Lucas) and their allies were scattered across the globe. For a show built on the chemistry of its ensemble, this could have been a disaster. Instead, it allowed the writers to explore distinct sub-genres within the same season.

The finale of Stranger Things Season 4 is a direct prologue to the fifth and final season. The Upside Down is leaking into Hawkins. Eleven has lost her powers again after the battle. Max is brain-dead but physically alive, acting as a "host" for Vecna’s consciousness.