When Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016 it immediately became a sensation for the streaming service. With its endless 80s references, fantastic cast and combination of scares and laughs, it’s not a surprise that Stranger Things has gained a fervent fandom.
When the first batch of episodes of Stranger Things season 4 debuted on May 27, the new season quickly became the most-watched English-language TV show on Netflix ever. The new season has had quite the impact on fans from a petition to get Eggos in the UK and getting Kate Bush back into the charts following a now-iconic scene involving Max and Vecna.
Now, the final two episodes of Stranger Things season 4 (officially titled volume 2) are here for fans to enjoy. Here’s everything that we know about all of Stranger Things season 4.
Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 release date
With the release of the final two episodes, all nine episodes of Stranger Things season 2 are now available to stream on Netflix.
According to a letter from the creators the Duffer brothers, shared by Netflix, the reason for splitting Stranger Things season 4 into two halves is because this is the biggest season yet. Featuring nine episodes, the creators said the new season is "nearly twice the length of any previous season."
If you're wondering why volume 2 seems light, don't worry, per Netflix, the last two episodes are nearly a combined four hours.
How to watch Stranger Things season 4
Stranger Things is a Netflix original show, which of course means that it is playing exclusively on the streaming service. So anyone who wants to watch the latest episodes (or start from the beginning of the series) is going to need a Netflix subscription to do so.
What’s the plot of Stranger Things?
Stranger Things takes place in the 1980s in the small Indiana town of Hawkins. When a young boy disappears, his friends attempt to find him and meet Eleven, a mysterious young girl with supernatural abilities. As they continue their search, they discover a shady government agency experimenting with other dimensions (called the Upside Down) that threaten the whole town. It’s up to them, along with the local sheriff, Hopper, to stop them.
As the show has progressed, the supernatural phenomena impacting Hawkins have only increased, and Eleven and the rest of the gang are continually forced to confront it, on top of dealing with the normal things teenagers go through.
Things left off in season three with the group foiling a secret Russian mission to weaponize the dimensional portal. In order to close it, Hopper, who had become a surrogate father to Eleven, sacrifices himself to close it. However, in a final scene taking place in a Russian prison, we see Russian guards talking about an American prisoner before feeding another prison to a monster that came from the other the Upside Down.
Here is the official synopsis from Netflix:
"It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down."
Unfortunately, some Stranger Things spoilers have made their way online thanks to a Monopoly gaff.
Below you can find some of the posters which were released ahead of the first half of season 4.
Stranger Things season 4 episodes
Here are the synopses for the first seven episodes of Stranger Things season 4, which makes up volume one of this two part season:
Stranger Things season 4 episode 1, "Chapter One: The Hellfire Club"
"El is bullied at school. Joyce opens a mysterious package. A scrappy player shakes up D&D night."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 2, "Chapter Two: Vecna's Curse"
"A plane brings Mike to California — and a dead body brings Hawkins to a halt. Nancy goes looking for leads. A shaken Eddie tells the gang what he saw."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 3, "Chapter Three: The Monster and the Superhero"
"Murray and Joyce fly to Alaska and El faces serious consequences. Robin and Nancy dig up dirt on Hawkins' demons. Dr. Owens delivers sobering news."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 4, "Chapter Four: Dear Billy"
"Max is in grave danger... and running out of time. A patient at Pennhurst asylum has visitors. Elsewhere, in Russia, Hopper is hard at work."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 5, "Chapter Five: The Nina Project"
"Owens takes El to Nevada, where she's forced to confront her past, while the Hawkins kids comb a crumbling house for clues. Vecna claims another victim."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 6, "Chapter Six: The Dive"
"Behind the Iron Curtain, a risky rescue mission gets underway. The California crew seeks help from a hacker. Steve takes one for the team."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 7, "Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab"
"As Hopper braces to battle a monster, Dustin dissects Vecna's motives — and decodes a message from beyond. El finds strength in a distant memory."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 8, "Chapter Eight: Papa"
"Nancy has sobering visions and El passes an important test. Back in Hawkins, the gang gathers supplies and prepares for battle."
Stranger Things season 4 episode 9, "Chapter Nine: The Piggyback"
"With selfless hearts and a clash of metal, heroes fight from every corner of the battlefield to save Hawkins — and the world itself."
Stranger Things season 4 trailers
Watch all of the trailers released for Stranger Things season 4 below.
A sneak peek trailer for Stranger Things volume 2 was released in early June. It's only 30 seconds, but it's got a lot going on, including a dire message from Vecna:
Here are the previous trailers for Stranger Things season 4:
How to watch Stranger Things season 4
New to Stranger Things or trying to convince someone to start watching it? Well here’s what you need to know to do so. As a Netflix Original, Stranger Things plays exclusively on the streaming service, meaning that a subscription is necessary. A Netflix base subscription starts at $13.99 per month, with other subscriptions available to add things like 4K viewing.
Who is in the Stranger Things cast?
The young cast of Stranger Things is the heart of the show. Most of these young actors were complete unknowns when the show debuted in 2016, but they have quickly become stars in their own rights. Here’s a rundown of the principal cast:
- Millie Bobby Brown - Eleven
- Finn Wolfhard - Mike Wheeler
- Gaten Matarazzo - Dustin Henderson
- Caleb McLaughlin - Lucas Sinclair
- Noah Schnapp - Will Byers
- Sadie Sink - Max Mayfield
- Natalia Dyer - Nancy Wheeler
- Charlie Heaton - Jonathan Byers
- Winona Ryder - Joyce Byers
- David Harbour - Jim Hopper
A couple of fan favorites from season 3 have also been upped to series regulars for season four — Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley and Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair.
Another fun thing that Stranger Things does is bring back iconic 80s actors. The show has already featured Matthew Modine, Sean Astin, Cary Elwes and Paul Reiser, and season 4 has Robert Englund, Freddy Kreuger from the original A Nightmare on Elm Street. It was recently revealed the Englund will be playing a character named Victor Creel, who has been in a psychiatric hospital since the 1950s after his family was violently murdered, with him claiming it was by demons.
Other new cast members include Jamie Campbell Bower, Eduardo Franco, Joseph Quinn and Tom Wlaschiha.
Stranger Things season 4 photos
Here are some more looks at Stranger Things season 4 with some photos provided by Netflix:
Will there be a Stranger Things season five?
The Duffer brothers, who are the creative minds behind Stranger Things along with producer and director Shawn Levy, said early on in the show’s run that they envisioned the story going either four or five seasons. Well, we’re just about to get the fourth season, is this the end of Stranger Things or will the show return?
Movie website Collider interviewed Levy for his new film Free Guy and asked that very question. Levy revealed that "the end is in sight" and that he and the Duffer brothers have a plan for the endgame.
The end plan is official, as Stranger Things was renewed for season 5, which will serve as the show's final outing. Though the possibility of spinoffs was alluded to, there's been nothing to confirm that we'll see any just yet.
