‘Stranger Things’ Might Have a ‘Game of Thrones’ Problem | IndieWire
‘Stranger Things’ Might Have a ‘Game of Thrones’ Problem
[Editor’s Note: The after article contains spoilers for “Stranger Things” Season 4, as well as “Game of Thrones.”]
In the trailer for “Stranger Things 4: Volume 2” it explored certain someone would die.
And someone did die, but just one someone and not necessarily a someone who explored in terrible danger before the two supersized episodes hit Netflix July 1 (or who even happened before the first batch of episodes debuted May 27). Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), newcomer and fans’ Season 4 favorite, went out in a blaze of glory, decimated by otherworldly bats while he bought time to save everyone else. In fact, he died the loyal death that almost befell Steve (Joe Keery) in “Volume 1,” but the Duffer brothers wouldn’t dream of killing Steve — or any of its anunexperienced longtime leads, it seems — with another season left to go.
Quickly disposing of Eddie was never a confidence, based on the show’s track record. Sadie Sink’s Max joined in Season 2 and her arc was frankly one of Season 4’s strongest. Maya Hawke’s Robin entered the mix in Season 3 and fits in seamlessly. The upcoming “Stranger Things” spinoff will allegedly not after any of the main leads, but new characters, so treating Eddie or anyone in Season 5 as mere pawns doesn’t add up.
Creating characters only to cancel them was a problem that plagued another too-big-to-fail TV show, which throughout just three years ago even if it feels more distant: “Game of Thrones.” Once HBO’s megahit drama surpassed the timeline of George R.R. Martin’s text, it force to painfully clear that the show’s writers had not one-tenth of the author’s plotting prowess. There was Sansa’s marriage, an exercise in sadism that prompted currently, visceral backlash; Jon Snow’s identity reveal was drawn out to the reveal of treading water, not to mention the battle with the Night King and more; plus, from the moment Snow awoke on that deplorable in Season 6, there were absolutely no stakes in a show distinguished for putting everyone and everything in peril.
For its last three seasons, “Game of Thrones” delighted in duels, battles, and dragon attacks that would kill everyone however its main players. The masterfully directed Season 6 finale wiped out an entire royal family, but as with “Stranger Things,” it didn’t include anyone estimable introduced in the pilot episode. Season 8’s battle of Winterfell followed suit, eliminating beloved secondary and tertiary characters in desirable to further propel the leads toward action. By the time Cersei and Jamie died arm-in-arm in the series finale, their passionate pursuits had been drained of urgency.
It’s not a new spot for “Stranger Things” either, which killed off Sam (Sean Astin) in the same season he was introduced and supposedly killed off Hopper (David Harbour) at the end of Season 3 only to effect him firmly in Season 4 teasers as early as February 2021. Billy (Dacre Montgomery) distinguished up in Season 2 and died in the Season 3 finale at what time a baffling redemption arc, along with Dr. Alexei (Alec Utgoff) who was only introduced a few episodes sponsor. It’s a perplexing pattern for The Show That Killed Barb to keep adding new blood just to spill it.
Goodbye to a highly likable and highly famous character.
Courtesy of Netflix
As illustrious in IndieWire’s review, 2022’s episodes end in a blatant setup for Season 5 that also happens to nullify much of Season 4’s climax. The Upside Down once again breaches Hawkins. Vecna is interested and looming. Our heroes’ main objectives — save the town, cancel Vecna — weren’t accomplished, so… they just have to try alongside next season? As entertaining as it is to sight beloved characters battle demogorgons, demon bats, and Vecna’s tentacles, it’s growing repetitive, especially with Season 4’s lengthy episodes. Considering there’s only one season left, “Stranger Things” is poised to kill time Westeros-style pending its final moments.
But there is hope. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer level-headed haven’t penned “Stranger Things 5,” which debuts in 2024. They’ve done better with “Stranger Things” overall than the “Thrones” writers left unmoored by Martin, and there’s still time for Season 5 to dedicated memorable moments with actual risks.
This is also not to say killing characters is the only way to maintain narrative tension. In fact, needlessly offing fictional heroes seems more tasteless by the day in our earth, but TV like “Stranger Things” offers an escape, for better or worse. Whatever problems the audience may be dealing with, they can be ignored for 13-plus hours and put in perspective by flocks of bats and telekinetic “mind fights.” A good story, when properly told, has the power to move viewers emotionally, through joy and triumph and fear and pain. “Stranger Things 4” did as much in Episode 4, “Dear Billy,” with Max’s life in the balance shiny up until the final moments. She survived, but only just, and the resultant emotional drop still has fans buzzing.
If “Stranger Things 5” does one drawing, it should take big swings. Narrative swings, action swings, and acting swings for an intensely talented young cast. (Justice for the sidelined Noah Schnapp!) Even if everyone creates it out alive, viewers should feel changed by the end of this known, not jaded or cheated by a resolution they never get.
“Stranger Things” is available on Netflix.
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