The trailer for the second volume of Stranger Things season four features an epic version of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (Make A Deal With God)” which induces sheer goosebumps. With the song in the backdrop, the trailer features truckloads of explosive and violent images that also have plenty of hidden Easter eggs.
After a dark, a gory and revelatory slew of seven episodes in the first volume that takes place across Hawkins, California and Kamchatka, Russia, the creators, the Duffer Brothers set the tempo for a bloodier and more intense second volume which is admittedly “more violent” than ever.
From Max still retaining the tape recorder with Kate Bush’s song, in order to arm herself against Vecna, to the kids carrying distinct amulet-like charms to fight the demonic entity, the trailer is drenched in explosions and red imagery that hint at plenty of terrifying and harrowing events.
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Matthew Modine and Jamie Campbell Bower among others, the second volume is scheduled for a July 1st, 2022 premiere.
Take a look at our takeaways from the trailer to understand what we predict for this season:
5 takeaways from the new ‘Stranger Things’ season 4 trailer
What could the episode titles signify?
The second volume has two feature-length episodes. The first episode is titled ‘Papa’ while the second episode is called ‘The Piggyback’. The names themselves give away the general theme for each of the two episodes. While ‘Papa’ is nearly two hours long, ‘The Piggyback’ will exceed two hours.
The first episode will probably revolve mainly around Brenner and Eleven. The trailer shows snippets of Brenner in the flashback when Eleven sent Number 001 to the Upside Down, thus leading to the formation of Vecna. While Brenner has always been somewhat dubious, it seems like he still cares about Eleven and, despite her resentment, Eleven seemingly regards him as a father figure. Since Brenner and Owens are working together to restore Eleven’s lost telekinetic powers, a sacrifice seems likely. Perhaps Brenner will sacrifice himself to protect Eleven? Only time will tell.
Similarly, the title for the second episode seems pretty symbolic. Since Eleven opened the portal to the Upside Down in the first season, the Mind Flayer has been sending its minions to the real world to wreak havoc in Hawkins. From the Demogorgon to the Demodogs, the Mind Flayer has always liked “piggybacking” to the real world via various elements. The trailer shows Vecna roaming the real world. Whether Vecna will be yet another vessel for Mind Flayer to piggyback on and reach the earthly realm is worth thinking about.
Can Joyce Byers survive?
Winona Ryder’s Joyce Byers has always been an integral part of the show. Her courage and resilience peaked during the mysterious disappearance of her son, Will. She showed her indomitable spirit yet again in the first volume of the fourth season when she embarked on a daunting journey to Russia with Murray to rescue her potential love interest, Chief Jim Hopper and succeeded.
However, the trailer rarely shows Joyce. She appears in a passing montage as she joins Hopper and Murray while looking at the ruins of the Russian portal and a possible Demogorgon in their possession. Next, a passing snippet shows a woman gasping for breath before being given an oxygen mask; she looks oddly similar to Joyce. Another scene shows Will embracing Jonathan and breaking down in tears which could signify a possible major character death, most likely their mother, Joyce.
While fans would be devastated if Joyce became the sacrificial lamb, the creators and the cast have continuously emphasised season four to be extremely violent. Joyce’s death would be a punch in the gut, however, it seems like a crucial plot point for the entire team to regroup and come back stronger in season five to avenge their loved ones.
Will Eddie Munson save the Hawkins crew?
Eddie Munson has garnered quite the fan following ever since the Duffer brothers introduced the eccentric President of the Hellfire Club in the fourth season. While he is mostly on the run in the fourth season, trying to escape legal troubles that associate him with Chrissy’s murder, he later joins Nancy, Robin and Steve in the Upside Down and helps ward off the vicious Demobats.
In the trailer, Munson is seen holding his electric guitar. A scene which appeared in the main trailer recurs yet again- Munson is seen standing atop the trailer, immersed in some kind of performance. Whether he is playing metal music to fight off Demobats and buy the rest of the crew some time to enter the Creel House is worth noting. He might also be playing Nancy’s favourite song to bring her back from the Upside Down since she was seen getting stuck there with Vecna at the end of episode seven in season four.
From Barb to Bob, Stranger Things has a penchant for killing off fan favourite characters. While a Steve Harrington sacrifice does not seem likely till the fifth season, Eddie Munson is definitely at risk!
What might go down in the Creel House?
The first volume of season four ended with a massive cliffhanger. Nancy got stuck in the Upside Down while reliving the memories of Henry Creel aka Vecna. The flashbacks showed how a young, disillusioned Henry developed his telekinetic powers before doing the unthinkable to his family. Since the Creel House has now been revealed to be the origins of the Vecna, the gang will most likely try and destroy Vecna. The grandfather clocks might have a connection to the popular grandfather paradox that talks about time travellers potentially killing their grandfathers to cease existence. Perhaps, the recurring visions of the clocks have some connection to the demonic entity.
In the video, the entire gang is seen riding a trailer to presumably reach the Creel House. later, Max, Erica and Lucas are seen entering the house. The much-hated basketball captain, Jason, who is fixated on seeking vengeance against Eddie, seems to have followed them. Lucas and Jason will probably engage in a brutal fight as Lucas is seen punching him in the face. Later, it seems like Vecna will possess Jason as a pair of feet clad in green socks are seen pervading the screen, reminiscent of Max’s levitation in the first volume.
If Lucas ends up saving Jason, they might team up to defeat the Vecna who is now trodding the earthly realm.
What is Will’s possible connection to Vecna/Mind Flayer? Will Hawkins really fall?
Stranger Things kicked off with the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers. After he was rescued, Will was still controlled by the Mind Flayer before being exorcised by his friends and family. Although Will takes kind of a backseat in the first volume of season four, he is seen making a mysterious painting which he wants to presumably gift Mike. While some are expecting Will to come out in a heartwarming scene, the painting might have some connection to the ongoing events given how the Duffers deliberately add to the mystique surrounding the painting.
In the trailer, Will is seen telling Mike how Vecna will not stop till he has destroyed everything. Just like the Demogorgon and the Demodogs, Will was one of the Mind Flayer’s vessels to tread the earthly realm. Various fans have also drawn parallels between young Henry Creel and Will Byers. Both are extremely sensitive, subjects of various kinds of bullying and often feel left out. That Vecna will possess Will to seek a different kind of revenge is one of the many conspiracy theories surrounding Will.
Will and Jonathan are seen sharing a teary embrace. It might indicate the death of their mother, Joyce, and the inevitable fall of Hawkins. The Duffers have already hinted at a major time skip between the fourth and the fifth season, given how season five will be the final season of the show. This could indicate the Mind Flayer being in possession of Hawkins and the earthly realm at the end of season four, following an epic battle between Eleven and Vecna. Perhaps, season five will see Hopper return to Hawkins, gather the whole group and exorcise the real world of evil, once and for all.
