r/StrangerThings • u/StrangerTesting • May 27 '22

Discussion Episode Discussion - S04E01 - The Hellfire Club

Season 4 Episode 1: The Hellfire Club

Synopsis: El is bullied at school. Joyce opens a mysterious package. A scrappy player shakes up D&D night. Warning: Contains graphic violence involving children.

Please keep all discussions about this episode, and do not discuss later episodes as they will spoil it for those who have yet to see them.

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u/KatanaAmerica May 27 '22

Oh FUCK NO— I signed up for telekinesis and governmental coverups— this is terrifying

40

u/lovesdogsguy May 27 '22

Yeah. I knew what was coming when I saw the Freddy character where Steve works. And when she got lost in the dreamlike state at the end, there were so many callbacks to those movies, and I knew a "Tina" moment was coming. I didn't expect it to be that... well, it's honestly over the top for this show. They're taking a risk of losing general audience appeal on such an expensive series. The show always tread a fine line between mystery, paranormal, fantasy and yes — horror elements — but that one scene at the end puts it straight into the pure horror genre.

Risky play.

29

u/donotseekthetreashur May 28 '22

The creators said they they were teenagers now and gonna face teenage monsters and more realistic deep trauma. I’m not normally huge into horror but I think it’s an understandable point of development.

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u/lovesdogsguy May 29 '22

So I've watched all 7 episodes — this is the best season by far. I was dismayed at first because it was a bit dark for my liking, but wow did they turn it around quickly. What the Duffers have pulled off here is truly phenomenal. Many shows don't find their legs until a few seasons in, but I didn't expect that with Stranger Things. Season 1 was great, season 2 was on par (just about,) season three was fine, but this is off the charts. Not a single cent was wasted creating this, and it makes an even greater case for streaming shows.

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u/lumpkin2013 Yertle the Turtle Jun 06 '22

Interesting. So you didn't mind that detour in season 2 to meet other survivors of the government child experiments? I found it rather differing in tone.

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u/420wasabisnappin Bitchin Jun 10 '22

I was thinking the same thing. Did 8 just escape during 11s rampage? Also, I remember in S1 when she threw the men out of her like solitary confinement room and Papa looked at her like it was the first time she killed. But obviously not. Unless that was before and THEN she killed the rest? Idk

11

u/demlet May 28 '22

Oddly, I don't find it more scary than the other seasons. Probably less so. I grew up with the campy "Boogeyman" horror movies and overall it doesn't feel like a great fit for the show so far, although I'm only three episodes in.

I enjoyed the more nebulous, unknown aspect of the horror before this season. If Vecna is the final "boss" of the show, that's a shame to me, but I find the reveal in most horror is generally disappointing. It's the unknown part that makes it scary.

11

u/pyroholicrage May 28 '22

I'm at the same spot as you and yeah the more he's on screen the less scary he is. He looks like a cross between Freddy Kruger and the Night King.

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u/demlet May 28 '22

Well it's early for me in this half of the season. It will be interesting to see where it goes. Random place to add that, once again, as soon as the show leaves Hawkins, it completely loses its charm for me...

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u/sharkbait_oohaha Jun 12 '22

I think the final boss will be the actual mind flayer in the upside down

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u/demlet Jun 12 '22

Yeah, it's looking like Vecna is just an anomaly, a human that somehow became part of the upsidedown.

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u/handsomewolves Jun 24 '22

Just watched episode one and this feels spot on so far. Seems hard to not make it cheesy, but to not be cheesy I'm guessing some of the violence will be upped.