Stranger Things 4 Fixes Everything That Went Wrong In Season 2
This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 volume 1.
Eleven's arc in Stranger Things season 4 volume 1 follows the same pattern as her story in season 2 — but much improved. «The Lost Sister» is still the worst-rated episode of Stranger Things to date. Season 2's bottle episode was an unusual one, taking Eleven away from her friends in Hawkins and sending her on a quest of self-identity. The Duffer brothers explained the arc was actually influenced by Star Wars, specifically The Empire Strikes Back in which Luke Skywalker must travel to Dagobah for training.
Conceptually, it's easy to see the parallels. There was no way Eleven was powerful enough to take on the Mind-Flayer, so she undoubtedly needed to go on some sort of quest to get the necessary power-up. This was best done by forcing Eleven to confront her past, with Kali literally personifying the suppressed rage that can be felt by people who have suffered the kind of trauma the kids had experienced at Hawkins Lab. There's a sense in which Kali served as a dark Yoda, one who would have led Eleven in the wrong direction had she not chosen a different path. Surprisingly, there's a sense in which Stranger Things season 4 has repeated the arc — with Dr. Brenner himself as the unexpected Yoda figure. This time, though, it's being much better received.
Related: Why Eleven Doesn't Have Her Powers In Stranger Things Season 4
The key difference is one of context. When Stranger Things season 2 released back in 2017, viewers were eager to see more of Hawkins — and, specifically, to see Eleven interact with the rest of the Hawkins gang. Instead, the narrative separated Eleven from her friends and then sent her to Chicago, with "The Lost Sister" serving as the
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