Stranger Things 4's Bullies Stupidly Break Seasons 1-3's Rules
WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4, volume 1.
The new bully characters in Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 may serve a plot purpose, but they disregard the clever ways that the series has historically used human antagonists. Season 4 introduces a few new bully characters who antagonize Eleven, Mike Wheeler, and Eddie Munson. However, Angela, Jason Carver, and their hordes of cronies are not as compelling as previous bullies, due to sloppy writing.
Having relocated to California following the end of season 3 with Joyce, Johnathan, and Will Byers, Eleven (now going by Jane Hopper), finds herself the victim of an entire school full of bullies. Besides Will, Eleven seems to have no friends and is picked on by pretty much the whole school, led by Angela and her cronies. Back in Hawkins, Indiana, Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, and their new leader, Eddie Munson, are bullied by the jocks, led by Jason Carver. This bullying escalates after Vecna kills Chrissy Cunningham, Jason's girlfriend, as Jason and the jocks (including Lucas Sinclair) go on a mission of revenge, blaming Eddie for Chrissy's death.
Related: All Stranger Things Retcons In Season 4 Explained
Angela and Jason — and their respective gangs — feel like stereotypes rather than real people in Stranger Things season 4. The series has previously offered more nuanced takes on bullies, giving them character development and showing why they are the way they are, such as with Billy Hargrove. While Jason is given Chrissy's death as a motivating factor, there is seemingly no reason for Angela's over-the-top cruelty towards Eleven. She is just presented as a nasty person as a means to make Eleven lash out and eventually end up back with Dr. Brenner and
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