The following contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2, now available to stream on Netflix.
In the fourth season of Stranger Things, many moving parts were in play as the Hawkins teens split up across America to battle Vecna and the threats posed by the Upside Down. In Vol. 2, Joyce and Murray got to Hopper in Russia, hoping to bring him back to America after being kept prisoner. This built up a ton of action, romance and drama, which did lead to the narrative becoming disjointed a bit. Unfortunately, as everyone tried to claw their way back to Indiana to protect the small town, once again, a ton of plot holes and unanswered questions arose.
Why Didn’t Vecna Kill Nancy?
Vecna needed a fourth victim, aka the “fourth gate.” It’s never explained why it needed to be four, but this turned out to be Max in the finale. However, Vol. 2 started with him having Nancy at his mercy to be the fourth victim. Instead, he showed her his plans to raze Hawkins and sent her to warn Eleven and Co. This made no sense because it allowed Team Eleven to formulate a plan. In addition, he didn’t even find Max; she came willingly to him to set a trap. Vecna simply lucked into the dénouement, endangering his own mission along the way.
How Did Steve, Nancy and Robin Survive?
While Vecna and Max tussled in the astral plane, Steve, Robin and Nancy were aiming to burn his real body in the Upside Down’s Creel mansion. However, the vines detected them, wrapped them up and choked them. The thing is, this happened for quite a few minutes, while Vecna also tied Eleven up, just so she could watch Max die. A 10-minute-long monologue ensued with Vecna, yet somehow, the trio wasn’t suffocated to death outside the mansion before the vines broke on their end.
Why Did Eddie Sacrifice Himself?
Eddie and Dustin distracted the Demobats while the Vecna fight occurred. However, rather than return to the real world with Dustin and seal the rift in the trailer, Eddie ran off to keep fighting the bats. This was illogical because by then, Team Steve was already in the mansion. Had Eddie gotten word they needed help on the way back — which wouldn’t have been a requirement as them coming back would have meant they stopped Vecna and the bats died — then it could be understood him running out again. Instead, he claims he’s doing this for Chrissy, whom he watched die, but living for his family and Dustin would have been a better way to honor her.
Why Was Vecna So Absent-Minded with the Heroes?
In Vecna’s monologue, he revealed he found the Mind Flayer and began controlling monsters in the dark realm, which was a dumb move. Firstly, he gave Eleven insight to use against him if she survived. Secondly, had he just killed Max before Eleven heard Mike’s voice and broke free, the mission to merge his world with Hawkins would be completed without a hitch. Lastly, it’s never explained why he didn’t feel the vines loosening as Eleven grew stronger, or why the bats didn’t alert him to Dustin and Eddie playing music. They’re all a hive mind, after all, so the boss should have known invaders were around.
What Happened to Hopper’s Broken Ankle?
When Team Joyce escaped the Russian lab, she patched Hopper up as he was brutally scarred from his torture sessions. Yet she never tended to the ankle he broke in a previous attempt to escape Russia. Even if it’s a minor fracture, it never really bothered Hopper, so it seems like the show just forgot about it or had him magically heal fast.
Did Brenner Cheat Death Again?
Before Eleven got to Mike in Las Vegas and tried to fight Vecna on the astral plane, Sullivan and the military tried to kill her at the Nevada lab. Their chopper ended up sniping out Brenner, seemingly killing the sinister scientist. But it’s not confirmed if he really is dead. He was seen motionless in the desert, but again, this is a man who escaped being murdered by a Demogorgon in Season 1 — which also hasn’t been fully detailed.
How Did Russia Get More Demo-Creatures?
The Stranger Things: Kamchatka comic confirmed the Soviets cracked a rift and grew a Demogorgon from a baby. However, neither the books nor the show revealed how the Russians got Demodogs, as well as the “shadow.” The latter’s the dark particles linked to the Mind Flayer, so it’d have been nice to know how they trapped that and why Vecna never attacked there to create the portals needed to merge with the real world. It’d have been an easy target given the base had no Eleven or Hellfire Club.
Why Didn’t the Military Have a Contingency?
When the military attacked the lab, they sent in all troops from the jeeps. Thus, when Eleven came out with Brenner, only the sniping chopper existed to attack them. It’s unbelievable Sullivan wouldn’t have had a second chopper or left troops on the surface, knowing Brenner’s team would fight back and try to escape. Seeing as Sullivan was aware Eleven was a WMD too, he really should have had backup teams up top to complement the chopper. In addition, Sullivan didn’t pursue when he saw Eleven driving off with Mike’s van. No choppers were called in, even though he knew they’d head back to Hawkins.
What Happened to Dr. Sam Owens?
Sullivan’s crew beat up Sam for trying to help Eleven before the Nevada lab got destroyed. However, Sam’s final fate wasn’t revealed. Oddly enough, Sullivan didn’t even meet with Hopper and Eleven to say sorry for the mess, or to address the fact that the Upside Down has breached their world. Two days passed, so one would think Sullivan would tuck his tail between his legs and try to ally with them after everything they warned him of came true. Ultimately, fans are hoping Sam’s alive and can be the bridge between both parties come Season 5.
Why Was Eddie Not Treated Right?
The heroes made a horrific choice to leave Eddie’s body in the Upside Down after the bats murdered him. It’s atrocious, especially after Nancy lied about Barb being left there in the first couple of seasons. They could have brought his body over to undo that past sin, providing closure and also, letting Hawkins know he was a hero. Instead, Dustin waited for two days and happened to tell his uncle he died in the quakes after a chance meeting. Given the town knows something’s up, spilling the beans at least to the uncle would have helped him mourn.
Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 2 is available to stream on Netflix.