The writers must know they can create fanfare with their tweendom by creating a season that is so chaotic that it is well beyond reason (season 3 was already pushing it). They are so far beyond "out of material" but the ish show has only just started.
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Update: After letting it settle, I don't think the first half of S4 was bad.
Bringing in another D&D villain, especially one who speaks, was a rational remedy to the issues of having such a dull "blob" of a villain like the one last season.
The reason why I change my rating from 2 to 6and not an 8 is because the one thing that has kept us grounded is the acting and investment in the Stranger Danger Gang, and it is lacking so far.
There are 3 years between us and them, so when we needed to have that connection grounded and reaffirmed by familiarity and understanding, its roadblocked by poorly written dialogue and too many Russia cutaways.
You can't help but get the feeling that, as the audience, we missed out on something huge thing that changed everyone.
Character Review:
Eleven: Her dialogue is awful!! Milly Bobby Brown tries her darndest, but
it is Disney show awful. They write her as the same naïve and isolated child she once was, but at the end of S3 that is not who she is. She is traumatized, hurt, but ready to move on and thrive. She is being bullied (and its heavy handed) but neither her inner dialogue (letters to Hopper) or actions do a good job at creating the sense of loneliness and ostracism they are clearly trying to portray
Mike: I am not sure if it is Finn's busy schedule or what, but he is kind of scarce in this first half. He feels different or like he's trying to be the same and I guess that makes sense with Lucas straying away. The first half is not Mike focused, which it totally, fine. But, it does feel slightly jarring with El also feeling sidelined
Dustin: as adorable as ever, he spends most of the first half with his girlfriend. His alliance with Erica is refreshing since (outside of his girlfriend) they still seem to be the only ones in this show who can put things together
Lucas: the writers are doing this sweet baby an injustice by giving him the flat cliched arc of wanting to fit in and using basketball (eyeroll) to do it. He is distant except that he is still clearly wanting to be close to Max. I just wish the writers would take the time to give him just a little bit more complexity (I feel like they dulled him and El out)
Joyce: Maybe the closer we get to the 90's (in the show), the more Winona's acting will mellow out and the closer she will get to reliving her peak. With neither Will nor Jonathan being involved in anything major, Joyce (and Murray) spends most of her time trying to figure out if Hopper is trying to get in touch with her. The whole storyline is incredibly tedious and feels draining to get through
Max: Max is the most important character in the first half. Sadie Sink's performance (even through the dialogue) is amazing. I was very impressed with her ability to convey inner emotional turmoil stemming and conflicting desires
Nancy: I have never appreciated Nathalie Dyer's performance as Nancy. However, I do appreciate that her character takes initiative to get the ball rolling for the mystery they are trying to uncover.
Robin: While Maya Hawke isn't a bad actress, I do think the nepotism of it all is the only reason we're seeing her again so much this season. She doesn't add anything to the show outside of being someone for Steve waste time with until he's needed at the end.
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