Max is in grave danger - and running out of time. A patient at Pennhurst Asylum has visitors. Elsewhere, in Russia, Hopper is hard at work.Max is in grave danger - and running out of time. A patient at Pennhurst Asylum has visitors. Elsewhere, in Russia, Hopper is hard at work.Max is in grave danger - and running out of time. A patient at Pennhurst Asylum has visitors. Elsewhere, in Russia, Hopper is hard at work.
- Awards
- 1 win total
- Eleven
- (archive footage)
- (credit only)
- …
- Dr. Martin Brenner
- (credit only)
- Dr. Sam Owens
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe song "Running Up That Hill" is featured regularly in season 4. This is the first time a song is featured regularly since season 1's "Should I Stay or Should I Go". It should be noted that the Duffers have only done this when the song holds a special significance to a character. In this case "Running Up That Hill" plays a similar role for Max as "Should I Stay or Should I Go" did for Will back in season 1.
- GoofsWhen Max tries to run away & gets pulled back along the floor by Vecna, her hair changes from pony tail with scrunchy to without.
- Quotes
Max Mayfield: Dear Billy, I don't know if you can even hear this. Two years ago, I would have said, "That's ridiculous, impossible." But that was before I found out about alternate dimensions and monsters, so... I'm just going to stop assuming that I know anything. So much has happened since you left. Your dad was a total mess. He and my mom started getting into fights. Bad fights. I don't think he could stand being here without you. So he left. And he didn't leave Mom much. She's taken an extra job, and we moved to that lovely trailer park off Kerley. Basically, ever since you left, everything's been... a total disaster. And the worst part is, I can't tell anyone why you're gone. I can't tell them that you saved El's life. That you saved my life. I play that moment back in my head all the time. And sometimes I imagine myself running to you, pulling you away. I imagine that if I had, that you would still be here. And everything would be... everything would be right again. I imagine that we... that we could've become friends. Good friends, like... like a real brother and sister. And I know that's stupid. You hated me. I hated you. But I thought that maybe... maybe we could try again. But that's not what happened. I just... I stood there and I watched. For a while, I tried to be happy. Normal. But I... I think that maybe a part of me died that day too. And I haven't told anyone this. I... I just can't. But I had to tell you. Before it's too late. If you can even hear this. I really hope that you can. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Billy. Love, your shitty little sister, Max.
- ConnectionsReferences The Great Escape (1963)
- SoundtracksLegless
(uncredited)
Written by Sir Bald Diddley
Performed by Hipbone Slim
The governments here are frightening, just as they were in the first two seasons. There are no kids accidentally breaching a massive Soviet base in the middle of the US under a mall. The existence of that base requires the US federal government be keystone kops, and the Soviet base staff are depicted as keystone kops.
It just removes any feeling of danger if your enemies are silly.
To me, this feels much like season one. A possible, if fantastic, world that these kids could stumble into, and solve with actions that kids could plausibly do. And I would say I've been on edge this entire season, far more than any earlier season.
There IS some good humor here but unlike Season 3 it feels organic. Nancy and Robin fleeing the asylum could well have come out of an "I Love Lucy" episode, yet it all flows naturally. They had to wear Nancy's ridiculous Sunday dresses to fool the staff and ultimately the guise collapsed and they had to run.
Both Robert Englund and especially Sadie Sink give heart breaking performances.
There's also a harrowing background here-- all the victims are suffering clinical depression. I like that the show keeps this honest for the period. Max is suffering a severe episode as the result of the loss of her bother. But she doesn't really understand that, Lucas is completely baffled, and even the counselor doesn't really understand Max's situation.
Details
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.00 : 1