We’re less than a week away from the release of Stranger Things Season 4. Fans of the very popular Netflix series can’t wait to see a return to Hawkins or the Inverted movie.
With a nearly three-year gap between Stranger Things 4 and its predecessor, plus the hype surrounding the return of the hit Netflix show, there was a risk that the sci-fi supernatural horror series might collapse under the weight of anticipation.
Thankfully not. As the ban on Stranger Things Season 4 review was lifted, critics have been raving about the latest installment in the acclaimed Duffer Brothers franchise. And those of us who watched the first six episodes of season four, including us, have mostly good things to say about it.
It starts with Caroline Framke from Variety. He said Season 4 of Stranger Things was “the biggest, most extensive and iconic show of the evolution of Netflix.”
Season 4 of ‘Stranger Things’ is the biggest, most extensive and most iconic show on Netflix’s Evolution: TV Review https://t.co/pAHjzhE5sK.May 23, 2022
Inverse’s entertainment team praised Stranger Things Season 4 as “surprisingly well plotted and well-paced”, adding that Season 3 was a terrific return after a well-received but somewhat problematic character.
‘Stranger Things’ season 4 returns in the form of a show. Surprisingly well plotted and everything has matured in an abstract and literal way. Our review: https://t.co/ZnjyHGmKeZMay 23, 2022
Entertainment Weekly’s Kristen Baldwin praised the following season for “working hard and working smart” than her predecessors, but Baldwin was less enthusiastic about “strange and unnecessary side capers.”
‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Volume 1 brings some great answers to new territories, new characters, and twists and turns. Read the review. https://t.co/5lL0fTSbzXMay 23, 2022
Patrick Cavanaugh of Comicbook.com shared similar sentiments, saying that Stranger Things 4 “amplifies the horror” and stumbles through the opening episode at first, and then eventually walks a captivating, narrative-driven path.
[email protected] says #StrangerThings season 4 amplifies the horror and, despite initial stumbles, eventually finds stride. Full review here: https://t.co/HicjsUB4B1 pic.twitter.com/Ns2Rt5b1uDMay 23, 2022
Meanwhile, Metro UK’s Sabrina Barr lauded the show’s next item as “an incredibly strong start to an end”, praising the “strong performance” of a truly heartfelt cast.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 | A new episode of Stranger Things Season 4, Volume 1 #StrangerThings marks the beginning of an incredibly strong end, with a heartwarming and heartbreaking Powerhouse performance. https://t.co/qAWcEfzPjqMay 23, 2022
However, a common criticism of Stranger Things Season 4 was the length of the episodes. At least in volume one, each item runs over an hour and ten minutes each, so the next season of Stranger Things can feel like a big slog. Book 2 is well, part 2 will be longer too, so it’s a good idea to treat volume 1 as a primer on what’s coming out when volume 2 arrives on July 1st.
And that was the black mark in Daniel Feinberg’s review. hollywood reporter. Despite calling season 4 “the biggest, scariest, most ambitious” item, Feinberg lamented that it was still “the most unattractive, funniest, and original” item. Add Feinberg’s apparent dislike for season 4’s full-length episodes. Calling it “a bit boring” – there are certainly elements that annoy some critics.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 4: TV Review on Netflix https://t.co/Pavfua7r0oMay 23, 2022
The Telegraph’s Chris Ashworth-Bennion also commented on the length of season 4, saying he “knows too much for his own benefit.” But unlike Feinberg, Ashworth-Bennion doesn’t think the long episodic nature of Stranger Things 4 is detrimental.
I’m back, *long**, …. really good! Spoiler-Free Stranger Things season 4 review here (no paywall) #StrangerThings4 https://t.co/570koIk5t1May 23, 2022
Finally, TechRadar entertainment reporter Tom Power called season 4 “the triumphant, exciting, and terrifying return of the very popular Netflix show,” but also pointed out some plot and episode length errors along the way.
#StrangerThings4 is a very ambitious gamble that could have backfired. Aside from a few plot mistakes, it’s a triumphant, captivating and terrifying comeback for a very popular Netflix show. https://t.co/qKHQe1uNs5May 23, 2022
If you want to see more Stranger Things Season 4 content ahead of its release, check out our spoiler-free review of the first six episodes. After reading it, learn more about the cost of season 4 and what you can expect to see in Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 2 on Netflix Geeked Week starting June 6.