Bam Smack Pow
Fansided

The 5 best (and 3 worst) episodes of Stranger Things

By Natalie Zamora

STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Stranger Things season 3
Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer – Stranger Things (2019). Photo Credit: Netflix /

Stranger Things: “The Battle of Starcourt” (Season 3, episode 8)

One of the most emotional episodes of Stranger Things is the season 3 finale, “The Battle of Starcourt.” As the title suggests, this is where we get the final showdown of the season at the Starcourt Mall, where the crew comes together to take down the Mind Flayer once and for all. Meanwhile, Hopper and Joyce are on another mission nearby, working together to try and close the portal to the Upside Down.

The finale features intense action sequences and heart-wrenching moments, especially when Max has to watch Billy die. The biggest moment, of course, is Hopper sacrificing his life to close the portal, making for an absolutely shocking scene as the threat is finally put to rest (for now).

The ending of this episode never fails to make me cry, as Eleven gets ready to move away from Hawkins with the Byers. As she’s packing her things, she finds the note Hopper had written, making for a devastating final scene as she reads it.

VERDICT: Best

Sadie Sink, Stranger Things, Stranger Things season 5, Stranger Things season 4 part 2, Does Max die in Stranger Things?, Max Mayfield, Is Max going to die in Stranger Things?, What happens to Max in Stranger Things?, Did Max die in Stranger Things?
STRANGER THINGS Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in STRANGER THINGS. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022 /

Stranger Things: “Dear Billy” (Season 4, episode 4)

Speaking of Max losing her stepbrother in the season 3 finale, the season 4 episode “Dear Billy” sees her grappling with his passing and navigating her complicated feelings about it all. Of course, Billy and Max did not get along. In fact, they hated each other. But Max doesn’t want him to be dead. These feelings complicate Max’s relationships with the friend group in season 4, and she isolates herself until new threats start emerging.

In “Dear Billy,” Max believes she’s going to be targeted next by Vecna and writes several letters to people in her life as goodbyes. She goes to Billy’s grave to read his out loud, which is a super emotional moment, before Vecna takes over. Fortunately, the friend group realizes that music can help save her, and they play her favorite song, “Running Up That Hill,” to create a portal she can run out of.

The episode ends with Max escaping Vecna’s control, but we know the group isn’t totally safe yet.

VERDICT: Best

Home/Opinion