How Stranger Things 4 Ends: The Emotional Finale Explained (Recap Before Season 5)

In July 2022, Netflix released Volume 2 of Stranger Things 4, closing the season with two record-breaking event episodes. Today, with the fifth and final season already scheduled in three volumes (November 27, December 25, and December 31, 2025), it's the perfect time to recap what happened in Hawkins before the final act. So... how does Stranger Things 4 end?

In this article, you'll find a complete explanation of the finale of the fourth season, key points to understand why Vecna is still a threat, and a summary of the characters who didn't make it. Warning: from here on, there are heavy spoilers for Stranger Things 4 Volume 2. If you haven't seen the episodes yet, pause your reading and catch up on Netflix.

Ready? Strap on your walkman, turn up Running Up That Hill, and dive into the Upside Down with us.

How does Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 end?

After seven surprising episodes, which revealed several truths and plot twists, the two concluding chapters also arrived on Netflix. Here you will find the summary of Stranger Things 4 Volume 2.

The Future of Hawkins

In the eighth episode, titled "Chapter Eight: Papa", the terrible Vecna shows Nancy the future of Hawkins. The once-quiet town will be literally torn apart by fiery chasms. The girl, after being freed, tells her friends about this vision.

The Risky Plan

The Hawkins group immediately understands that with the fourth victim, Vecna would be able to realize his perverse plan: to destroy the world to rebuild a new reality from the rubble. The kids then devise a decidedly risky plan: distract Vecna with Max (who is still a target of the villain) and kill him in the Upside Down.

The Prison Escape

Hopper, Joyce, Murray, Yuri, and Antonov, who are in Russia, discover that there are numerous creatures from the Upside Down segregated in the prison: the Russians are studying them. Inside the prison are also Demogorgons, Demodogs, and Mind Flayer spores. Hopper, Joyce, Murray, Yuri, and Antonov manage to escape, but after discovering the gravity of the situation in Hawkins, they decide to return to the prison to kill the creatures and weaken the "hive mind".

Eleven's Powers

Eleven regains her powers, undergoing a very complex journey. She understands that the Hawkins group needs her help and, therefore, asks to take action. Dr. Owens wants to help her return to her friends, but he is captured by Dr. Brenner (convinced that the girl needs more practice).

Colonel Sullivan arrives on the scene with his forces. The military enters the facility, but Brenner manages to get Eleven outside. A soldier in a helicopter kills the doctor and prepares to shoot the girl as well. Eleven uses her powers to take out the helicopter. Mike's group arrives to rescue her.

The Hawkins Group Executes the Plan

The ninth episode, "Chapter Nine: The Plan", then begins. The kids put their plan into action:

• Max (who will attract Vecna), Lucas, and Erica go to the Creel house.
• Steve, Nancy, and Robin enter the Upside Down to attack Vecna;
• Dustin and Eddie act as bait to distract the bats protecting the villain.

A risky, but potentially winning plan. The protagonists had previously bought weapons and built tools (including some shields with nails).

The Sensory Deprivation Tank

Eleven, Mike, Will, Jonathan, and Argyle intend to reach Hawkins quickly, but they can't find an available flight. They decide to prepare an improvised sensory deprivation tank in a pizzeria, allowing Eleven to use her powers to enter Max's mind and stop Vecna from within.

Vecna's Attack

Max manages to attract Vecna, insulting the wicked enemy and confessing a secret. The girl then tries to escape the entity by visiting a pleasant memory (a very special school dance). In the real world, Jason, with his allies, arrives at the Creel house and, believing he is witnessing a ritual, attacks Lucas (tasked with saving Max) and destroys the cassette player.

Dustin, Eddie, and the Metal Concert

Dustin and Eddie attract the demo-bats by improvising a metal concert. When these winged creatures approach their refuge, they retreat. Unfortunately, however, the bats manage to get in through a vent: our heroes try to defeat them. Dustin and Eddie want to use the portal to return to the real world: the first succeeds while Eddie, to prevent the demo-bats from reaching Hawkins, decides to lure them away. The flying creatures reach and surround this very courageous hero who, due to his injuries, dies shortly after in Dustin's arms.

"I think this is finally my year... I love you, man," these are the words spoken by the character before dying.

Eleven vs. Vecna

Eleven manages to reach Vecna inside Max's mind. They begin to fight and the girl initially demonstrates incredible powers. However, the creature manages to block Eleven, revealing his entire story.

After arriving in the Upside Down, he explored this world. Once he found the swarm, he began to orchestrate the events of previous years. The connection between the two realities was unintentionally generated by Eleven.

Mike confesses his love to the girl, who manages to break Vecna's control over Max. The wicked villain might have his hours numbered: Eleven, with her incredible powers, manages to block this entity.

Remote Help

Hopper, Joyce, and Murray re-enter the prison while Yuri and Antonov try to repair a helicopter. The characters discover that the Demogorgon and the other creatures from the Upside Down (resurrected by the cloud) have managed to kill the Russian guards.

Hopper and Joyce, who had just kissed, try to bring these beings into the courtyard, allowing Murray to attack with the flamethrower. The characters manage to destroy all the creatures from the Upside Down.

The Finale of Stranger Things 4

Steve, Nancy, and Robin – who seemed to be in the clutches of the hive mind – take advantage of Vecna's moment of weakness, damaging the being with Molotov cocktails and a rifle. Vecna, however, might have won: Max is already dead. Eleven uses her powers to partially heal her courageous ally. Huge portals spread across Hawkins, causing much damage and numerous casualties.

Two days later, some citizens leave the town. The survivors collaborate and get back on their feet. Eleven, Mike, the Byers siblings, Argyle, Hopper, and Joyce return to Hawkins. The protagonists discover that Max is in a coma. Eleven enters her mind, but finds nothing. Will, who claims to still feel Vecna's presence, feels a sensation in his neck. Particles and clouds from the Upside Down appear. It's not over yet, Vecna doesn't give up.

Who dies in Stranger Things 4?

To recap, who dies in Stranger Things 4 Volume 2? Below you will find all the victims of the last two episodes.

• Dr. Brenner: this controversial "scientist", after creating the "Nina" project to restore Eleven's powers, is killed by the military. Brenner was trying to save Eleven.
• Eddie Munson: the undisputed hero of the fourth season is Eddie Munson, the leader of the Hellfire Club and a metal enthusiast. After playing Metallica's Master of Puppets to attract the demo-bats, he decides to sacrifice himself to prevent these creatures from reaching the real world. Eddie dies in Dustin's arms.
• Jason Carver: the boyfriend of the late Chrissy also dies in the second volume of Stranger Things 4. After fighting with Lucas, the basketball team captain falls to the ground. When a crack appears connecting the real world and the Upside Down, Jason's body is severed in two.
• The 22 victims: the opening of the portals causes numerous casualties. Indeed, 22 residents of Hawkins lose their lives.
• The Russian agents and military: the creatures from the Upside Down brutally kill all the military and agents who were in the Russian prison.

Stranger Things 4, does Max die?

Max offers herself as bait, capturing the attention of the wicked Vecna and hiding in a pleasant memory. The villain manages to reach her. In the real world, the girl rises while Lucas can do nothing. Max would therefore seem to have initially lost her life, allowing Vecna to open the portals. Subsequently, however, Eleven, using her powers, manages to heal her. Max, with bloody eyes, manages to speak to Lucas, stating that she can no longer see anything.

At the end of the season, we find the character in the hospital, but in a comatose state. Eleven tries to explore her mind to find a point of contact, but her brain seems to be a "tabula rasa". Max probably doesn't die in Stranger Things 4 Volume 2, but her condition is critical.

Stranger Things 4, the songs

The creators of Stranger Things managed to replicate the 80s thanks to numerous pop culture references and unforgettable songs (how can we forget Dustin and Suzie's wonderful Never Ending Story in season 3). In the fourth season, we can also listen to some very popular tracks.

Eddie Munson, during "the most metal concert in history" in the Upside Down, plays Master of Puppets by Metallica, released on July 2, 1986, as the only single from the album of the same name. A practically unmissable song that, within the series, can only win over metal fans.

The song listened to by Max to save herself is Running Up That Hill, a single by Kate Bush released in 1985. Its use in the fourth season of the Netflix series allowed new generations to discover this song, as well as giving it newfound global popularity.

The songs, almost all in perfect "eighties style", that make up the soundtrack are numerous. I recommend listening to the playlist available on major streaming platforms (like Spotify). Here is the complete list:

1. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix) – Journey featuring Steve Perry
2. California Dreamin' – The Beach Boys
3. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
4. Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) – Kate Bush
5. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Dead or Alive
6. Chica Mejicanita – Mae Arnette
7. Play With Me – Extreme
8. Detroit Rock City (Single Version) – KISS
9. I Was a Teenage Werewolf – The Cramps
10. Pass the Dutchie – Musical Youth
11. Wipe Out – The Surfaris
12. Object of My Desire (Single Version) – Starpoint
13. Rock Me Amadeus (The Gold Mix) – Falco
14. Travelin’ Man – Ricky Nelson
15. Tarzan Boy – Baltimora
16. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
17. Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo (Single Version) – Rick Derringer
18. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
19. Spellbound – Siouxsie and the Banshees
20. Master of Puppets – Metallica
21. When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die (featuring Mimi Goese) – Moby
22. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Steve Perry & Bryce Miller Extended Remix) – Journey featuring Steve Perry

Thank you, Stranger Things, for this journey into the music of the 80s.

Stranger Things 5, Release in Italy

Stranger Things will conclude with its fifth season (here you can find the first trailer): the protagonists will once again have to face the horrors lurking in the Upside Down.

Netflix has decided to make us spend the holidays with bated breath: Volume 1 (episodes 1-4) will be released on November 26, 2025, Volume 2 (episodes 5-7) will arrive on Christmas morning, December 25, and the grand finale will debut on December 31.

The Duffer brothers promise "fire, snow, and tears" in a Hawkins now swallowed by the Upside Down and say they have closed all circles opened since 2016, but have left some doors ajar for future spinoffs.

• Volume 1 (episodes 1-4): releasing November 26, 2025
• Volume 2 (episodes 5-7): December 25, 2025
• Grand Finale (episode 8): December 31, 2025