The Stranger Things 4 teaser has dropped at last, and the short clip is packed with juicy tidbits of information. The young cast is looking more grown-up than ever, with Eleven and Will attending high school in California and facing the new social struggles that come with teenagerhood. Thankfully, the Byers family will be returning to Hawkins, Indiana for spring break soon, meaning Eleven can look forward to reuniting with her boyfriend Mike. But this is Stranger Things, so of course, trouble is brewing on the horizon as well. But there's something strange about this teaser. Where are the monsters?
The teaser shows plenty of chaos and turbulence waiting for the kids, but this time the danger seems unusually down-to-earth. Eleven's blithe narration about the fun spring break awaiting her and Mike plays over characteristically incongruous and jarring visuals of guns, soldiers and fiery explosions. But the supernatural creatures that have so defined the Stranger Things world thus far are conspicuously absent. That's not to say Season 4 will be monster-less, of course, but it's certainly a noteworthy omission.
Monsters have been a staple of Stranger Things from the beginning. The show's distinctive, otherworldly creature designs, which take heavy inspiration from classic Dungeons and Dragons monsters, are a signature aspect of the story's world and tone. Each season has featured memorable, harrowing Lovecraftian creatures bent on sowing death and destruction throughout Hawkins.
Season 1 took the world by storm with its terrifying depiction of the screeching, salivating Demogorgon. An iconic figure, this monster was viewers' first introduction to the denizens of the shadow realm known as the Upside Down. The Demogorgon possesses an unsettling, gray-skinned humanoid form, armed with unnatural strength and speed. Perhaps most recognizable is its head, which consists entirely of a unique flower-shaped mouth ringed with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Stranger Things 2 then introduced the massive, tentacled shadow being dubbed the Mind Flayer. This hulking, mind-enslaving mega-entity terrorizes Hawkins throughout Seasons 2 and 3, becoming the story's overarching antagonist. It begins its reign of terror early in the second season when it forcibly possesses Will Byers, whose traumatic experiences in the Upside Down in Season 1 were sadly only the beginning. The second season also introduced the Demodogs, half-grown versions of the Demogorgon who roam in predatory, unnervingly speedy packs. At one point, Dustin actually raises one without realizing what it is, which unfortunately results in it eating his cat and attacking the group.
Of course, monsters aren't the only defining element of Stranger Things. The show has always woven in themes of Cold War paranoia and distrust of the government, as well as more prosaic elements like the trials of adolescence and social issues such as sexism. There's a possibility that the Duffer Brothers and company are planning to transition more heavily into these headier, more realistic themes in Season 4. Alternatively, the featured monster(s) of the season may possess some special qualities or figure in some unique twist that the showrunners don't want to reveal too early. Either way, the deliberate lack of monsters in the teaser is an intriguing move that heralds interesting changes going into the fourth chapter of this beloved show.
Overall, it makes sense that the teaser doesn't show audiences too much. After all, it's still early days, and the season hasn't even received a confirmed release date yet. There's plenty of other material viewers are desperately waiting for, as well -- most notably, fan-favorite characters like Dustin, Lucas, Steve, and Max have yet to make an appearance. The Duffer Brothers have consistently upped the ante with each new season of Stranger Things, so whatever's lying in wait for Eleven and the gang, one thing is certain: it isn't going to be an easy ride. Fans can look forward to more spooky sneak peeks as the release of Stranger Things 4 approaches.
Stranger Things is slated to appear on Netflix in 2022.
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