Biggest Unanswered Questions From Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 2

At this stage in the game, it's fair to say "Stranger Things" Season 4 (or just "Stranger Things 4," if you're into the whole brevity thing) captivated global audiences and may very well go down in history as the can't-miss television event of the summer of 2022. Its second volume — released as two mega-sized episodes, "Chapter Eight: Papa" and Chapter Nine: The Piggyback" – delivers plenty of twists, turns, and revelations that left plenty of viewers feeling like their very own worlds had been turned upside down. The "Stranger Things 4" finale might be notable in the real world for literally crashing Netflix, but in the story world of "Stranger Things," it answered many lingering questions, such as the diabolical presence behind the Mind Flayer, and the role played by Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in the creation of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Now, as we stand on the precipice of the final season of "Stranger Things," there are even more questions to be answered. If you've already finished the action-packed, metal-shredding season finale, run up that hill and read on to our most burning questions for Season 5.

Eleven has a twisted past with the manipulative mad scientist Martin Brenner, aka "Papa" (Matthew Modine). Brenner first orders Eleven to make telekinetic contact with the entity he refers to as "the monster" way back in Season 1. This connection unleashes a demogorgon and cracks open The Mothergate — the first known passage between Hawkins and the Upside Down. With what we now know about Vecna, this places even more blame on Brenner for the otherworldly consequences that devastate Hawkins.

In "Stranger Things 4," Brenner plays a central role in reactivating Eleven's telekinetic abilities, but he also shackles her with a restrictive, power-inhibiting collar. Then, before he dies, he unlocks the imprisoning device. This final gesture probably isn't as redemptive as Brenner wishes it was – after he so recently and selfishly tried to contain Eleven, his motivations are mostly rooted in self-interest, as far as we know. 

Assumedly, he knows Eleven has to be the one to defeat Vecna and save the world, so he releases her. Did he truly love Eleven like a daughter, or is Vecna right about Brenner's primary goal of harnessing their greatness? Maybe Brenner does care for Eleven, but certainly not in the selfless way Hopper does. Though we may have seen the last of Brenner, his mysterious nature could still haunt the final season. 

One of the most polarizing episodes of Season 2 introduces viewers to Eleven's sister Kali Prasad, aka Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), and her psionic illusion abilities. We haven't seen her since Eleven's solo adventure and considering the massacre at Hawkins Lab, it's possible she's the only other gifted child still alive. There's even an extremely clever "Dungeons & Dragons"-based fan theory suggesting Eight is the key to defeating Vecna. 

Eight's introduction also has a creepy parallel with Vecna. When Eleven first sees her use her powers, Eight conjures imaginary spiders. Vecna has arachnids in his origin story, as he uses a black spider as the visual basis for the Mind Flayer. Series creators the Duffer Brothers even teased Eight's return at the end of Season 2, saying the chances of her coming back are "very high." Will Eight help Eleven master her powers and use her illusions to defeat Vecna once and for all? 

As we learn more and more about the mythology of "Stranger Things" and the Upside Down, viewers have remained dedicated to figuring out all the specific ins and outs. In a pivotal flashback, we learn that Eleven sent One to the Upside Down, which is how he became Vecna. One detail in particular is a little unclear at first — did Eleven create the entire Upside Down or just open the Mothergate?

Variety asked Brown herself, and the actor provided some much-needed clarity. "I think that the alternate universe was always there," she said. "That is always going to be under Hawkins. I just think she has access to it. I don't think that she created the Upside Down."

This spine-tingling detail puts Vecna in an even more advantageous point going into Season 5 with the Upside Down's groundbreaking invasion of Hawkins. 

The fourth clock chimes and Hawkins falls. It's an unthinkable moment signaling Vecna's victory, but it may have also pointed out an important location for the final season. Four gates form paths to the Upside Down and shatter Hawkins until converging in a four-way center — but where's the building they meet at?

It could be insignificant, but the symbolism of this location would probably give Will goosebumps. The four paths meet at the Hawkins Public Library, which plays a major role in Season 1. It's the Upside Down nest where the Demogorgon drags Will and Barb (Shannon Purser) as well as numerous other unfortunate souls. The most notable and frightening detail of the library is the unscathed clock tower.

Vecna's icon quickly became the clock and its dreaded accompanying chimes that he forces his victims to see and hear before they die. Could this be signaling where the damaged Vecna is hiding and healing? The building is covered in black vines in the epilogue and Will did say he could feel Vecna in Hawkins, so it seems plausible.

When Max's limbs began grotesquely twisting in the manner of Vecna's previous victims, many viewers were stunned. "Stranger Things" has killed off fan-favorite characters in prior seasons, but subjecting spunky teenage Max — who the audience has been getting to know ever since she's first introduced in 2017's Season 2 — to a brutally violent demise would've felt like a grim, dark choice, even by the horror-adjacent standards of "Stranger Things." That's why it's scary when Eleven tries to reach Max in her coma and finds nothing but darkness. What does this mean for Max?

There are two possible options here, as far as we can see. In the first, Max never wakes from her coma; her brain died when her heart stopped. In the other scenario, Vecna still has a hold of Max's mind. The latter is more probable, and we can even infer that Vecna may use her as a hostage of some kind in the final season. Hopefully, with the recently announced time jump, Max will awake in Season 5 on her own. If not, there may be a time-travel twist awaiting us when "Stranger Things" returns that reverses the events of the Season 4 finale. Remember: Season 4 confirms the Upside Down is stuck in 1983. 

As Hawkins prepares for the showdown of a lifetime, who will live to see the very end? The final season could quite possibly pack a punch if more than a few beloved characters lose their lives in the ultimate clash against Vecna. The most burning question of all is ... who will survive?

This season, we tearfully watched Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) sacrifice himself in the finale and die in the arms of Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Will this inspire Dustin to do the same for his friends next season? Steve made it through Season 4 in one piece, but could he tragically fall victim to Vecna immediately after reuniting with Nancy? Could Hopper, who's evaded death countless times, finally run out of luck?

We've been following these characters since the premiere of "Stranger Things" in 2016, so we would definitely prefer a happy ending for everybody. But in Vecna's nightmare world, that doesn't seem too likely.