It's been a while since fans last saw Stranger Things, a series that became a huge sensation for the streaming service Netflix, breaking viewership records and garnering several nominations, including best drama series. This show is well-recognized for its influences on both the sci-fi and horror genres, specifically Ghostbusters and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. After some time, fans will soon be able to see season four of the series in 2022.
Stranger Things is set during the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, a small rural town in which people mostly keep to themselves. However, when it is discovered that Hawkins Laboratory is running secret, supernatural experiments involving human test subjects, as well as a portal into an alien world called "the Upside Down," many characters are brought together. A police chief (Jim Hopper), a concerned mother (Joyce Byers) and her sons (Jonathan and Will), a group of best friends (Mike, Dustin, Lucas), a girl with powerful abilities (Eleven), and other key players (Nancy, Max, Steve, Robin) stand united in the first three seasons to fight powerful aliens and human villains who intend to use "the Upside Down" to cause harm towards humanity. After several close calls, and new relationships formed, many wonder what season four will bring to the table.
The biggest question that needs to be answered, based on the season four trailer, is what happened to Jim Hopper? At the end of season three, Hopper successfully took down Grigori, one of the Russian soldiers who attempted to open "the Upside Down" through a new gate, along with Soviet scientists. While Hopper killed Grigori, the police chief appears to have also been killed after Joyce is forced to close the new gate by demolishing it. However, in the trailer, Hopper is visibly alive, with a bald head, and appears to be a prisoner in Russia.
This also leads to questions as to how Hopper ended up in Russia if the new portal gate was destroyed. However, now that Hopper is seemingly in Russia, how will he try to escape from prison in order to get back home to Hawkins? Hopper will have to come up with an elaborate scheme to take down Russian soldiers (especially since he's a Vietnam War veteran), and has to figure out if the Soviets are still pursuing a plan to reopen "the Upside Down." The Russians are surely going to cause trouble since they have an alien (Demogorgon) already held in captivity.
Another question that requires answering is if Hopper and Joyce will finally confess their love to each other? Ever since season one, both characters have been through a lot together, and have each gone through personal conflicts in their lives. Hopper lost his young daughter to cancer, causing him to descend into alcoholism and depression, while Joyce desperately tried to find her son Will after he was kidnapped by a Demogorgon and taken to "the Upside Down" world. Hopper, along with Will's brother and best friends, helped Joyce by trying to find Will, and Joyce comforted Hopper during his time of grief.
There are also questions regarding Eleven, who is the most transformative character in the series. From a fearful girl who didn't fully understand her powers and was separated from her family, to finding love with Mike Wheeler, and having a father figure in Hopper (despite their arguments over Eleven's relationship status). Eleven has become a powerful young woman, but has lost her supernatural abilities (unclear if her powers will return). Now that she believes Hopper has died, and is going to live with the Byers family (which separates her from Mike), she is going to be feeling emotional for a while, but will likely find a way to overcome her obstacles, especially when she learns Hopper is indeed alive.
Mike, Dustin, and Lucus have always been best friends, and will miss Will since he and his family are moving out of Hawkins (and it's unclear where the Byers family is going). The three companions have a lot to think about since they're each growing up and forming their own relationships. Mike will undoubtedly miss Eleven since she's accompanying the Byers (but plans to see her next Thanksgiving), while Lucus and Max continue to form their relationship. Dustin, the funniest one in the group, also has an uncertain future, but will likely continue to pursue his love for science since he enjoys conducting experiments.
Nancy Wheeler is another strong female character on the show, who also has a questionable future, but due to her skills in uncovering hidden stories, she'll continue to pursue her career at The Hawkins Post. Nancy will miss her boyfriend Jonathan, a talented photographer, but could meet up again in the near future. Steve Harrington, who used to be a bully to Jonathan in school, has also transformed into a more charismatically likable character, especially after his confrontation with Russian soldiers in season three, and proves to be a tough, brave, and intelligent spy who can uncover sneaky dilemmas. Robin Buckley, an intelligent woman who worked at an ice cream parlor and was able to decode Russian radio messages in season three, could continue her friendship with Steve and Dustin due to how well they worked together as a team.
More big questions include whether or not the Russians plan to reopen "the Upside down," and how they intend to use the Demogorgons for their own benefit. Season four would benefit by making the Russians and Demogorgons even more threatening, including more history on how these aliens came about in the first place. Along with the primary characters, other individuals who could use more depth include Karen Wheeler (Mike and Nancy's mom), who doesn't know about "the Upside Down" (unclear if she ever will), and Max Mayfield, who lost her stepbrother Billy Hargrove after he sacrificed himself to save her from the big monster Mind Flayer, will go through emotional trauma but is supported by Lucas.
Season four of Stranger Things will continue to explore the journeys of the main protagonists and undoubtedly bring them back together again in order to take down the aliens and Russian soldiers. Perhaps Will Byers can sense the Demogorgons' presence, Eleven will regain her powers, and Hopper will fight his way out of Russia, but anything can happen in the sci-fi/horror series that has become a global phenomenon.