Episode 4 of Stranger Things Season 4 kicks off with a revelation in California: Eleven is away training, determined to regain her lost powers. Agents Harmon and Wallace are assigned to safeguard the group, as they're warned of opposing government factions hell-bent on neutralizing Eleven and her allies. They must maintain a low profile, avoiding any suspicions. Yet, defying their orders, they decide to sneak out and embark on a perilous journey to Hawkins.
Unfortunately, Hawkins is already under siege by agents, guns blazing as they storm the town. The officers valiantly fend off the attackers, but the children are ultimately forced to flee, with Argyle speeding them to safety.
Once in Hawkins, Eleven discloses a chilling truth: she's afflicted with the same curse that doomed Chrissy and Fred - Vecna's Curse. It's a ticking clock, with symptoms like headaches, nosebleeds, and hallucinations pointing to a grim end. Victor Creel stands out as the only survivor of this grisly fate. But how? Why? The gang is determined to unearth the secrets of his survival.
Thanks to Nancy's newspaper connections, they manage to secure a meeting with the Director of Pennhurst Asylum. Guess who's babysitting? Steve, of course! Robin and Nancy dress up like academic scholars for the occasion, while Max pens heartfelt letters "just in case she doesn't make it." She begs them not to read them. With time running out, the others drive Max to the cemetery to pay her respects to Billy.
At Pennhurst, Robin steps up to the plate and convinces the Director with a passionate speech about her heroes, including a certain esteemed professor. It works, and they're granted a precious 30 minutes with Victor.
As Robin and Nancy enter the interview room, the tension mounts. It's like a scene from "Silence of the Lambs." During their private conversation, they discover a startling fact: Victor has lost his eyes, a war wound from his battle with Vecna.
Victor slowly unfolds his story, revealing that his life changed forever after returning from the war. He'd been awarded a generous settlement, enough to purchase a brand-new house - a dream come true. But little did he know, it was the beginning of a nightmare that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, beneath the grandeur of this stately home lurked a profound evil. Alice, Victor's daughter, had initially dismissed it as the stuff of fairytales, yet Henry sensed something amiss about the residence. A month of tranquility was rudely interrupted by a series of ghastly occurrences. Dead animals littered the property, and the family was tormented by nightmarish encounters with a demonic force. Even Victor himself witnessed a harrowing vision of a baby burning in a crib within the fireplace.
The demon relished in tormenting them all, eventually having its way with them all. It left Victor with his nightmares from the past, haunting him day and night. Desperate, he even attempted to end his life, but the demon seemed to have other plans, keeping him alive for its own perverse amusement.
Meanwhile, in the frozen tundra of Alaska, Joyce and Murray arrived at their rendezvous point, armed with the promised money for Yuri. With the cash in hand, Hopper set his plan into motion. After a daring escape, he commandeered a snowmobile and fled, evading gunfire and defying the perceived impossible odds against him.
Hopper made his way to the nearest town and sought refuge in an abandoned church. The sanctuary provided him with a bed, food, and an abundance of VHS tapes. His respite was short-lived, as Yuri rang Enzo with news of a change in plans. It turned out that the prison warden had offered Yuri a better deal, and in the process, he had betrayed Enzo and exposed his corruption. Worse still, Yuri had also handed over Joyce and Murray, who had been drugged by the warden.
Back with Max, the situation was equally dire. Vecna attacked, and as she slipped into a coma-like state by Billy's grave, he taunted her about her lost love. Dustin, desperate to help, frantically tried to reach Robin, but they were in their own predicament. They had lied to gain entry into Pennhurst and were now discovered. Fortunately, they managed to escape before the police could intervene.
With Vecna closing in on Max, Dustin finally established contact with Robin. She imparted valuable advice on how to combat the dark wizard. It seemed that the key to saving those lost souls was to play their favorite song - that iconic and powerful tune, "Running Up That Hill." As Max hovered in the air, her mind filled with cherished memories of her friends, clinging to them for dear life. With a surge of strength, Max managed to save herself, stabbing Vecna in the process and diving through a portal, narrowly escaping falling debris. Max was saved, and the evil that had threatened her was banished for now.
