Around 15 minutes into Chapter Eight, the first instalment in the mega double-feature-length Volume 2 of Stranger Things Season 4, we eventually’ultimately find out what Will was painting on that canvas he’s been carrying around. Don’t misgiving’fret , we won’t go into detail – no spoilers here – but it serves as a reminder of something this new season, as action-packed, spine-chilling and epically soundtracked as it is, has been missing so far: heart. As Will (Noah Schnapp) says, “I know it’s sort of on the nose, but that’s what holds this whole party toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her.”###With Volume 1, Stranger Things returned to in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m in a enormous’vast’massive’tremendous way – but with a brand-new villain (or is he?) to introduce, several new settings to establish and a whole lot of plot to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure through, there was barely a second to stop, soak it all in, and see some true character development. Volume 2 provides that in spades, using e grossly minute of those unbelievably long episodes to surround all the Vecna-vanquishing with an immense amount of emotion, connection, and, yes, heart.###Though the 150-minute finale runtime is undeniably self-indulgent on paper, it is emphatically earned on screen.###Threads that seemed so disparate in Volume 1 come toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her well — in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the most part: Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce’s (Winona Ryder) Soviet escapades, whilst enjoyable, still feel somewhat tacked on — especially in the final episode, where some masterful editing enables the viewer to keep up with each group as well as follow how their actions affect each other.###Somehow, despite the shedload of characters to manage, eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone is given a standout moment: Will and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) restoring their brotherly bond eye-catching’good-shaped’appealing’charming’fascinating’gorgeous ly; Mike (Finn Wolfhard) realising just how much El (Millie Bobby Brown) needs him, no matter how powerful she is; Steve (Joe Keery) opening up to Nancy (Natalia Dyer), reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ing her (and us) a side of him we’ve never seen; Max’s (Sadie Sink) tearful speech with regards to’concerning’with respect to the dark despite’in spite of’albeit ts that made her so susceptible to Vecna’s curse. There’s actually fairly little plot going on in these final two episodes – it’s all with regards to’concerning’with respect to the establish -up, and establishing stakes, making it all the more devastating when things don’t go to plan. Though the 150-minute finale runtime is undeniably self-indulgent on paper, it is emphatically earned on screen.###It’s not all touchy-feely heart-to-hearts, despite’in spite of’albeit – the action set-pieces possess’own’nurse stepped up a gear, too. The explosive climax to Chapter Eight, seemingly shot entirely practically, is one of Stranger Things’ best scenes to date; a fight between Jason (Mason Dye) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) doused in blue light pulls no punches; and the gang’s enormous’vast’massive’tremendous reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue down with Vecna is a glorious, slow-mo affair. And yes, there’s more ‘Running Up That Hill’.###This long-awaited season finale is, inescapably, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mulaic. Whilst there is a certain unexpected Infinity War-esque air with regards to’concerning’with respect to the way things wrap up, the journey to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure there doesn’t break new storytelling ground. It does, however, execute that journey incredibly well, and make you feel closer to these characters than ever bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e – and with a cast this rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent , a saga this grand, and a world this richly painted, that’s more than abundant’ample’plentiful .