This Is Just A "Stranger Things 4" Appreciation Post For These Three Heartbreaking Minutes In Episode 9
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
🚨 There are MASSIVE — and I really mean massive — SPOILERS ahead for Stranger Things, Season 4, Vol. 2. So, if you have NOT watched yet, do not keep reading, and save this for later! 🚨
If you're like me, then you've probably spent the last few days trying to emotionally recover from Stranger Things, Season 4, Vol. 2. I mean, it was nearly four hours of absolute chaos as we watched all of our favorite characters battle Vecna and try to make it home to Hawkins.
Now, it's not like Season 4, Vol. 1 was a happy time. The first batch of episodes also hit us with quite a lot of heartbreak, especially when it came to Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink).
Namely, Stranger Things gifted us with "Dear Billy," an emotional roller coaster of an episode that followed Max as she faced Vecna while her friends tried to find a way to save her.
After the episode dropped, fans were calling for Sadie Sink to get an awards nomination for her performance. The last five minutes of the episode were, dare I say, perfect between Sadie's acting and the use of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."
And while we were all still reeling from Sadie's performance in "Dear Billy," Sadie Sink hit us with another awardworthy performance, this time opposite Caleb McLaughlin.
In the Season 4 finale titled "The Piggyback," Max once again comes face-to-face with Vecna, but this time she's not so lucky. In a heartwrenching moment, Vecna gets Max and tries to kill her in his signature gruesome fashion.
While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) eventually summons all her strength to injure Vecna, it's almost too late. In the real world, Max drops to the floor as Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) clutches her body, and what ensues is arguably the most heartbreaking scene Stranger Things has ever given us.
Like, Lucas trying to comfort Max as she says she doesn't want to die, all while Eleven is watching, but they don't know she's there with them. I'm crying just thinking about it.
I genuinely think this is the finest acting Sadie, Caleb, and Millie have done on this show, and I could give a very long Ted Talk on why it's so good. They really made me believe Max was dead.
Speaking about filming this incredibly emotional moment alongside Caleb, Sadie told Vulture, "I’ve known Caleb for what feels like my whole life at this point. We have so much chemistry and trust each other as actors, as people, and as the characters. We felt very prepared and there was security in that."
"It’s definitely not hard to do that kind of scene with a friend like that — you’re rooting for it. And you’re looking forward to their movie date on Friday and it’s not going to happen! There’s many things to unpack there, but yeah, I was very proud of Caleb because I’d never seen him do work like that on the show. It was really rewarding for me to have that experience with him, as tragic as it may be," said Sadie.
And, as if this moment couldn't get more heartbreaking, the Stranger Things writers revealed that Caleb actually improvised Lucas saying, "Erica, help!"
“Erica, help” was improvised by Caleb.
Basically, while binge-watching Stranger Things, Season 4, Vol. 2, fans — including me — were quick to share their love for Sadie, Caleb, AND Millie during this emotional moment in Episode 9, and everyone agrees that they deserve awards:
i just think sadie sink and caleb mclaughlin as max and lucas are the most talented duo on tv right now and i will not be taking any questions at this time
sadie sink and caleb mclaughlin acted like their rents were DUE, their electricity bills were unpaid for months, there is nothing inside the refrigerator aside from from milk and coke. i am their emmy campaign manager.
caleb mclaughlin and sadie sink were acting their faces off in episode 9 oh my god
when the duffer brothers said Caleb McLaughlin will deliver one of the most moving, gut-wrenching performances in the history of the show, they're not actually lying. CALEB REALLY DELIVERED. #StrangerThings #StrangerThings4Vol2
" and you held my lifeless frame. " - all too well 10 minutes version.
Max and Lucas both breaking down while Max says she isn’t ready to die yet and Lucas is there crying while holding her was so beautifully executed. My beloves, Max & Lucas. #strangerthings
can we talk about how scary the max “death” scene was?? caleb and sadie came onto set that day to put on a PERFORMANCE.
the duffer's really hit jackpot casting sadie and caleb as lucas and max
lumax are so important they were written amazingly and the way sadie and caleb acted out their scenes together was perfect... i trust that they will prevail no matter what
sadie sink, millie bobby brown and caleb mclaughlin were the big 3 of #StrangerThings vol2. this is genuinely the saddest scene we all have ever seen, give them all the awards right now!
just finished stranger things 4 vol 2… caleb mclaughlin sadie sink and millie bobby brown need emmys like immediately
This emmy award goes to Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, and literally EVERYONE #StrangerThings
rent was fucving due for millie, caleb, and sadie like their lives depended on this SCENE #StrangerThings
millie, caleb, and sadie… actors of our generation. they were on that stranger things set acting for their lives
STRANGER THINGS SPOILER ‼️---lucas & el being in max’s happiest moments that saved her from vecna and now being the two ppl by her side in her worst moment as she dies…yeah i’m never recovering #StrangerThings #StrangerThings4
When you realize that Max and Lucas can’t go see the movie on friday #StrangerThings4
