How does Stranger Things season 4 end? The finale explained
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Stranger Things season four, volume two finally graced our screens last Friday [1st July], and it's safe to say there's been a tonne of information to take in.
We've seen wild fan theories, some epic mystery-solving over missed moments and, of course, lots of predictions over what's to come in season five.
The final two episodes of season four (making up part two) were a whopping 85 minutes and 150 minutes long respectively - so we don't blame you if you need a recap over exactly what went down.
Here's a run through of the Stranger Things S4 ending, explained...
The Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 ending explained
The plan to defeat Vecna
Much of the end of Stranger Things S4 revolves around the Hawkins gang's plan to overthrow Vecna once and for all.
Aanndd, yep, it's a pretty complex one: Erica heads to the playground, Max and Lucas go into Creel House, while Steve, Nancy and Robin go to the Upside Down Creel House. Max lures Vecna in so they both enter a trance (making Vecna's body vulnerable), with Eleven also projecting into Max's mind/the trance from afar. Meanwhile, Eddie and Dustin attempt to get rid of the bats protecting the Upside Down Creel House - leaving Steve, Nancy and Robin free to enter the house to kill an unconscious Vecna.
So far, so good, right?
Still, there's more. Joyce and Hopper get involved via the Russians' secret lab. However, when they return to the prison they discover that a set of rogue particles have brought the museum of demogorgons and demodogs back to life. While it looks like things could be about to head south, Joyce, Hopper and Murray manage to fight off the creatures - with Hopper's winning sword also becoming quite the topic of conversation.
There are also, of course, a number of deaths by the end of S4. Brenner ends up shot down by a helicopter, eventually dying with Eleven by his side - although she still doesn't appear to forgive him. (Plus, fans have a whole theory on who Eleven's real dad could actually be).
While Dustin and Eddie are initially successful in luring the bats away, the creatures eventually head back to Vecna's body. Eddie then sacrifices himself, making the creatures attack him so that the others can pursue Vecna - with Eddie ultimately (and tragically) dying a hero by Dustin's side.
Max and Eleven vs Vecna
OK, time for the final face-off with Vecna. The monster gets a hold of Max, before Eleven manages to force him off her. However, it doesn't stay that way for long as Vecna takes both girls to his lair, where he tells Eleven what happened when she sent him to the Upside Down and how he transformed into the villain we know him as today. We also get confirmation that Vecna has been responsible for evil ever since season one, killing Barb and Billy plus many more, and sending his monsters up to Hawkins.
While it looks like Vecna is about to kill Max, Mike manages to contact Eleven through her trance, telling her he loves her and giving Eleven the strength to push Vecna away from Max. This gives Steve, Nancy and Robin time to attack Vecna's body with Molotov cocktails, before Nancy eventually shoots him with a shotgun. His body falls out of the window, but when the gang go outside to find it, Vecna has gone.
However, it's not over yet. Following the face-off with Vecna, Max appears to physically die, before Eleven gets a handle on her consciousness and brings Max back to life - albeit in a coma with broken bones.
The series ends with some sweet moments between our fave characters, including Eleven and Hopper's reunion. Still, despite Vecna's body being shot, he's still out there in some capacity, leaving the Hawkins gang (and viewers) feeling pretty ominous about season five.
Argh, do we even want to know what happens next? Here's all the intel on what to expect from season five.
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