HCA Gradebook: “Top Gun: Maverick”
April 25, 2023
HCA Gradebook: “Crimes of the Future”
April 27, 2023
TV Show: Stranger Things Season 4: Vol 1
Plot: It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.
Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink
Creators: Matt and Ross Duffer
Release Date: May 27, 2022
Studio: Netflix
HCA Overall Grade: B+
Joel D. Amos says, “Stranger Things is and will continue to be a pop-cultural phenomenon. It has managed to weave a web of extraordinary supernatural senses alongside dramatic situations that play to our emotive heartstrings. Season Four Chapter One continues that tradition and dare we say, expands on it? It is simultaneously a nightmare that never shakes you and a sentimental favorite filled with characters we could not be more vested in if we tried.”
Grade: A-
Clarence Moye says, “Stranger Things was designed to be an homage to the great sci-fi minds of our time, but after four seasons, it completely lacks depth of feeling or relatability or any emotional stakes. You watch season four feeling like a kid on the playground making up wild stories with your buddies and a handful of plastic action figures. If that appeals to you, then season four will rock your world. But for the rest of us who have grown up, throwbacks and homages can only go so far toward satisfying our need for emotionally complex and compelling material.”
Grade: C+
Zofia Wijaszka says, “Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 is perhaps one of the most elaborate seasons yet. Thanks to its development of horror components that become increasingly scarier, the series evolves into a more mature and seasoned narrative for any audience. The cast will blow your mind and the story will take you on an emotional roller-coaster that’s scarier than ever before.”
Grade: A
Patrick Beatty says, “Millie Bobby Brown once again crushes it, the story is emotional, heartbreaking, and empowering. The storylines are divided up well, and it seems the Duffer brothers were able to utilize the additional time to craft a stronger story than in the previous seasons. We have more of an understanding of this world and more in this season possibly than any other. Whether they are able to stick the landing for Vol. 2 we will have to wait to see in July!”
Grade: B+
Matt Neglia says, “After the disappointment that was Season 3, the fourth season of Stranger Things is my favorite season so far. I was in utter awe of the scale and quality of the production. Sadie Sink is my cast MVP. Having a clear antagonist raises the stakes for this darker, more mature season and sets up what is sure to be an epic finale.”
Grade: A
Shannon McGrew says, “Stranger Things Season 4 has some of the most terrifying imagery of the entire series. With shades of Hellraiser and The Ring, wrapped in a bow of 80s nostalgia, The Duffer Brothers have created a love letter to the horror genre.”
Grade: A-
Destiny Jackson says, “Stranger Things is back for an inexplicable fourth season to unravel the mystery of why Season 3 wasn’t the end of the story. And I’m afraid in the first 7 episodes out of 9, it doesn’t make a great case. Sure the kids have heart, the best of them being Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Will (Noah Schnapp), and Max (Sadie Sink)—who gets some very cool badass things to do this season—but their overall plot thread is disjointed by the situation regarding saving Eleven (no spoilers). The high schoolers Steve (Joe Kerry) and Robin (played by a strong-willed and sassy Maya Hawke) also remain as shining gems in the bedrock of whatever the hell Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) are up to. But even the weight of a stacked and sometimes entertaining cast can not hold the weight of such a nothing-burger of a season, that I wish I could get into without spoiling you. Better luck in Season 5, where hopefully motivations are clearer and all demogorgons are deader.”
Grade: C
Tessa Smith says, “Stranger Things 4 is darker and more mature than ever before! Intense, frightening, and nightmare-inducing. The epic VFX, psychological horror, and eerie score will give fans permanent goosebumps. Several new characters will be fan favorites.”
Grade: A+
Danielle Broadway says, “Stranger Things has been a wild ride, building up to what should be a big payoff in season four. But it falls a bit flat. There are some brilliantly sequenced scenes that are both immersive and aesthetically pleasing, and the older teenage angst is interwoven well within the supernatural chaos. But it’s not quite enough to make it great and there’s likely no way to redeem the dullness of its villain reveal when part two comes in July, in just two installments.”
Grade: B-
James White says, “Delayed because of the pandemic, Stranger Things finally returns for Season 4. It’s an outsized season, with every episode notching past the hour mark. And while this latest trip to Hawkins, Indiana (and the Upside Down) suffers from some narrative bloat, it has also matured like its main characters. The filmmaking is more assured, the horrors are more gruesome and the nods are more effective. Yes, there are one or two too many plot threads to comfortably squeeze into even these expanded running times, but the show remains assured.”
Grade: B+
Saloni Gajjar says, “Unwieldy pacing notwithstanding, season four begins with a spectacular few episodes. The show succeeds in diving into the dark and unintended consequences of Eleven’s powers and linking it all to Hawkins’ cursed past. By tackling its origins, Stranger Things returns with a potent narrative that ties several loose ends together. It’s a labyrinthine undertaking that, for the most part, has a gradual and solid payoff. Easily the most exciting aspect of season four is how it embraces gore like never before. The Duffer Brothers’ own superpower is reveling in ’80s horror nostalgia. And the duo is on top of their game here.”
Grade: B+
Sophia Soto says, “Stranger Things 4, Volume 1 is darker, more mature, and just massive compared to what we’ve seen from the series, which says a lot. The storylines are engaging, the characters are more developed, and the dynamics anchor each other. It’s by far the best season yet— and we still have two more episodes to go! Such a good binge watch and you’ll want to rewatch it almost instantly. A lot of noteworthy performances as well.”
Grade: A
Vanessa Armstrong says, “Stranger Things 4 tells an epic story, one so expansive that it justifies each episode’s extra-long run time. Things get scarier if not stranger. And while the final episode of Vol. 1 has some reveals that may feel a bit disappointing depending on your expectations, it’s a compelling watch, especially the journeys for Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink’s characters.”
Grade: B+
Mara Knopic says, “The newest season of Stranger Things feels very different from its three predecessors – and so far, not in a good way. Splintering characters into small groups involved in different side/fetch quests that then come together in service of the season’s narrative arc is not necessarily a bad thing and succeeds or fails based upon execution. Stranger Things Season 4 begins with three well-balanced character clusters that slowly grow disproportionally until a new fourth faction is created. It is at this point that this season began to show its most significant flaws; certain characters are prioritized and others are left out of 90-minute long episodes entirely. The decision to split the release of the fourth season also poses a challenge to the viewer because true conclusions cannot be made until the full and complete product is digested. At this point, Stranger Things has turned its own formula upside down this season, and only time will tell if that dice roll will provide a critical hit against the weaknesses it has displayed, thus far.”
Grade: B-
Dan Murrell says, “The fourth season of Stranger Things is a mixed bag, consistently saved by its talented cast. The show is beginning to suffer from franchise bloat, as its creators try to pull together three seasons’ worth of story fragments, tell a story, and tie everything together. Not helping matters is the decision to split the season into two parts, with the final two episodes premiering in a few weeks. With its cast mostly split up into pods, the group dynamics from previous seasons are missed, and the franchise’s new villain, a refreshingly scary and singular monster at first, eventually becomes yet another story thread to try tying to the bigger picture. Luckily, the outstanding cast makes up for a lot of the storytelling issues, with standout performances from Sadie Sink, Millie Bobby Brown, Brett Gelman, and new addition Joseph Quinn. It’s hard to judge the season based on the merits of its first two+ acts, but I hope that the series can return to its roots and focus more on character and less on set pieces and multiple storylines.”
Grade: B-
Dewey Singleton says, “For fans, it has to hard to imagine how the show could reach new heights. Well, I’m here to tell you they have. Season 4 is bigger, bolder, bloodier, and ballsier than the previous seasons combined.”
Grade: A
Zoe Rose Bryant says, “Stranger Things 4 takes its time to find its footing – and some subplots are stronger than others – but when it hits its stride halfway through, the sci-fi spectacle and skillfully structured storytelling remind you why you fell in love with the series in the first place. Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, and Joe Keery are this season’s MVPs, while Vecna gives the show a chilling central antagonist.”
Grade: B+
Scott Menzel says, “Stranger Things Season 4 Volume One stands out from the three previous seasons for a wide array of reasons; some good and some bad. The fourth season has way too much exposition, which, as a result, makes all of the episodes feel overly long except for episode four. There are far too many storylines going on at once. The Eleven and the Dustin, Steve, Nancy, Max & Robin storylines are where season four shines. The character pairing and storytelling are top-notch, and I became deeply engaged whenever the show focused on these two stories. Sadly, the whole Russian story arc with Hopper was very dull and overstayed its welcome. It would have worked better as a single episode rather than being dragged out for 7 episodes. The scenes with Mike, Will, and Argyle are typically the weakest moments of this season. The strongest episodes of volume one are three, four, and seven. Not only are they the most engaging and entertaining, but they are where the story progresses with the least amount of build-up. The four other episodes are uneven, and I feel they could have been cut down to make the season feel less drawn out. All that being said, episode 7 ends on such a high note that it left me very excited to see what is in store for the remaining two episodes of the season that will be dropping on Netflix in early July.”
Grade: B
Zaki Hasan says, “Neither entirely a TV series nor a series of movies, it’s something stranger. But as this show has repeatedly demonstrated since its debut, sometimes strange is exactly what we need.”
Grade: B
Jeff Ewing says, “Stranger Things Season 4, at least what we’ve seen so far, improves on the third in a number of ways. It’s scarier, more imaginative, and finally makes inroads into giving answers to long-held questions. The biggest issue with the season is spreading the cast over three divergent locales, which takes major players out of the key story and balloons the cast. Still a fun start to the season.”
Grade: B+
Rob Licuria says, “The highly anticipated fourth season starts with a bang – the Hawkins kids are growing up fast amidst a gorgeous explosion of 1980s needle drops, bangs, fluoro, and denim. The season doesn’t let up with the welcome jump scares (the horror elements have been turned up a little this go-round) and a compelling season-long narrative that will please fans. More please!”
Grade: A-
Therese Lacson says, “A massive season drop being to make us question the logic behind Netflix’s binge episode drop method versus the weekly drop method or hybrid. The Duffer Brothers’ decision to turn each episode of Stranger Things into a mini-feature offers the series a cinematic feel but can get tiring after 9 hours of content. Similarly, the expansion of their universe, including even more characters in an already massive cast list, is cutting into the development of original characters. Still, Stranger Things Season 4 Vol 1 is a strong entry for its horror elements, the chemistry between the cast, and an indulgence in nostalgia. Lovers of the series will definitely rejoice.”
Grade: B
Samuel Leggett says, “From the opening episode your jaw will drop from how dark this has gotten & realizing that after 3 years they haven’t missed a step! Making you immediately have to watch what comes next! The visual effects, the darker tone, the expanded characters, and the exciting new arc makes Stranger Things 4 an instant hit!”
Grade: A+
Stranger Things Season 4: Vol 1 is now streaming on Netflix
