Stranger Things took 2022 by storm with its best season yet

When Stranger Things season 3 dropped on July 4, 2019, no one could have anticipated the extended hiatus that would follow.

Following the success of the show’s third season, Stranger Things was renewed for a fourth season just a few short months after. The hope among fans was that the season would arrive within a few years’ time with many looking to 2021 as a possible landing spot for the season. Then 2020 happened.

Like many shows, production on Stranger Things season 4 was delayed which resulted in the show taking its longest hiatus yet — one that was nearly twice as long as fans anticipated.

It’d been a long wait, but this summer season 4 finally hit Netflix. And boy was the wait worth it.

Stranger Things was the best Netflix show of 2022

Because of how long Netflix made fans wait between seasons, it was unclear if there might be any decline in interest in the show. It was also unclear how the show might manage to top its previous seasons which had been regarded as some of the best seasons of television to have ever been produced. Those concerns were all quickly put to bed when the first part of the season arrived on May 27 with the release of the first seven episodes of the new season.

These new episodes managed to quickly reintroduce us to the many characters we knew and loved, while also introducing a handful of new characters who became some of the most-talked-about characters of the season.

We see the main cast of teenagers growing up and facing new challenges, both personal and supernatural. Meanwhile, the adults in the show continue to struggle with their own demons and secrets, providing depth and complexity to the narrative. The end result is another beautiful character-driven season full of compelling performances from the entire cast.

Of course, you can’t talk about the season without giving shoutouts to some of the season’s standout performers which include newcomer Joseph Quinn as Edward “Eddie” Munson. From the minute audiences first meet Eddie, a nerdy metalhead and leader of the Hellfire Club at Hawkins High, they quickly fell in love with the character whose humor and warm-hearted demeanor made the character the season’s scene-stealing breakout.

Speaking of scene-stealing performances, one could fill pages with compliments of the entire cast’s performance this season; however, I’d be remiss not to directly call out the Emmy-worthy performance of Sadie Sink across the season. Sink’s performance in “Dear Billy” alone should have been enough to secure the young actress a Best Acting Emmy nomination and it’s baffling that she was somehow overlooked as the episode was one of her shining moments in a season full of amazing highlights.

Another strength of the season is its ability to balance nostalgia with fresh storytelling. The show continues to pay homage to the sci-fi and horror classics that inspired and introduce new elements and twists to keep audiences engaged, all while continuing to read as a love letter to the 80s.

Just look at how the series’ use of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” as part of the season’s central storyline managed to send the song skyrocketing to the top of the charts or once again brought Dungeons & Dragons to the forefront of pop culture through the season’s storytelling.

Stranger Things wasn’t just the best show of 2022, but it also further cemented its place as a cultural phenomenon. With its captivating storyline, lovable characters, and nostalgic 80s setting, Stranger Things managed to once again capture the hearts of audiences around the world upon its return this season.

While we know another long wait is still ahead with the final season slated to arrive in 2024, if season 4 proved anything it’s that no matter how much time might pass between seasons fans will continue to show up and rank among the most passionate fans around.

Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are streaming now on Netflix.