Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 ending explained

The very much-awaited volume 2 of Stranger Things season 4 is finally streaming on Netflix and it was absolutely amazing.

Like the creators of the show said, the finale of this season ended in carnage, leading to the deaths of normal civilians as well as some important characters. Here’s the summary of what happened in the Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 finale.

*Spoilers Ahead*

In the last episode, Vecna had captured Nancy into his mind lair. He lets her see his plan and what is to happen in the future and wants her to tell all this to Eleven. Nancy, Steve, Robin, Eddie, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and Erica realize that, when Vecna captures someone or enters his mind lair, his body remains paralyzed much like his victims, leaving his physical form defenseless. So they plan to attack him when he’s in a trance and gather weapons for their attack with Max choosing to be the bait.

Eleven learns that she is responsible for sending 001 to the Upside Down and turning him into Vecna. Then Eleven finally manages to revive her powers. This leads Eleven to learn that Dr. Brenner used her to contact or reach 001 in the Upside Down. Just as this happens, the military arrives at the facility in the desert, resulting in Brenner’s death as he tries to escape with Eleven.

Eleven uses her telekinetic abilities to overpower the attackers who tried to shoot her. Luckily, Mike, Will, Jonathan, and Argyle arrive and help her to get out of the situation.

Stranger Things season 4 volume 2 ending explained

Eleven discovers that Max is the final victim that Vecna is after to open up a massive gateway between the Upside Down and Hawkins using her powers. Because she’s thousands of miles away, they create a temporary isolation tank to let her reach Vecna’s mind lair.

Max’s plan works and Vecna enters her mind to kill her. While Max is in a trance, Nancy, Steve, and Robin get attacked by the vines in the Upside Down as Dustin and Eddie come under attack after drawing the demobats to them. Eddie helps Dustin escape by drawing the bats away from him, deciding not to be a coward again. Unfortunately, this leads to his tragic death.

Despite Eleven’s best efforts, Vecna is able to stop her and he reveals that he connected with the Mind Flayer in the Upside Down years ago. This, he tells her, led to everything that happened in Hawkins in the last few years. It isn’t shown or explained in detail but we can guess some stuff and the nature of Mind Flayer and Vecna’s relationship.

Both Eleven and Max get captured by Vecna. Mike tries to talk and motivate Eleven from the real world, professing his love for her, which inspires her to overpower Vecna and free herself. She manages to overpower him in his Mind Lair, which helps to free Nancy, Steve, and Robin. They then manage to burn Vecna’s physical form. Unfortunately, Max still gets broken limbs before succumbing to a non-responsive coma.

Meanwhile, Joyce, Hopper, and Murray manage to briefly defeat a Demogorgon in the prison. But it is soon revealed that the prison housed a number of other Demogorgons and demodogs. So they choose to return to the facility to kill off the deadly threats with guns, flamethrowers and whatever weapons they can find.

Even though Vecna was seemingly defeated, he still manages to carry out his plan, as fiery rifts open in Hawkins and cause immense damage and casualties to the town. Local authorities claim that the event was just a major earthquake, while some people and news still claim it was the result of Satanic cults in the area.

The final moments of the season finale show the ash falling from the sky. The characters also discover the spread of death and decay mirroring the Upside Down in the real world. As they look over the town, they see smoke and flames, as they find out that Vecna succeeded. Will feels a chill on his neck, confirming that he can still feel his existence, hinting at the villain’s return in a nightmarish Hawkins for season 5. In other words, there is a war coming for next season.

Stranger Things season 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.