Stranger Things Season 4 Will See Eleven At Her Darkest Point Yet
Millie Bobby Brown confirms that Stranger Things season 4 will see her character, Eleven, "in the darkest state she's ever been in."
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown says that season 4 of Netflix's hit supernatural horror series will see her character Eleven at her darkest point in the show so far. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things charts the adventures of a group of young friends as they attempt to unravel the otherworldly happenings that plague their town and defeat the monstrosities breaking through from the alternate dimension known as the "Upside Down." Alongside Brown, the series boasts an ensemble cast that features Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke. Created and predominantly written by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things has enjoyed enormous success since its first season premiered in 2016, garnering much acclaim for its characterization, originality, aesthetic, and writing, winning a slew of awards during its run.
The latest installment of Stranger Things takes place six months after the explosive finale of season 3, which saw the destruction of the secret Russian base in Hawkins' mall, which sought to open a portal to the Upside Down, and the supposed death of police chief Hopper (Harbour). However, an early teaser for season 4 confirmed that Hopper is still alive and will be seen attempting to survive his mysterious imprisonment in a Russian labor camp in Kamchatka. Trailers and promotions for the upcoming series have also confirmed that audiences will get to see how the younger characters navigate high school, all the while dealing with the emotional fallout of the last six months as well as facing off against a new threat from the Upside Down called Vecna.
Brown has now given a little more detail about what fans can expect from Eleven in the upcoming season, and it sounds like it's going to be an especially tough time for the telekinetic heroine. In a group interview during a virtual set visit attended by Screen Rant, the actor explained her character is "in the darkest state she's ever been" and how it's "the hardest season [she's] ever filmed." Check out Brown's full statement on Eleven's forthcoming tribulations below:
I read the script and I see Finn and some of the other characters having such a fun time, and you get to see Eleven in the darkest state she’s ever been [in]. This is definitely the hardest season I’ve ever filmed and there have been some of the scariest things I’ve ever seen as a human, which you guys will get to see and I’ll get to tell more stories and touch on my experiences as a person filming on the set with these legitimate scary things.
The fact that Eleven is going through the hardest time of her life so far certainly makes sense given the situation the character is in at the opening of season 4. As Hopper essentially became Eleven's adopted father at the end of season 1, there's little doubt that his apparent death will have an enormous personal impact on her character. Coupled with the fact that Wolfhard has also confirmed that Mike and Eleven will struggle with their relationship across the new episodes, it appears that Stranger Things season 4 will be the most emotionally charged so far. And Brown's insistence that it was "definitely the hardest season [she's] ever filmed" suggests that the actor found it tough to work on some of the elements of the latest series.
This assertion that season 4 will see Eleven in her "darkest state" will likely invite speculation as to how far this will impact the supernatural events surrounding her and her friends as they fight yet another evil from the Upside Down. Indeed, it may even be that it provides the backdrop for further escalations and problems for the intrepid gang. But with Stranger Things Season 4 premiering on May 27, it's not long before fans will get to see how Eleven processes her emotional challenges while facing down her inter-dimensional ones.