Stranger Things (TV Series) Chapter Four: Dear Billy (2022) User Reviews

"There's a reason you hide from them!"

[bosporan · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

A thoroughly entertaining Max-centric episode, exploring her nightmares and traumatized memories and their connection to the bizarre world of Vecna. An outstanding performance from Sadie Sink showing great emotion, fabulous dialogue and a superb monologue in her struggle with the darkness.

The effects are stunning in this world through the looking glass bringing the place to-life and making it immersive and believable.

Another episode steps up to claim the crown!

Don't skip the credits

[colinsomething · 10/10 · 30 May 2022]

Came here just to say, the orchestral Kate Bush cover overplayed after the end scene is just a beautiful moment to enjoy and absorb a phenomenal episode. Don't let the Netflix auto play ruin it.

Possibly the Best Episode of the Show

[TRIDENT1745 · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

As someone who watches a lot of horror, S4E4 "Dear Billy" is quite literally a horror movie. Primarily focused on Max, the show's most underrated character, this episode is a true example of filmmaking being pushed to it's limits.

Sadie Sink's full emotive potential is so captivating, and everything in this episode is so well balanced, with a strong emphasis to many horror elements that push this episode literally over the edge.

This may well be the only season of television where each episode becomes magnitudes better than the last. Every time you finish an episode in season 4, you think "The Duffers can't pull off anything better than that", and they do. And they've done it again.

This may well be my favourite episode of Stranger Things - ever.

(Until the next one hits that is)

Perfect and the last 5 minutes were AMAZING

[agentsofsword · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

The music the visuals and the scene of max got me shaking this is one of the best stranger things episode just perfect.

Sadie Sink acting deserves awards.

well that wrecked me

[mattrabbi · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

That ending absolutely wrecked me. How did they manage to make that scene so powerful. That was beautifully done, fantastic stuff.

The rest of the episode was great too, very action packed with an amazing one shot shootout sequence. This season just keeps getting better.

Running up that Hill

[estathena2 · 9/10 · 29 May 2022]

An incredible episode that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat from start to finish. The acting is stellar, the storyline haunting, & the music powerful and fitting. As a fan of Kate Bush for close to forty years, I'm hoping a new generation will discover her genius and bountiful catalogue.

Breathtaking Experience

[tristan_19 · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

Dear Billy is one of the most ecstatic episodes I've ever watched. I couldn't believe the quality of it all and sat there losing my mind at the end like a crazy person filled with tears and overjoy. Sadie Sink gave it her everything and the directing is nothing short of astonishing. The flow of the last five minutes with Max's favorite song playing over the scene is perfection.

This episode is an all time great, combining all sorts of genres. You want an exciting Hopper fight scene choreographed to perfection, with a Daredevil vibe, and everything imploding in Russia, with dynamic camera movements ? You got it. You want a massive shootout inside a house and high stakes like Fargo ? You have it. You want total Silence of the Lambs vibes with horror madness and a powerhouse duo ? You got it. You want some Haunting of Hill House vibes with Victor Creel and his family, once again masterfully directed ? Chapter Four has it too. But the last five minutes are just dripping with Stranger Things extravaganza and hit like there's no tomorrow. The sheer terrors and looks and designs of the Upside Down are sublime.

On top of that, you get Lucas opening up, Maya Hawke delivering a fantastic performance, Joyce and Murray doing their thing and shining with style, and a fantastically well written twist involving Yuri and his actions and decisions.

Overall such a rush of adrenaline. A TV episode that any fan of television should see at least one in a lifetime. A cinematic feat on the small screen. Imagine seeing that in theaters, it would just blow my mind. Wow. Give it a chance, you won't be ready...

[9.3] Dedicated to the outstanding actress that Sadie Sink is

[cjonesas · 9/10 · 28 May 2022]

Episode 4: A marvelous, epic episode where Sadie Sink once again shows her big acting talents and delivers quite possibly her best Stranger Things performance so far and by far.

The last 10 minutes were so gripping, nail-biting and awesome. It showed how much her friends love her and to what extent they selflessly are ready to team up to save her from a certain death.

Everybody shone and delivered; as I'm writing these, Dustin's CODE RED still rings in my ears...

Maxine, what a beautiful name you have. Awards will come your way like sprinkles of flowers.

Top tier television

[harry-34518 · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode perfectly balances action, story and emotional beats culminating in one of the most thrilling scenes in the entire show. This might be the best episode of stranger things, it's just beautiful I was nearly crying at the end. This episode is very retrospective and forces max to look in on herself, it's so beautiful to see a character who has been constantly put to the side line step up and have an episode like this. Sadie sink prices in every way that she's a brilliant actress. We also get a brilliant sequence with robin and Nancy which feels right out of silence of the lambs, this episode really was phenomenal.

Quite epic episode and the whole season is a return to form

[bgaiv · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

I'm definitely digging this season. Season 3 had far far too much often forced comedy. This season feels like there are stakes!

The governments here are frightening, just as they were in the first two seasons. There are no kids accidentally breaching a massive Soviet base in the middle of the US under a mall. The existence of that base requires the US federal government be keystone kops, and the Soviet base staff are depicted as keystone kops.

It just removes any feeling of danger if your enemies are silly.

To me, this feels much like season one. A possible, if fantastic, world that these kids could stumble into, and solve with actions that kids could plausibly do. And I would say I've been on edge this entire season, far more than any earlier season.

There IS some good humor here but unlike Season 3 it feels organic. Nancy and Robin fleeing the asylum could well have come out of an "I Love Lucy" episode, yet it all flows naturally. They had to wear Nancy's ridiculous Sunday dresses to fool the staff and ultimately the guise collapsed and they had to run.

Both Robert Englund and especially Sadie Sink give heart breaking performances.

There's also a harrowing background here-- all the victims are suffering clinical depression. I like that the show keeps this honest for the period. Max is suffering a severe episode as the result of the loss of her bother. But she doesn't really understand that, Lucas is completely baffled, and even the counselor doesn't really understand Max's situation.

Brace yourself for the ending, it is highly emotional

[stan-68764 · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

Between the song playing during the time max is running out of hell. And the fact she knows she needs to be more open and loving to her friends. She needs them more than she thinks. It was so beautiful the way this was all put together. Truly one of my favorite episodes of television all time. I didn't like max as much, after this episode she's one of my favorite characters on the show. Cinematic beauty. Speechless.

Best so far

[gokulmadhu-37537 · 7/10 · 28 May 2022]

It was the best out of all the episodes so far, still there was hindrance to suspension of disbelief at times, and the predictability is the most glaring flaw, if the character Max had died after we as the audience knew that music could help other victims then it would have been great.

Did not feel much lag unlike the previous episodes which was good improvement.

Starting to get unoriginal

[lucasdoria-13462 · 5/10 · 28 May 2022]

I cant understand why the ratings are so high. Maybe because after season 3 the show started to lose the previous audience and a new one likes the plot and writing of the new season.

I maintain my opinion of last episodes, special effects are really good and the show is scarier than season 2 and 3. Unfortunately scarier doesnt mean that the suspense is better constructed, in fact i think is the worst writing so far...

Season 1 was fantastic because the show was original, great music and great construction of different plots who actually come together at the end.

Now, the show takes references from silence of the lambs, is bad written with lazy and overused dialogs.

An agent with a pistol taking care of ten army guys with automatic guns? Really? John wick? And they need to take the courage to kill main characters like hopper and max, not just supporting ones. A show cant call itself darker if the audience doesnt fear for the death of main characters. Besides, all the tension made up for max death and her farewell was useless. Oh and a teenage beats the main villain because the power of friendship? And one more: the way to beat the villain was music all along...

YES

[kmyra8 · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

This is the BEST episode of Stranger Things EVER!!! This season has absolutely been a game changer- very glad the series is back and I am LOVING the vibes!

A Veritable Feast of Tension

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 29 May 2022]

This episode primarily focuses on Max. She is certain she is the next to meet a horrible death. Meanwhile, those around her do everything in their power to circumvent the evil force that is after her. She must face all her guilt and uncertainty. She must recognize that there are people who love her and quite running from them.

I sweated and had goosebumps the entire time

[cthirlby · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

This episode was incredible. They really upped everything this season making it insanely tense with some amazing sequences. Max getting her own episode for the most part was great she is a phenomenal actress especially in this one. The whole end sequence with the Venca and Max was insane, the music, the visuals the absolutely thrill of it all with max running trying to escape with the song playing is so tense. What incredible filmmaking and writing.

Last 10 min are BREATHTAKING!

[kylemoskowitz · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode had phenomenal pacing, storytelling, acting, dialogue, sound design, and visuals. I'm glad to see stranger things returning to form. You will not be disappointed. The final sequence is something special!

Gripping, intense, suspenseful, emotional, touching, pinning you at the back of your seat episode.

[Shadowboy_25cm · 10/10 · 1 June 2022]

'Stranger Things' is back to form with this greatness of episode: less forced humor, more adult, gripping, intense horror, fine references to the 80s and a touching story arc about Max.

Her character is in the centre of this episode: about her relationship to her friends, to her family, to her late brother Billy who died last season.

The other important subplot is about the research of Nancy and Robin about a case from the 50s connected to the present events, their hilarious visit at the Pennhurst asylum and their tense conversation with Victor Creel (excellently played by Robert Englund).

Excellent montage between the timelines and paralell worlds, great acting; outstanding: Sadie Sink as Max.

Wonderful original score and sountrack, creepy, suspenseful atmosphere.

Very touching episode with well crafted references to 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and fine makeup effects.

Highly recommended.

One name.......... Sadie Sink.

[denisprince6060 · 10/10 · 9 June 2022]

This episode is the breakout moment of a future oscar winner. Its one of the best TV episodes of all time, great use of nostalgic music, direction and writing. The level of acting from Sadie Sink is way beyond her years. This episode addresses delicate emotional issues with care and blends them in perfectly to the excellent storyline. Stranger Things moves from strength to strength.

Episode 4 vaults Stranger Things into a full blown motion picture!!

[joey_isham · 10/10 · 1 June 2022]

Fasten your seat belts when you're set to watch this episode! Oh my freeking GAWD! I'm speechless. The Duffer Brothers have outdone themselves. They're not messin' around. Each episode of season 4 has been like a full feature film. This episode was a full blown horror and adventure motion picture!! It centers around Max and her crisis. In fact I don't even think Eleven is in this one, although she's mentioned. There are scenes that will make you think you're watching Diehard. There are scenes that make you think you're watching Nightmare On Elm Street. In fact the Freddy Krueger actor is in this!! In between all the horror and adventure, there are still the poignant drama scenes well scripted and well acted by the teens. Also, the late 80s song "Running Up That Hill" gets featured once again near the close.

And while all this horror and suspense is going on with Max, there are surprising twists and turns over in Russia where Hopper is in a crisis of his own. And Alaska too!!

There's no question: Season 4 > Season 1, 2 or 3.

Phenomenal last fifteen minutes

[michaelfunk-46264 · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

The last fifteen minutes of this episode are exactly what I want from this show. In addition to the phenomenal one shot earlier in the episode, Dear Billy might be my favorite episode so far. This season certainly seems to be picking up pace!

The plot armor is strong in this one

[uleutz · 7/10 · 1 June 2022]

Seriously, why? I mean, we're talking about Vecna, the necromancer lord which can control time and space through all sorts of magic. Why Max still lives?

I know why. Because she is a main character (sort of). Thats all, really.

Vecna decided to play mouse and cat for no reason, so she could escape. Where's the suspense? The surprise factor? Come on, even the Demogorgon is more dangerous than Vecna right now.

I'm sorry, lots of bs in this season. I'm very disappointed.

Some scenes and dialogues were good. But not nearly close to S1/S2's.

Why the highs Ratings?

[gianfrancovandelinde · 4/10 · 28 May 2022]

This episode is horrible. Is predictible and the resolution , without a hint of emotion. She completely wastes time because she raises something (Max's death) in which she invests almost 30 minutes so that in the end she is saved. Sad chapter.

Speechless...

[Giannis2504 · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

I rewind the series before S4 and i easily can say that is by far the best episode of the series...The action scene,the backstory scene and the tension and explosion of feelings in that 5 minutes its magnificent,i couldn't even breath.... We waited 3 years but now i see why they did it and it didnt disappoint.

WOW

[movienerdandthat · 10/10 · 27 May 2022]

Duffers has done it again. 4 episode in and this is comfortably better then last season.cliffhangers,cinematography,storytelling,character development,acting it's AMAZING. Music sequence in this episode one of the best I have ever seen this continues and we might have a season better then the first one. Phenomenal.