Stranger Things — Series 4 Chapter 4 — Dear Billy — A Review

19th July, 2022.

As I write this?

As I writ this, I’m am very aware of a few things.

That my home town’s had possibly its warmest day of the year: as has the country!

Frankly?

It’s toasty: but due to cool down, tomorrow.

I hope it does: I’ve an early start: for some quarterly blood tests.

But?

The heat’s not going to stop me doing what I’ve been doing for the past few weeks.

Yes: I’m going to eat dinner, then catch Dear Billy: the next episode of Stranger Things fourth series.

I’ll have this post published tomorrow, Wednesday, 20th July.

I’ll tell you about the episode … and whether it’s cooled down …

~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

20th July, 2022.

Chapter 4 — Dear Billy — opens in California: with Will, Jonathon and Mike (Noah Schnapp, Charlie Heaton and Finn Wolfhard) facing down Agents Stinson, Harmon and Wallace.

Being flatly told that going anywhere near Hawkins would be putting Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in worse danger than is is.

The scene shifts: showing us Nancy and Robin (Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke) rushing to Hawkins High to join Dustin, Steve, Lucas and Max (Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Caleb McLaughlin and Sadie Sink) … 

Armed with the knowledge that Max has a very short time to live?

The team agree to split up, once again.

Dustin, Steve and Lucas?   Have to try to stop Max being killed by Vecna.

Max?   Is prepared for the worse: frantically writing letters to her loved ones, so she can say good bye.

Nancy and Robin?

Have to meet Victor Creel, the only known survivor of an attack by Vecna.

Victor’s family were killed in the late 1950s: and had their eyes gouged out in a gruesomely familiar way to those fighting Vecna.

The court?   Didn’t believe Victor, when he blamed the demon haunting his house: and made sure he got a very long sentence at Pennhurst Mental Hospital.

Nancy and Robin?

Are going to have a problem getting in there: before they can get any information out … 

~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

Now … 

What did I make of Dear Billy?

First things first, the episode has a run time of one hour and eighteen minutes: a minute longer than Chapter Two, Vecna’s Curse.

Which is a great episode, I should add: but one I felt was a touch too long.

That’s about it’s only flaw, I should add!   But, none-the-less, a flaw I noticed!

Dear Billy?

Was am equally good episode.

But with the same downside.

The length  of the piece.

It kept my attention: but, again, had me pausing it so I could take a breath.

Outside of that length?   Writer, Paul Dichter, and director, Shawn Levy, have given us a reasonably well paced episode, given the length of the thing.

And Sadie Sink?   Who’s not been the focus for much of the series?   Is given a chance to stretch … and carries the episode very well: especially at the climax.

A climax that also reminds us how good a choice of music the series makes when it’s on form: Running Up That Hill was never more perfectly used.

It’s nice to see Robert Englund — the original Freddie Kruger from A Nightmare On Elm Street — guest starring.

Did I mention that — over the past few weeks? — I’ve also been watching Star Trek Picard’s second series?

I’ve been watching Star Trek Picard’s second series.

The scenes between Alison Pill and Annie Wersching as Dr Jurati and the Borg Queen?   Have been reminding me of Hopkins and Foster’s performances as Lecter and Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.

Given I’d had that on my mind?

Seeing Nancy and Robin visit Creel — right at the the bottom of a very familiar looking corridor? — had me smiling in recognition!

Really artists don’t homage.

They mug suitable victims, when-ever they get the chance!

~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

At any rate … ?

Despite the fact I found this episode possibly a little too long?

Dear Billy is one hell of an episode: one that’s encouraging me to watch the next, The Nina Project, next Tuesday, Tuesday 26th July: and reviewing it on Wednesday, 27th.

Between now and then?   Friday 22nd sees me watching Fly Me to the Moon, the next episode of Star Trek Picard: one I’ll review on Saturday, 23rd.

I’d love it if you joined me: I’ll see you then.

Dear Billy.

★★★☆