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Chapter Four: Dear Billy

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"Dear Billy" redirects here. For the Private Eye feature, see Dear Bill.

"Chapter Four: Dear Billy"
Stranger Things episode
Promotional poster by Butcher Billy[1]
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 4
Directed byShawn Levy
Written byPaul Dichter
Featured music
Original release dateMay 27, 2022 (2022-05-27)
Running time78 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Chapter Four: Dear Billy" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things. It was written by Paul Dichter and directed by Shawn Levy. The episode was released on May 27, 2022 on Netflix, alongside the six other episodes comprising volume 1 of the season.

Set on March 24, 1986, "Dear Billy" centers on Max Mayfield's mental struggles, and her attempt to survive Vecna's preying.[2] The episode received critical acclaim and was noted as a standout of the season. Particular praise went to Max's storyline and Sadie Sink's performance, the use of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" during the episode's climax, and the themes of depression and suicide.[3][4] Critics also praised the guest appearance of Robert Englund as well as Dichter's writing and Levy's directing, the latter most notably for a long take sequence.

Plot

Joyce and Murray deliver the ransom payment to Antonov's contact Yuri, but he drugs them, planning to turn them (and Hopper and Antonov) over to the Russians for a larger profit. Hopper escapes the prison camp but is soon recaptured. Jonathan, Mike, and Will prepare to sneak away from Wallace and Harmon, agents sent by Owens to watch them, but armed soldiers attack the house. They escape with the help of Jonathan's friend Argyle, bringing an injured Harmon with them. Nancy and Robin interview an imprisoned Victor Creel, who recounts his family being tormented and killed by supernatural forces while he was arrested for their deaths. Max, fearing that Vecna is about to kill her, writes letters to her friends and family and goes to the cemetery to read her letter to Billy by his gravestone. She is soon possessed by Vecna and finds herself at an altar inside his mind. Steve, Dustin, and Lucas learn from Nancy and Robin that playing music can break Vecna's spell, and they play Max's favorite song, "Running Up That Hill" on a cassette tape. This opens a portal through which Max narrowly escapes Vecna's control.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the episode holds an approval rating of 100% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 9.0/10.[5]

Legacy

The use of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" during the episode's climax[2] is credited as leading to a revival in the popularity of the track,[6] culminating in it topping the UK Singles Chart, and in a number of other countries:[7] Australia,[8] Belgium,[9] Ireland,[10] Lithuania,[11] Luxembourg,[12] New Zealand,[13] Sweden,[14] and Switzerland.

References

  1. ^ Dorn, Lori (June 13, 2022). "Themes From Each Episode of 'Stranger Things' Season 4 Transformed Into Classic Wall Posters". Laughing Squid. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Davis, Clayton (June 1, 2022). "Why Sadie Sink Should Be Running Up That Hill to an Emmy Nomination for 'Stranger Things'".
  3. ^ "Stranger Things: How 'Dear Billy' Can Break Game of Thrones' Emmy Record". June 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (June 23, 2022). "'Dear Billy' from 'Stranger Things' aims to be most awarded episode in Emmy history".
  5. ^ "Stranger Things: Season 4, Episode 4". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Simpson, Dave (May 31, 2022). "The strangest thing? Why Kate Bush is back at the top of the charts. Thanks to the Netflix show Stranger Things, the 80s classic Running Up That Hill has found a new audience. And it's not the only 40-year-old hit the show could revive". The Guardian. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill claims a second week at Number 1 on Official UK Singles Chart". Official Charts. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Belgium Songs, Retrieved 2022/06/18". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Irish Recorded Music Association. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "2022 23-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Luxembourg Songs: Week of June 18, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 23". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 17, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chapter_Four:_Dear_Billy&oldid=1102299429"