The humiliation of Eleven by a relentless bully, terrifying encounters with the villain Vecna, and the final reveal of that character's origin story are some of the gut-punch moments of the fourth season.
In episode 4 of the first volume, Max is held captive by Vecna, a serial killer from the Upside Down who tortures and murders his victims with their worst fears. Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" is a percussion and synthesizer-driven song about making a deal with God that happens to be Max's favourite song.
Max's past experience with trauma makes her a target for Vecna's manipulation. She has become withdrawn and67531, pulling away from her friends and sinking deeper into what appears to be depression. She cried while sitting at Billy's grave and confessed that she couldn't share the details of his death with anyone else.
Vecna wants to deepen the emotional wound that is Max's survivor's guilt when she shows up at the gravesite. Billy told Max that he had sometimes wished to follow him. Follow me until I die. "That is why I am here, Max, to end your misery once and for all.
Max tries to outrun Vecna when he shows up as himself but ends up in the Upside Down. While caught in Vecna's grip, a tear in the dark dimensions shows her friends on the other side, desperately trying to save her from Vecna's curse. Max's headphones broke Vecna's hold on her because of "Running Up That Hill".
As Vecna prepares to take her life, Max closes her eyes and remembers happy times: laughing with El, dancing with Lucas and kissing him. She broke free, incapacitating Vecna, and ran to her friends, avoiding debris that Vecna threw in her path. Max is awake and held by Lucas. He cried, "I thought we lost you" I'm here." She says she's here.
The lengthy scene is more than just a psychological thriller for some fans who have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts. It feels like a metaphor for how difficult it is to overcome suicidal thoughts. Even though the words "suicide" and "depression" are never uttered in the show, that interpretation was popular with many commenters.
When I was at my most depressed, I found my favourite band, and that made me cling to life. The scene captured what it was like to go through a major depression, and I cried watching it.
Fans' interpretation of the scene may not be far off. In some ways, this scene can be understood as alluding to the inner struggles with private demons that many teens wrestle with during troubled times, especially when feeling alone and estranged from others.
From the Upside Down, Max can see her friends trying to save her as "Running Up That Hill" plays on her headphones. Credit: Courtesy of Netflix
The director of entertainment outreach for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention felt the same way.
"While I'm not sure what the Duffer Brothers intended with this sequence in terms of it being an allegory for someone facing depression or suicidal thoughts, it definitely tells me something that people are assigning meaning to it in this way," he wrote. Many people face adversity and isolation as a result of the Pandemic and viewers' interpretation speaks to that.
There are protective factors against suicide. The type of abuse that Vecna's other victims appeared to endure is one of the risk factors.
Vic Welle, a mental health peer support trainer who has planned but not carried out suicide attempts, said that the scene was powerful.
Welle said that the depiction of what it was like to be at that point of despair was well captured. Vecna is saying the worst things, the worst fears you might have about yourself, and what if they are true? It's like being in a place where you feel worthless.
"The depiction of what it's like to be at that point of despair is really captured well."
The portrayal of psychological and emotional crisis is just one of the things that make the scene so memorable. They try to save her. They know which song to play because they've been paying attention and they don't give up.
The role of connection to community and reminders of meaning and purpose is the hopeful piece.
The show is still just a sci-fi/horror series and the spirit of Max's friends' intervention may be worth drawing on in real life.
Welle said the scene can point to finding community somewhere else for those who feel like they don't have emotional support. In the absence of trusted friends and family, Welle recommends alternatives to suicide support groups like the Massachusetts-based Wildflower Alliance, which offers virtual meetings and has a directory of support groups people can explore. When they couldn't talk to their loved ones, Welle joined a peer support group.
Welle said that the sense that vulnerable youth are doomed by Vecna works for the show's narrative arcs.
"If you have something really huge happen to you and you are surrounded with compassion, resources, and the ability to process and make meaning of that and integrate that into your overall life story, I think that's really different from having to carry that in isolation."
The show didn't need to say anything. It was all there waiting for viewers to understand, between the profound writing, Sink's masterful performance, and the flawless song choice.
The Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support if you need it. To get in touch with a crisis counselor, text CRISIS to 741741. The help line is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. Email info@nami.org You can call the National suicide prevention hotline. International resources are listed here.
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