Does Max die in Stranger Things? No, but she plays into a big problem

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for the end of Stranger Things 4 part 2.]

Max is killed in the fight against Vecna. But Eleven — and the power of love — brings her back. It’s ultimately part of one of the show’s greatest strengths, and also one of its greatest weaknesses: showing friendships in various forms.

As with so many other stories, Stranger Things 4 indulges the idea that the power of love is the greatest weapon of all, stronger than all the Molotov cocktails, nails, and guns that the Hawkins kids got from the supply store (ah, the ’80s). As Eleven has learned this season, it’s that affection that makes her powers stronger than One/Vecna’s, which are fueled by hatred and fear. Eleven remembers the love she has in her life and is able to stop Vecna, saving multiple lives.

Image courtesy of Netflix

Max is also included in this move, though it’s too late for her to be fully protected. After serving as bait for Vecna, she becomes his “final sacrifice,” getting her bones broken and losing her vision during a low point. Once the fight is over, she dies in Lucas’ arms, unable to see or feel anything as Eleven looks on from her mindspace.

But then Eleven resolves to fix it: “No. You’re not going,” she says, reaching out to Max’s heart. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, focusing on the good times they’ve had — the first time they met, their first sleepover, reading comics, shopping, singing, high-fiving about how there’s more to life than “stupid boys,” and how Eleven is more than just what Hopper or Mike wants her to be.

Flashbacks serve as a reminder of Eleven’s deep friendship with Max. So it’s a bummer that this is the first time in Stranger Things 4Max and Eleven got to express how important their friendship was to each other.

It’s a huge cast! Stranger Things has no choice but to mix and match who hangs out with who — it’s an apocalypse! You go where you can be helpful, no matter who’s on your team (just ask Steve “Babysitter” Harrington). The show excels at connecting people and bringing out their unique energies.

Image courtesy of Netflix

Max and Eleven, a beautiful example of this. They have the kind of loving, meaningful bond that forms between two girls and can’t really be understood by the boys in their life. Their time as friends was brief — though she was introduced in season 2, Max didn’t really warm to El until season 3, giving them just a season of friendship before Eleven carted off to California with the Byers. It was significant and important, but not only for the plot. Stranger Things 3.

The problem is, it’s the only time their bond is really mentioned this season. Though Eleven was featured in Max’s “Running Up That Hill” memories from Stranger Things 4 part 1, the montage focused more on Max’s lingering feelings about Lucas. As both of them have experienced it in season 4, the montage focused more on Max’s lingering feelings for Lucas. While Eleven struggled to connect with her new home and losing her powers, and Max dealt with survivor’s guilt and grief over losing Billy, their relationship didn’t get the same attention that Will and Mike’s did; neither mentioned having written to or called the other. Because the plot revolves around Eleven’s concerns about Hawkins, Mike is her only concern.

Both were unable to explain how living 2,000 miles away from their best friend, a female friend, would affect their ability to deal with loss or bullying. It’s certainly a strength of Stranger ThingsEven though they haven’t seen each other in a while, the relationship can still be meaningful. The friendship montage was a bit annoying because almost all Eleven and Max scenes came from season 3. The show still struggles to fully pierce the depth of the girls’ friendship in the way it does the boys’. These relationships are literally lifesaving to them — and likely the young girls watching — but Stranger ThingsStill, it is easier for women to see the desolate end of the Upside Down as than they do the worlds of friendship.