Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 will hit screens this Friday at midnight PST. As we move closer to the release, fans are keeping their ears open for any small tidbit of information related to the show. Netflix has obliged with numerous trailers and a glimpse of the first eight minutes of the upcoming season. Cast members are also doing the media rounds, and Max’s Sadie Sink shed light on her character’s state over the to-be-released episodes. 

The 20-year-old actress appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote Stranger Things Season 4: Volume 1. When the host questioned her about what audiences can expect from the next set of episodes, Sink replied, “I mean, it’s darker and scarier than ever. The kids are obviously like we’re a lot more mature now, so the show has kind of matured with it, in a way.”

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“And Max, you know, she’s not doing too hot. You’re kind of getting to see her in like her emo phase a bit. And I don’t want to say that was fun to explore, but it was a nice challenge,” added Sink. 

Pushing the boundaries to explore a new direction for her character will have helped Max find a new dimension in her craft. This direction is one that would be expected to serve as a natural arc following the tragic events in the Season 3 finale of the Netflix Original. 

The events of The Battle of Starcourt Mall have affected Max in Stranger Things Season 4: Volume 1

The last episode of Stranger Things Season 3 saw The Battle of Starcourt Mall. The fight between the protagonists and the Mind Flayer saw Billy (Max’s older brother) sacrifice himself to keep Eleven alive. He has a tearful scene with Max before passing away, which saw her character break down. 

Season 4’s trailers have shown that Max is struggling. While this wasn’t completely the case in the final moments of Season 3 when the Byers family moved away, things have changed. 

In the trailer for the upcoming season, Max says, “Dear Billy, I don’t know if you can even hear this. Ever since you left, everything’s been… a total disaster. For a while, we tried to be happy. Normal. I know that’s impossible.” 

Max’s interaction with a counselor offers a glimpse of her struggles, but Sink did not care to elaborate on that. Nor did she comment in-depth about the scene where she is floating in the air. She just described the still and only built the anticipation within everyone.

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Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 will hit Netflix in under 36 hours. 

What do you think? Has Max gotten powers? What can we expect from her “emo phase”? Share your views with us.