Why This Scene In STRANGER THINGS Season 4 Is PERFECT | Running Up That Hill
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- Why This Scene In STRANGER THINGS Season 4 Is PERFECT | Running Up That Hill. We break down this iconic moment from Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 4, as Max escapes the clutches of Vecna to the backdrop of Kate Bush, Running Up That Hill. Including all the horror movie comparisons, Vecnas victims and that goosebumps moment.
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0:00 Why This Scene In Stranger Things Season 4 is Perfect
2:19 Stranger Things Season 4, Max vs Vecna, Running Up That Hill
9:56 Competition and Outro
Ok so Stranger Things Season 4 Volume 1 is packed with absolutely incredible moments throughout it. In my opinion the season really upped it's quality and each entry feels like it's own standalone film. Divided up into several storylines we watch as Joyce tries to save Hopper, Eleven attempts to regain her powers and the rest of the group try and stop the new big bad Vecna.
Vecna is easily my favourite villain that we've had in the show so far and this nightmareish creature stalks a lot of the characters throughout the season. Clearly based on Freddie Kreuger we even get a nod to this with a cameo by Robert Englund who is revealed to be the characters father. Vecna is set up early on as an unstoppable force and come the end of episode 1 he's left a side splitting impression. Trapping his prey in fantasies he torments them before suspending his victims in the air.
Their deaths are absolutely horrible and it really sets him up as an unbeatable evil that always gets what he wants. There's seemingly noway to stop he because he doesn't exist in the real world perse and that's what makes Max's story even more enthralling. Early on in the season he sets his sights on her and it's easy to get swept up in the show and believe that she's going to be the next character to die. However, Max makes it out of it and the emotion that comes with it elevates the scene to be my favourite in the entire show so far.
We're led to believe there's no way out and thus when she escapes it hypes you up even more.
Throughout this video we're gonna be breaking it down, the subtle things that they do in it and also we're gonna just discuss why it's our favourite moment in the show.
If you agree then smash the thumbs up button and also don't forget to subscribe to the channel for videos like this every day. With that out the way, thanks for clicking this, now let's get into Stranger Things Season 4.
Now one thing that is a big hangover from Season 3 is the death of Billy. Though he was less likeable than Joffrey he did still have a moment of redemption when he sacrificed himself to the Mindflayers minion body. His death hit Max hard and in this season we discover that she shut herself off massively from her friends. She isn't exactly having the best time at home either and she's basically B-Rabbit.
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The buildup of her being standoffish for the whole part of this season and then her recalling all the best times she had with her friends helping her helped save her life all fit together so well. I can kind of connect this as an anti suicidal scene on a deeper level, and it's beautiful.
Wow…crying.
never watched an anime before clearly
I also connected this scene to anti-suicidal ideation and fighting through desperation to hang onto that instinctual will to live and be happy. When she said "I'm still here" I cried. Such a beautiful and touching scene.
@@breem2999 that's such a beautiful idea, genuinely thank you for sharing dude
Damn why'd you have to say that, now I'm tearing up. As somebody who has survived two separate attempts I couldn't agree more.
ONE of the many reasons this scene evokes such a visceral reaction is because of the sudden emotional inversion that Max experiences as Vecna is about to kill her. Moments before arriving in Vecna's lair Max is ready to die. She is making her peace with Billy and handing out goodbye letters to her friends. The weight of her pain feels like to much to bear and she accepts her imminent death. BUT as the music plays and she flashes back to all her happy memories she suddenly realizes that she isn't really ready to die. She wants to live, she HAS to live, and she decides to fight for her life. As shes running and the music plays, its the look of desperation in her eyes that sells the whole scene. The sudden, desperate, frenzied, animal look of a person fighting to LIVE who only moments ago was at peace with the fact that they were already dead. Its absolutely cathartic and its probably one of the best moments in all 4 seasons.
This sums up how I feel about the scene perfectly! Max's emotional inversion is just ONE of the many reasons why this scene is so good, and arguably it is the main reason and pillar behind why the whole scene works. This scene could not deliver its catharsis without all the built up history of the previous seasons as well as the episodes leading to it to show Max's emotional arc. The way Sadie Sink acts throughout the season, specific episode, and scene was phenomenal and really sold her re-found will to live. I was screaming at the TV.
Although i am glad they didn't kill her in this scene. The desperation, the bittersweetness of her realizing last minute that she wanted to live, had she died this scene, it would have still been the best scene, albeit a truly tragic one. All credit goes to the character setup for this. Easily one of the best sub-arcs in tv for me.
@@djabor Absolutely. I think part of the reason that we all were so invested in that moment is because our brains recognized the tragedy and thought "oh shit she might actually die here". Suddenly the stakes felt very real.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
Not only that, she remembers that her death would leave people who love her absolutely devastated. Her love for them saves her.
This scene, and Max's arc this season, is some of the best representation of depression/suicide I've seen in a while. The separation from her friends, the survivor's guilt with Billy...That literal run for her life away from the smothering grip of depression... Such an emotional scene even after the 10th time watching it. The part that still breaks me is that final moment where she's in the arms of her friends and just says "I'm still here..." 😭 *chef's kiss* As you said.. the perfect scene.
Glad someone's saying it! I liked this video apart from the fact that it totally neglected to cover this, and I think it's THE most important and powerful theme represented in this scene and the overall plot.
A lot of poeple have said this.... very interesting.
👏👏👏👏👏👏Just... Yes
@@ItsAsparageese ik wtf the video didn’t even touch on why this scene was so good “ooh slow mo run to a good song”
@@EddieFreak Right? Reducing the whole thing down to "but she loved Lucas after all" is just wildly disingenuous. It's so much more than that. The song helped connect her to her own ability to feel things and be present in the world mentally, and her attachment to ALL her friends is what motivated her to fight and run. I'm so annoyed this video represented the scene so flatly
"Running Up That Hill" is a good song for Max and Lucus because of the reasons listed here, but when I watched the show, I thought she mostly listened to it whenever she was feeling guilty about Billy, as the part of the song we hear most often is, "If only I could make a deal with God, and get Him to swap our places." Almost like she wished it had been her rather than Billy.
I thought the same thing. I'm going to continue to let myself believe they meant it to be that way. Lol.
THIS. Yes, they absolutely meant it to have those layers of meaning. Vecna gets to people through their guilt and grief and pain. His character altogether is a metaphor for trauma and depression. Max's withdrawal, near death, and desperate run back towards the world thanks to the love of her friends and the help of a song, is all a big story of recovery from an episode of wanting to self-unalive.
It's also fact that music reaches parts of our brain, and lives in parts of our brain, that other verbal or auditory things don't, and it's a really powerful tool not only for helping depressed people stay connected to any kind of emotional real lively experience, but also for helping people with dementia and other cognitive issues to stay connected to the world and their memories.
Lucus
I think this is way more likely than it being about Lucas
I had the same thought.
I ain't gonna lie my eyes watered a lil bit with this scene, specially as someone who has suffered depression i feel like Vecna is the perfect metaphor for it, it pulls you into dark when you least expect it and uses negative thoughts and trauma to pull you and even kill you, the fact that Max was saved by her favorite music and the memories with her friends just hits hard for me, cause that's what helped me too
Omg that's why it got me so hard as well. I'm crying it's so beautiful yet scary
100% It's amazing how this fantastical depiction of struggle can resonate with so many of us. True art.
Finally someone can feel me! I thought I was the only one. 😭💖
I saw this scene in the exact same way. When she was running towards her friends it was like she finally saw all the beauty, love, and joy that what was in front of her, & was running for deal life towards it. Such a great scene
Same, I was like 🫣🫢🥹😫😱😭🙌🏾
I just love how everyone participated in saving her (Robin and Nancy figuring out music will help, Steve by sensing something was wrong and going to check on Max, Dustin by getting in contact with Robin and Nancy, Lucas by telling her they are right there with her and of course Max accepting the help from her friends and fighting), they are like a big family and they always sacrifice themselves for each other, like when Steve was in the water. I love that.
I think one worthwhile secret in life is having actually good friends that care about your well being and love having you around. As well as being brave enough to save you from certain death of course
i still hope those two end up together. Robin and Nancy.
Lucas knew her favorite song
one of the biggest strengths of the cast of characters in this show is that I can really feel that any two of any of the characters actually care about eachother, which makes it so cool when they inevitably come together at the end of the seasons
Arguably, that's what makes the scene work, even more than the visuals, the song, it's the groundwork they've done with the characters prior and how each person came together and contributed something that helped save Max at the last minute.
after finishing ep 7 and learning vecna's motives, it's interesting to note that max reclaiming her will to live in this scene serves as a direct antithesis to vecna's belief that life is meaningless and death is purely a blessing. Makes you wonder how confused and intrigued he must have been seeing one of his victims WANT to continue the fight.
Great comment.
That is an awesome observation. It would explain why Vecna just stood there and watched her run instead of going after her. He was stunned. Stunned by the fact that this person who was more than ready to die, had already given up, suddenly had the power and more importantly, the will to live. This shocked him to his core. All he could do is watch and see if her sudden will was enough.
I just love how horror can so beautifully convey messages through metaphor...Vecna as a symbol of depression is so much more spot-on than anything you see in "13 Reasons Why" or many other dramas.
@@SandyHummingbird gotta also love how they dont force it down our throats too, portraying it under the guise of your standard run-away-from-big-strong-powerful-alien-guy just amplifies the scene soooooo much
Good point. That was probably what Vecna was feeling as he stood there and watched her run away. It was almost as if he let her escape, just out of curiousity.
I feel like this scene will go down in history as one of recent TV's most iconic moments. Like, everybody's talking about it, and it even managed to make a 37-year-old, mostly unknown song (to the general public), into an instant and absolute hit. The scene's perfect, Sadie Sink's acting, the sfx, the score, the flashbacks, the emotional power, just pure epicness.
Well some songs Never die because time never slows down making this song forever timeless without question or reason before
Kate Bush fan with no interest in watching the show -what I don't understand is what made the kids choose the song to put in the walkman. Like did the song already have some significance to the character, or did they just want to put 'any' music into her ears?
Yes this was this Year's Luke Skywalker's Mandalorian rescue scene, there are reaction videos all over TH-cam
@@audreymuzingo933it was the character's favorite song.
Sadie better get a Emmy nomination for this season, she's been incredible!!!
Yeah she killed it
Agree 🙏✨
If she does, they just need to play this entire scene at the Emmy's. Just all 5 minutes of it. That'll say everything they need to about why she deserves it.
She’s gonna take off career wise. Fantastic actor
Lmao max sucked and she can't act
I think one of the things that Stranger Things did so well with Max being one of Vecna’s victims is that they really made you feel like she *could* die. The lead up and playthrough of this scene constantly had me questioning whether or not she would survive, with all the letters and Max-centered stuff. It makes the escape so thrilling
I really thought she was going to die. I thought at the very end, she’d be impaled dramatically or something. I knew this season was going to be heavy so they had me in the first half, not gonna lie.
Same! It's so easy to know now when a character will make it/be killed off. Yet, thise whole bit with her had us guessing.
My sentiments exactly. I really couldn't tell whether she was going to live or die and the music and build up had me captivated.
@@brittanycamille5945 absolutely! I just typed up a storm writing out exactly why I thought it could be a goodbye. Among other things, she did get her goodbyes in before, and the flashbacks worked perfectly as a reminder of why she should fight, and as the audience's last emotional goodbye with her.
The entire episode was made to look like a proper sendoff for the character. She accepted death and was getting ready for the inevitable end. It's only when the song starts playing that a spark of hope for her survival actually appears. While she was running I didn't know if her death would cement how terrifying Vecna is or if her survival was going to give us amazing character development. Either way, I didn't know what would happen. And that was wonderfully thrilling 🤩🤩🤩
I can't watch this without almost falling apart. My brother was murdered 2 months ago, and everything from her letter to Billy, her physical symproms, the survivors guilt and ptsd, and her choosing to live despite a part of her not wanting it felt so relateable to me.
It was something special to watch her fight for herself.
After I saw it I couldn't even talk, I was so overcome.
Sorry for you loss, I hope you are able to heal as much as you possible can
I'm so sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry about your brother.
That’s awful. Good Grief! So sorry….
🫂 🫂 🫂 🫂
What really should be focused on about this scene is the fact that the writers knew exactly how to deal with a depressive character. This is very obviously a direct metaphor for suicide and depression. Vecna strikes when the characters are at their lowest, showing every reason they have to give up. Lucas, Dustin, and Steve were all there for Max, and despite her pushing them away the entire season, they were still there, and saved her life, just like how friends being there for you can save the life of a real suicidal person. I don't think there's a scene in any media that realistically shows what it is like to fight, to not give up, not feed into your demons, and to evade suicide as much as this scene, despite it being entirely a metaphor. I like this analysis, but as someone who suffers from depression and fights every day, it seems that the actual point of the scene you've somewhat missed, or at least not touched into as much, as the scene and its message is very meaningful to me. Despite that, I appreciate your perspective and enjoyed the video.
Beautiful.
EXACTLY! I don't know how one can miss that. On the other hand I had my ups and downs and some people around me struggling, having suicidal thoughts and one attempt. The writers must have intimately known what it's like in order to create such a powerful metaphor.
And maybe the most important thing, she's not cured after this scene. She has a tool to work with but the trauma guilt and depression are still very much there and will likely be there in some f9rm for the rest of her life.
This leaves her vulnerable to Vecna and that's important for the plot but as a representation of actual mental health struggles it's crucial and something media often glosses over for the sake of a satisfying conclusion.
YES to everything you said. This is the best metaphor I've ever seen for struggling with depression and suicide and choosing to live. I remember when I saw this scene and the portal appeared whe the kids played the song I was struck by how much it looked like a light at the end of a tunnel and then when Max sees that says she says "You're not really here" but then Vecna moves to BLOCK that light and says "I am here". Vecna is all the darkness and trauma in her life and her friends are the goodness and light and after Vecna blocks her view it seems like a losing battle, it's literally her LOSING SIGHT of what makes her life worth living. It takes her remembering all the good times with her friends to gather the will to fight and escape and if that isn't a powerful metaphor for battling mental health issues, I don't know what is.
Cristina what a profound detail about vecna's figurative darkness literally blocking Max's friends/hope
I remember crying silently and reflecting my own life in that moment. Such a powerful moment of determination, love, and strength especially when you feel your lowest. Max realized she's not alone in her hurt, just allow love to heal you. It was there all along, they were there all along. Sadie did such an excellent job conveying every emotion for this scene. She deserves all the awards and then some! 🏆🥺
She’s a seriously talented actress and I hope she is still around in season 5
😲 how odd, I didn't see much emotion from it as was all cgi. Her letter was more emotional
Never gonna be a argument they called her Mad Max for a reason because she was Mad with passion, traveled like the wind, with fire and determination in her eyes she Ran up that hill to her conscious state until she couldn't Run No more,her Will was of certainty while surrounded by the very fiery pits of hell, escape was her ONLY Refuge to her profound Family she was not yet ready to LET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@SoundSista222 well for me it was emotional, in the start of the season she was depressed and wished she was the one that died that day, she pushed all of her friends away, she accepted her own death and wrote notes to her friends and family, but when she was about to die, she remembered that she wasn’t alone, and she fought back, and you could see the panic in her eyes that showed that she wanted to live, even when giant boulders were falling above her and a literal meat monster with psychic powers that could’ve taken her was right behind her she still ran
@UCK8BV9Zoz3J2Mg4LhnRLNAg So Tru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great examination, not just Max but the complexity of these characters and there deep meanings behind them. Very intuitively well Put if you ask me.
The song playing while Max was about to die is still memorable....giving me chills every time i hear it
So good!! 🙏✨
Without Question AGREED, SHE WAS MAD Close to Death no pun intended.
This show has some great music that really elavates a lot of scenes.
I get why they used the original by Kate Bush because it fits perfectly with the theme/80s-90s setting of the show, but MAN the version by Placebo is mind-blowingly good & has always been my favorite.
I just wonder how it would’ve compared if it had been used 😊
@@jacks1bonnielass I hate the one by Placebo. Bush's has stength, faith,and optimism. Placebo is just bleak and cynical, it's so easy to turn any song dark.
The metaphor of depression and trauma to this scene are very powerful, mostly because at the end of the day, it was Max who saved herself. True, she couldn't have done it without her friends but much like depression, you can't just rely rely on your friends and loved ones to pull you out of the hole. Nancy and Robin provided the lifeline, Steve watched out for her like a hawk and clocked on immediately to something being wrong, Lucas made it clear they were all there for her and Dustin provided communication between them all.
All through being there for Max, her friends gave her the choice. But only Max could make the choice. Her friends threw a rope down the hole, and she chose to use that rope to ascend once more.
I cannot watch this scene without breaking down in tears. When she says "I'm still here."
Such a powerful message in 3 little words.
This scene is just one example of many in the series of how music and imagery have been perfectly balanced for such an emotional hit. We cannot forget Peter Gabriel playing over the discovery of the 'body' in season 1.
Haven't even seen any episodes of the show never had any interest in it, probably still won't but that looks like an movie level type of scene that we rarely see in actual movies today.
@@gunnyo50 bro, just watch it 😂😂
You won’t regret
which scene exactly. as in hopper and joyce in the upside down or the fake in the quarry
@@GigaNiga17 the fake in the quarry
@@gunnyo50 A lot of Netflix "shows" are basically one big long movie. TV shows in the past you could often miss some episodes and jump right back in and not much has changed. With Netflix this isn't the case. Every episode drives the plot forward. And you should watch, I have never met anyone who watched past the first couple episodes that wasn't hooked.
Who else screamed RUN! the moment she broke free. This whole scene was perfect. The flashbacks, the music, the struggle. All of it. It hits you where you live.
I was screaming RUN too. I love this scene.
Me!
@Burst Gaming Same here. I was expecting Vecna to try and grab her instead of crash stuff around her. I was surprised he just stood there and let her run. He might not let it happen again. But I was yelling run.
@Burst Gaming I know right. Vecna trapped Nancy in the Upside Down to show his origins so I was expecting him to grab, chase, squish anything but he just stood there watching Max run away. I was shocked but screaming run at my phone. Her face sold the terror. I jumped up for joy when she escaped.
I don't scream while watching media, so uh, not me.
The first time I saw this scene I sobbed uncontrollably. I tried to explain to my (very confused and concerned) husband why I had that reaction, but I still struggle to find the words. I just kept saying, “that’s just exactly what it feels like.” I think the only other scene that’s affected me this way was from Big Mouth, when Jessi is being held down by Depression Kitty and Nick and Andrew are outside her room pounding on the door. It’s just… that’s what it feels like. You can see where you need to go, you can hear people calling for you, but you’re either in the grip of something terrible and can’t get away, or sedated under the weight of something too heavy for you to move. This is one of the best visual representations of depression (especially as a fallout of trauma) that I’ve ever seen. God, it sticks with me.
It made my eye tear too. I was alone when I watched it. Your husband may know more than he's letting on. As men, we instinctively do no let emotional scenes or emotions get to us when a woman is next to us. It's natural for us, we hold it in no matter how painful it could be. We feign ignorance or confusion so that we seem "above it".
We're not but we still try.
Since he's your husband he has to stay strong against adversity and this is just one of the ways we do it. Nobody wants to follow someone that's going to breakdown under pressure, so we don't let it show. Think of a officer in a war that has his men relying on him to get them out of the situation, mortars and bullets are exploding all around them. The boys look towards their leader and they see him crying or breaking down. That's going to cause a panic.
That is why we don't show or we pretend to not show emotion. We break down when we're alone.
I guarantee you every man knows and understands this scene. We as men suffer a lot more than most people realize, we're forced to perform, day in, day out. People rely on us to make money, to perform at life constantly. We work our butts off and there is no stopping. Men's suicide rate is through the roof and nobody in society cares, we're expendable.
So yes, this scene resonates with every man out there. We just don't show it.
Me too. It hit me like this too. Its exactly what it feels like 😔 it is a fight every day to not give in, to keep fighting. This song hits me hard every time I hear it, bcuz I see this scene play in my head. All the feelings hit extra hard 😥
I used to have severe depression when I was younger. I started running to get better, and often as I ran and listened to some powerful music, I would picture my depression as this dark figure that wanted to catch me and bring me to death. That imagery gave me the energy to run even faster. This scene represented this internal struggle with mental health so well. I couldn't help tearing up seeing Max being able to escape, the same way I did.
I'm glad you outran it .
It's jarring to see how she was so sweet and funny in season 2 she is this overwhelmingly funny kid that makes everyone smile, like, with Eleven when they went shopping, or when she is cheering up the others, I've met peopoe that light up the room with their presence and make everyone smile, and still never feel the warmth they radiate for themselves...
They did a good job of not making it obvious that Max would make it out of that alive. It was a very stressful scene and I kept waiting for her to be impaled at the last second.
I know, right? I was SO MAD!! Although yes, I was just going to watch in like a minute (rather than a season long cliffhanger), I needed that information at the same second.
I completely agree with your assessment on this scene. It was beyond incredible and gave me goosebumps. Someone also started cutting onions.
thank you looool the classic dust in the room excuse
Goosebumps for sure 🙏✨
Yeah, onions, that must have been it, someone is doing it again now.
Damn onions.
I’ve watched it so many times. I’ve watched every reaction video there is and it still brings tears to my eyes
My older brother died in 2020 after 10 years an addict. Max's struggle with guilt, Billy's implication that she feels some relief, and the idea of wishing to switch places really resonates with me. I was fourteen when my brother started using and 24 when my big brother died alone, murdered by laced drugs. He wasn't nice at the end but I keep wondering if I could have done something, if instead of protecting myself from him, I just tried protecting him from himself. I don't know. But I'm glad to hear others are seeing things in this scene because it was so powerful and moving to me.
What a beautiful and powerful message.
Wow... grief is difficult. I hope he and you are better now
It's as if I could have written your comment. Similar story - Older brother died due to alcoholism a few years back. Knowing that Max feels guilt over Billy's death, the lyric about switching places hit hard. As awful as that situation was, to live with him while abusing, to later get abusive voicemails... I know I did the right thing by protecting myself from him. It's just frustrating to not know what could have been done to help in that situation; and to be honest I'm more angry with society that we aren't better set up to help people like that. On the one hand, I am glad the stress from that is over. But on the other, I'd give anything to see and talk to him again. I'm sorry about your brother. Hope you are doing well.
@@Be1smaht Their brother passed away..
The desperation on her face as she’s running away is what really makes all of it work together. She played this scene to perfection. Film students will be shown this scene for generations to come.
It’s such a beautiful representation of those of us who suffer from depression/trauma etc. constantly running away from inner demons, hiding away from friends/family, headaches etc.
She survived by remembering the people, places and memories that made life worth living.
Powerful stuff.
Can't watch that scene and not burst into tears. The love and desperation in that scene, set to Kate Bush? Incredibly powerful, all the awards, this is the best season of Stranger Things we've ever seen.
And to think I was worried it wouldn’t be worth the wait. How absolutely wrong I was.
This is the best show I've ever watched. Breaking Bad takes a back seat to this for me.
No Questions ask as for as best season in the series it really threw Mad Max in the ringer with this one,Kate bush was perfect for the scene/episode wish I would have came up with that myself job fucking well done 👏 Sorry Lord Vecna you not going to kill Max The Zoomer today, Zooming out!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@JTCT371 great minds think I like my friend facts of Life
@@JTCT371 after watch this series for so long I truly understand now more than ever The stranger things phenomenon there really are stranger things out there, the show we've been waiting for the series flick that made the Net (Netflix)
The friendship these characters have is one of the biggest reason I love this show
Max has something the other victims didn't: A loving support system. Even when she pushes them away; they're still by her side
Her facial expressions are EVERYTHING. You can feel the anguish and the pain, so well executed it's a piece of art.
Definitely the best scene of the season. She deserves all the recognition she’s been getting for her performance
Kate Bush's *"Running Up That Hill"* was spot on for the scene.
What really gets me about this scene, is that Max has to make the conscious decision to live, and fight to do it. She's at the lowest point in her life, she's all but given up fighting, she's stopped caring. When she learns she's actually about to die she doesn't particularly like the idea, but she's also not really fighting it or confronting it. It takes her less than a day to come to terms with and accept her death. But just as she is about to actually give in to it, she realizes she isn't ready to go yet. But that realization isn't enough. Muttering "I want to live" is not going to save her. She needs to shout it off the rooftops, be fully convinced of it and fight for it. It would be so easy to just stay in her constraints and let it wash over her, so hard to get free and struggle to get back, not knowing if she can even make it. But in that one desperate moment she finds the strength to fight. She makes the conscious decision to save herself, even if it might be too late. It doesn't matter, because she is going to fight anyway. And that you can read that willpower and desperation off of her face during the running scene, makes this one of the best moments of television I've ever seen.
And the cherry on top is the moment she wakes up on the graveyard, panic all over her face and grabbing onto Lucas. Phenomenal acting and really cements the horror she just lived through in all our brains.
The last 15 minutes of this episode will forever live in my head rent free.
I think one thing not a lot of people are talking about is the way vecna initially tries to stop her by making things fall in her path but then kinda just stops and watches her run free looking confused and a little shocked. Vecnas ideologies and beliefs were always unique since the start. He had a perception that society were just conforming to every rule authorities put in place and were living in this controlled haze, counting the seconds until their death. Every stereotype, status quo or rule of his time did not affect him and he believed so strongly in his own beliefs that he created his own energy, his own power, his own control, his own rules. A kind of manifestation ability otherwise perceived as his psychic powers, the same that eleven has.
Now Vecnas own ideology that he believed in 100% was explained in the show using the analogy of a spiders purpose. Their purpose being to capture and kill other organisms in order to sustain the balance of life in the animal kingdom and prevent overpopulation. His complete fascination with these creatures led him to fully believe he could be the 'spider' for the part of human race who were conforming to society, following what they're told, and merely living everyday by counting down the seconds. The spider for the people who wouldnt mind death. He believed he was the person who could maintain balance by doing this. Prevent overpopulation of people by simply killing off those who were waiting to die anyway. Who weren't 'living'. And so he believed he was doing something good. Examples of these people were the ones Vecna captured, believing he was doing them and the world a favour by fulfilling his purpose and their purpose and killing them off. Chrissie, nerdy kid, basketball kid and Max. But this brings me back to my reason for explaining all this. The reason why vecna just stood there and watched Max escape. Letting her escape. Max challenged Vecnas beliefs. Max showed that maybe vecnas assumption that she was just waiting to die was wrong. That once in that dark state of mind, there is no turning back is not true. That there were people out there in the world that realise they still want to live even after being in that depressing for state of mind that vecna so despised.
Max's escape made vecna stand there and question his own unimaginably strong belief for the very first time in his life. That maybe him being the human spider is actually him doing the wrong thing. Assuming the wrong thing in others. Seeing the world in the wrong world. Not accounting for everyone. That not everyone is the same. He saw for the first time, a human who did not confom to the rules.
Damn, that's a good take
Last season was criticized for a lot of "fluff" - but those moments created something for Max to run TOWARDS. Great symbol that, while it was time to put memories behind her, Max still needed the promise of a future ahead.
So, in a way those letters were really for a metaphoric death of her old self. Looking forward to what Part 2 brings for her!
By the look of the new trailer it's gonna bring her another visit to Vecna's hand 😭
You well said!
They did her dirty. I guess Vecna had to activate all 4 portals, but this whole 'battling depression/suicide' storyline almost became meaningless.
I like the show and season 4 made it one of my favorites (S2 and S3 sucked, authors looked lost and I thought it would be downhill from there), but killing Max now would have ruined the whole season for me tbh. They built such a compelling storyline for her this season that it would have been evil to kill her, especially after this scene. I'm really hoping she's one of the characters that don't die...
Dustin, Rob, Mike, Will, Jonathan, Nancy, Hopper etc. I couldn't care less about any of them, especially about Dustin and Rob. Dustin became unbearable with a bigger role and Rob became a joke, she's basically a walking "haha funny relatable quote machine". Ugh. Not saying I want them to die but if they did, I wouldn't be sad either. But Joyce, Eleven and now both Steve and Max are too good for this world (so were Bob and Eddie but it's expected they would kill new cool characters if they had to).
@@calamorta a character falling to depression doesn't make it meaningless....
Never before have I seen so many people being unanimous about one scene being iconic. I haven't encountered even a single person who doesn't consider it to be perfect. I reckon this in itself speaks volumes of this scene. This has gotta be the best scene that I've seen on the Netflix.
As someone who has struggled with depression the majority of their adult life, this episode hit so hard. The way Max deals with how others see her is heartbreaking but so real. The culmination of her experiences in this scene and her friends relentlessly trying to help her had me fighting tears and cheering for a character I hadn't really cared about. Amazing.
Every time I watch this scene, I start choking up and my eyes tear start to tear. It was so well done. Not only is it completely gripping when it comes to the character development of Max, but it also makes you reflect on your own situations/struggles and inspires you to keep going, ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough. So I guess this is a bit of a personal take, but several months ago I was in a place similar (a different kind of grief though), and I'm very grateful I fought hard to get though it. So seeing her go from a position where she'd "accept her fate", to where at the climax she finds the strength inside herself to fight though it... That still cuts deep for me. It perfectly displays how it feels when you're in that dark place within yourself, which is at least why I was so emotionally invested in this scene. It was an incredible work of art, but also one that really just spoke to me.
Best comments sadly arrive later, thanks for sharing this !
The scene is phenomenal , I imagine it will be continually rewatched for decades to come. Also the scene has given the song a new meaning and hope to people struggling with their mental health
Definitely the best scene in the entire show, they really outdid themselves. The whole thing was beautifully done, they blew the whole show out of the water with it. The contrast of upside down and that little view into the real world with the sun setting and all of her friends breaking down and screaming for her probably shook everyone who saw the scene. Choice of song only added to the emotion, can't argue with running up that hill, it really was a perfect scene.
It also seems like Lucas’s and her friends’ love for her is what inspires Max to live. The “moments” she “steals” are all her friends looking up to her, trusting her, seeing her great qualities, and more. I don’t think it’s an accident that the thing that pushes her the rip Vecna’s neck is not just Lucas, but Eleven’s high-five. Eleven is so powerful and can do so much despite a past of trauma. Even if Eleven’s recovery from her trauma isn’t finished, Max has seen her live and thrive, which lets her know she could do it, too. Even though Max doesn’t have special powers, Eleven recognized and appreciated Max’s unique strengths. She recognized Max as strong. So, in the moment, Max could see that she was loved and that people believed she could win this fight, including the strongest person she knows. Basically, Max believed in her friends’ belief in her, which led her back to them.
Another reason this scene is absolutely brilliant:
Watching it now, after the fact, it's easy to say "yes, I see, they discovered the secret that will save her, of course it's going to work, because you don't introduce that idea and NOT have it work."
But I'm 100% sure every single first time viewer absolutely felt like it could go either way; that Max could still very much die.
You're on the edge of your seat, physically and emotionally stressed watching her run. And when that scene goes black that tension heightens to the pinnacle.
Then they reveal she's safe and the viewer almost drowns in a mix of relief and joy.
It's brilliant direction, acting, editing, sound, music and visuals all coming together in a perfect storm to create a perfect scene.
I lost both parents and my brother, so that cemetery scene hit me differently. I try to never say I understand how people feel when dealing with loss because it’s so singular to everyone, but Max speaking to Billy at his grave resonated with me. I do the same. When she was able to escape Vecna’s grasp, it felt almost cathartic, as if she was choosing her friends, choosing her life, and maybe finding a modicum of closure. I absolutely love this scene, and you did an amazing analysis of it.
I have a slight theory about this. I was wondering how Max was able to dodge the falling debris and I think that the debris never hit her because her will to live was too strong. Like mind tug of war.
I like this
Makes perfect sense. I support this idea.
She just outran them it’s not that hard lol
@@Martin22788 🍅🍅🍅
i think its more because vecna is just using the falling debris to block her path instead of killing her with it, because in order to add to vecna's strength, he would need to kill her the same way he killed the others. but since max is resilient, she was able to push on and escape.
I get the feeling that Max might have actually gained Vecna's respect after successfully escaping from him. His whole deal was that he viewed people who hide themselves as weak, yet here he was proven dead wrong.
Yea there’s definitely a bit of that. I think he realizes that she wasn’t as weak and lost like his previous victims, so he kinda grunts “damn, guess I miscalculated a bit here”.
It could make a bit of sense as to why Vecna didnt just pull her back to him which he could have very easily done
I get goosebumps everytime I watch this scene. Sadie sink did such a fantastic job
This scene was the first time I ever almost cried from relief. I was so tense, completely expecting Max to die, and was preparing to be sad about it, and then the scene ended the way it did. Such a strong scene.
I've never felt a scene quite like this one. It was perfect and I am still blown away after seeing it many times. Running Up That Hill is on repeat and I can feel this scene again when I listen to it.
Psychotherapist nerding here: the Scene perfektly represents the 6 core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:
Contact with present moment: Escaping the illusion of Billy, seeing Vecna as he is
Acceptance: entering Vecnas Home and looking at it (accepting your emotions)
Defusion: not listening to Vecna anymore, ripping him apart (unmasking false thoughts and beliefs)
Self as Context: she is watching herself from "outside"
Values: Memories of her friends and what is truly important to her
Committed Action: RUNNING
Thoughts on this?
Pure nerd gold
Knock it off smart person
the most beautifully tense scene I've seen in TV in a long time, and the actress completely sells it. Beautiful scene, great season.
I agree with it being perfect. In a show where the main cast feels 100% safe from death, I thought for sure she was a goner 3 times! I wasn't a Max fan until this episode. Amazing writing and I'll definitely miss this show after the next season.
I heavily identify with Max, always wearing her headphones to “hide” from grief. That scene made me sob like a baby.
The editing here was the single greatest scene in the entire Stranger Things series, so full of emotional imagery with how the memories of her past flashed before her very eyes much in the same way they say your life as whole flashes before your eyes before you die, perfectly conveys the feeling "Don't give up, there is so much to live for" with the song playing and getting louder with the words "If I Only could, make a deal with God, and get him to swap our places, be running up that road, be running up that hill, no problems..." all while Max is running for her life to get to salvation, this is how real magic happens and the reason Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill hit song from 1985 has made it all the way up to the number 1 spot globally 37 years later and has made Kate Bush almost 2.5 million dollars and counting in just over a month, I've always loved this song, there is also a slower more haunting version of this song by Placebo that came out in 2010 for the movie Daybreakers that is featured in the movie trailer
Kate Bush fan with no interest in watching the show -what I don't understand is what made the kids choose the song to put in the walkman. Like did the song already have some significance to the character, or did they just want to put 'any' music into her ears?
@@audreymuzingo933 Yes several things it was her favorite song for sure she didn't know why, and she would play it all the time, but I think it has to do with her connection, or lack thereof with her stepbrother which by Season 4 is no more, he was a bully, treated her like crap but she wanted to understand him and if they could swap places she would finally have that understanding, this is all based on different opinions but I remember reading this over a year ago, it's a great series if you haven't seen it, massive budget, great acting and not kiddy at all, as the series progressed it went from a PG-13 to a firm R rated Supernatural Horror series for Seasons 3 and 4
@@javiermigoya Oh I was just wondering. I saw various clips and couldn't figure out why those boys chose it. Lucky for them it was already in the right spot; hunting for it could take forever without knowing whether to fast forward or rewind on a cassette tape, LOL.
This is one of the best scenes I have ever witnessed. The emotional relief I felt when max came back broke me, I sobbed.
I rewatched this scene several times, and I've also been watching so many channels react to this scene. I still get chills and tear up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Same here with watching others react to this episode and seeing that so many people react the same way. This scene hits home to so many for so many reasons
The Duffer Brothers put their FOOT into this scene.
The way she was “rejected” by the group in the early seasons, and then to see this scene. It’s simply amazing
Edit: thanks for the likes 💪🏼
Was Max rejected by the group or was she rejecting the group?
What show you watching Max the one who rejects the group big dawg like she’s doing again to start this season I don’t understand why that’s still a thing with her
@@ssotkow Mike didn’t let her do stuff with them
@@SaintsWorld24 bro, rewatch season 2 😉
@@ssotkow season II , they wouldn’t allow her to the meetings 😉
I re-watched this scene after my initial watch through just to see if it would have the same effect out of context from the rest of the episode. I teared up all the same watching it again, and again, and again. This scene is such a masterpiece that it has the nation in a chokehold. The fact that everyone was moved by the same moment to such an extent that we got a 40 year old song to #1 is incredible to me. It is beautiful when a community comes together.
Absolutely! This should be award-winning television for this scene alone. The sequence of Max running for that portal had me on the edge of my seat willing her on to make it every second of the way. Rewatching it after the reveal that he is 001 I was struck by Vecna's expression when he realised he had lost Max: that she had been saved by the one thing he couldn't understand - love.
TW suicide reference:
This was a major analogy to suicide. I nearly made an attempt at suicide and this scene was perfect in how it felt to get help and fight to live.
Glad you got help. I'm going threw similar stuff.
@@rhyswallace3590 I hope you get help too.
It really takes you to remember the positive things and keep pushing. I know it's cliche and I don't know what your life situation is, but it helps to know you aren't alone.
So glad you got through it. And @rhys definitely reach out to people, there’s always people willing to help
@@heavyspoilers & @BladeValant546 Thank you both very much.
@@BladeValant546 Thank you
You know a show is good when it takes you in this emotional roller-coaster. We were running with max, feared for her life and felt great relief when she came back. That was intense. Best moment of television I've experienced for
years. Stranger Things Season 4 can’t wait till the next 2 episodes!!!!!
“Dear Billy” may be the best episode of “Stranger Things” So much epic happened in it, and coming in the middle of the season it was unexpected, and packed a punch.
This scene hands down gave me the strongest emotions of the whole show. Asa person who has struggle with deppression and suicidal ideation Max's arc with Vecna really spoke to me and i had to pause my watch afterwords cause i got too emotional to move forward
It's cool that the memory which plays right before she breaks free is one with Eleven; Eleven, as we know, is the one who already fought Vecna and won. So...it's a cool clue of what will happen in the last episode.
As for the scene itself, what makes it works is how they built tension and how they built the depression/trauma metaphor.
They gave us two episodes to see and understands what happen with Vecna's victim. We saw this two times, so we know: he comes closer, hand over head, body levitating, dead. So...when he comes closer to Max, we know the next step; when he puts the hand over Max head, we know the next step... and this build a lot of tension. Besides that, the whole episode is a countdown and a farewell...so more tension. And besides all of that, we have three plots happening at the same time: the girls, the boys, and Max and Vecna...and they are all connected: if one goes wrong, the other two goes wrong. So...we have tension everywhere.
The depression/metaphor also unfolds similarly...with the two characters Vecna killed having depression/trauma issues. And Max giving farewell letters to everyone. It is something that almost everyone probably had felling once, the sadness and the wish to end the suffering, and the loneliness and stuff. So...when Max decides to fight, and Max remember the good stuff, and her friends are somewhat close ...close enough but still way distant, the whole thing comes together: our friends can help, but at the end, we will need to fight to live. When Lucas said "I thought we lost you" and she said "i'm still here", sadness/depression/suicide themes hit harder because hit not only the people who are alone and dealing with this stuff...but the people who are closer to people who are dealing with this stuff... and depression/suicide are scary for both sides.
And when these two levels of narrative tension and metaphor are merged together...puf...perfection.
Yup that and the fact that her and El are like Best Friends
@@Culley91 yes
No disrespect but how is that a hint? It’s pretty obvious…who else is gonna fight him? Lol
The two final flashbacks, the one with El and the kiss with Lucas at the dance, were perfectly placed. Those two memories are what woke her up to fight her way back. Max struggling to get out of that depression, running to get back to her friends. Ugh, so damn good. Sadie was amazing.
@@BaileyBlurbs it's a hint because that fight between El and Vecna already happened...but we, as audience, didn't know at this point...
Not only one of the most memorable scenes of Stranger Things but recent television as a whole. It ticked so many boxes and perfectly captures that visual and musical combo that hits viewers in the gut.
With my headphones on full tilt, this scene had me standing up screaming and yelling at my monitor for her to make it. I get immersed fairly easy by good cinema, but no scene ever has had me stood up shouting in front of a screen before. This scene ticked all the boxes and made some new ones. Good stuff!
I feel like this is a really good analogy for mental health, with how vecna targets individuals with regrets/mental health problems (why they all were students of the councellor) its cool to see how when she's about to die, its the care of her friends that save, a sort of metaphor for how being with people can save lives.
I agree absolutely but I also just had a question/curiousity. Am I the only one who has some inkling the counsellor is also somehow tied to all of it, like maybe connected to Vecna or the bunker where they kept the kids..or the asylum where the father was? Something odd about her and the fact max saw a clock at her place and looked at it. Maybe I am just crazy lol
One thing I loved about this scene was how the song added to the tension, the lyrics could have been hinting towards either a good or bad outcome for Max. As much as ive personally liked her and her character growth It could be argued shes kind of a disposable character that could have been used as a dramatic death story beat. if she didnt make it out it still could have worked as an emotional (albeit much darker) scene but regardless the fact that I was actually worried for her means they nailed everything about this perfectly.
I don't think this scene is the best in the series...
I think this EPISODE is the best in the series, with this amazing scene being one of the biggest highlights.
The emotions I felt watching her run towards that portal are indescribable. I was terrified for her, and I truly felt like she COULD die. Even having seen the trailer and knowing there was a shot of her sobbing with her friends afterwards, I was convinced that at any moment, she COULD die.
This scene is fucking masterful. I was crying and cheering for her to make it. Scared she wouldn't, but PRAYING she would.
No Front I was just commenting on that 🤣 much praise you beat me to the punch on that one 👏
Agreed. This is the best episode in the series.
Which one is better?
@@ssotkow tbh 🤣where to I Begin but like I was saying chapter 4 season 4 there their Billy is one of the best for me!!!!!
I think S4E7 Massacre at Hawkins is better
I have never watched a single moment of “Stranger Things” (until now) I have no idea who these characters are or what has happened or is happening in this show. I only came here for the song. That said; That is one of the best, most emotional, scenes I’ve ever watched! That was awesome! When you hear the story behind it, watch the emotion in her face, hear that amazing, amazing, song playing, and watch her run with all she has to freedom! How cool was that.
I was a bit late to season 4, and already knew there was gonna be a scene like this with Running Up That Hill playing and was already prepared to blow it off as cheesy or "just ayt". It became my favorite scene this season and one of my favorite in the whole show, it was just really powerfully done. Even teared up a bit. Great performance by Sadie and Vecna (forgot his actor's name), great choice of song, great atmosphere, and really thrilling overall. This was a good season.
EDIT: Reading a lot of stories drawing how the scene is a parallel to overcoming suicidal thoughts and depression and I guess that's why the scene has such a strong, strong effect on me and so many others. Shit is powerful and meaningful.
Paul, you nailed it. There's a reason why it's wrecking all the reacters that I've watched. It's really powerful and so well made. I was getting emotional just watching the scene again in your video lol. Stranger Things is firing on all cylinders this season.
Thank you 🙏
@@heavyspoilers Can i ask how do you know how much of a movie you can put in a video. Especially like this one with the music. It was more yhan a minute. How it not get you copyrighted. I wan your "secret" :P
@@heavyspoilers You're welcome man. I really enjoy your informative breakdowns and humor. Even when it's for a celebrity trial lol.
Vecna - and this scene in particular - is one of the most brilliant and natural allegories of Depression that I have ever seen on screen.
This seen is phenomenal. I was so moved by it on so many levels and was thrilled to see that it resonated with everyone else so powerfully. One thing I noticed in re-watching it is that in the flashbacks, Lucas's has such a joyful and beautiful demeanor in each of those scenes that it just adds to the emotion. The contrast between Lucas and Max physically shows up so powerfully on screen. His big smile against his dark complexion and her bright blue eyes and red hair just grab you. You can feel Lucas's presence just pulling her back. It's so beautiful simply on a visual level. I can't get this scene out of my head. Bravo!!!
Its an amazing scene, it shows she is loved by her friends, she's not alone and they acre for her, and the soundtrack just makes it...such a great use of emotion and soundtrack
The ability to utilize love of friends to overcome evil that utilizes pain and anger is the strongest counterpoint in this episode. Simply the most amazing scene that captures the entire vibe of this season. Eleven uses the vision of her mother to beat 001 not visions of pain or anger which would equalize them rather than give her the advantage
This season is the absolute best of the series thus far. Without a doubt
This scene was a masterclass in editing, directing, and sound editing. Gives me shivers still
I was on the edge of my seat cheering this whole scene. I have not had such a strong emotional reaction to a scene in a long time. This is one of my favorite moments in television ever.
This scene was amazing and swelling of emotion. Running Up That Hill to me represents Max's mindset as she wishes for things to be different, that she could of saved Billy. Max is a target of Vecna because of her trauma and feelings of guilt and depression. At her most vulnerable time, the song is able to bring Max back to reality as she realises she still has people there for her and that she isn't alone. The scene has a very beautiful meaning, and that song just represents it so well.
If that was the case then we would have seen Billy in the flash backs, more-so in the UK a girl would not refer to her brother as Baby or Darling as Kate does in the song, as stated in the video it's about Max and Lucas because the pair are not on the same page at the moment.
This scene was absolutely perfect and the best scene of the entire series. The imagery, the emotion, the music, the amazing performance by Sadie Sink. All of it was amazing. And to have this scene follow the scene at Billy’s grave. One can’t watch this episode and not have your eyes water. I still tear up watching it. Mark my words.. after this performance Sadie Sink will become a household name. She’s the new IT girl. Amazing talent.
It's the inclusion of all the little details that gets it for me. The subtle additions of her gasping for breathe as she runs really gives the sense of urgency and desperation. Awesome scene.
two things struck me in this scene. 1. I realized how much I card for max suddenly, like her death had me upset 2. When she is running out she can see her friends and it forms a heart in the shade. That's her friends love busting through in my mind and allows her to escape.
The music and editing for this scene were so overwhelmingly emotional. Truly masterful work.
oh, I was crying the whole time. Showing her flashbacks and the thought that it might all be lost crushed me. I still wasn't sure if she'd make it, or if Vecna was going to crush her/kill her. I was SO scared she wouldn't make it.
After watching this scene, I started rewinding and watching it over & over again. it was so moving.
The slow motion made it so much more of an experience, with you having time to relish all the details in the picture, along with that whirlpool of emotions slowly churning towards the reveal. I love it!
Have you tried the Stranger Things experience? It's pretty fun and immersive. They've got tons of merch too!
One of the greatest tv scenes I’ve ever seen. Everything leading up to it really makes you tied to the scene emotionally especially.
I often think of my life in snapshots like this as I. Going through some depression so seeing her use memories to empower her was absolutely heavy to me it actually made me cry and verbally cheer her on incredible scene tho
This scene is seriously one of the best scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Very well done. I would say it’s absolutely flawless. I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt this scene needed some sort of recognition! Thank you guys for creating awesome content!
So glad You highlighted this. I wept because it was so powerful. The flashbacks and the song and the triumph over Vecna was perfect.
100% agree with this. It has that emotion that many can feel when losing or dealing with trauma, you feel isolated and alone in it. And her friends are showing how much they love her and it pulls her out. Friendship is powerful.
This scene lives rent free in my brain
My girlfriend and I usually comment on things we think are cool (different unique shots and such) as they happen but we just sat in silence this entire scene. SO. GOOD.
I rewatched this scene over 15 times on a treadmill. Perfect scene my dude.
I completely agree. I was sobbing by the end of the scene! So emotionally powerful!
Yeah...I started when the flashbacks started
This is one of the most powerful, heartfelt, emotional, and incredible moment put on television. Sink deserves a Emmy nomination, She's on Brown level this season.
This scene was perfect and in my opinion reflects what anyone who has been through trauma and survived feels. Max was stuck in depression from trauma that happened to her, just as many abuse victims or children subjected to neglect from their parents or even sexual abuse survivors. She pushed away everyone she loved and loved her and handing out the letters was a perfect metaphor. She had so much to say but no way to convey that but through letter even though the people she cared for were there right in fromt of her.She subjected herself to the falsehood that ending it was easier than living(indeed it feels that way at times) but as Vecna just as the devil or our traumas tell us "we belong here" she closes her eyes and finds her reason to live. That her life was more than what happened to her but what was built through that suffering. To all of you who are suffering, life can be and is more. Find your reason to live happily, let go of the past.
Sadie Sink deserves every accolade she has received! I’ve watched this scene many times, and every time I’ve had the same reaction, tears in my eyes, and close to a guttural cry…
I think what made such a perfect scene was done by great setup from the start of the episode which they had Max being a loner from her friends and listening to her favorite song and dealing with the lost of her brother. We as viewers learn from other episodes this season how people who are dealing with personal issues they meet horrific demises these qualities. We learn at the last minutes that music is part of the key in escaping the horrific demise but also the will to live which is playout with flashbacks of Max's relationship with her friends and some of them are surrounding her while she's going through this horrific experience. The music chosen running up that hill is a very moving piece and it matches Max determination to escape this horrible moment and provide us viewers with an audio with visual that are both matching Max's and the viewers determination to get her free.
Everytime I see this scene I just feel that powerless feeling when you're in a complete low (mental health wise) you know? Thinking "this is it. This is the end, I can't fight anymore" and when you get that surge of "yes I can, I have people who need me and I need them" Ugh! This scene just puts those feelings I have into a visualization for me and it just hits everytime! Tears and chills and the courage to keep running up that hill! Great scene and it hold meaning to many people and it's just perfection ❤️
The emotion in this scene, including the buildup to it was so good. It had the feel of a scene where the episode built up to a "goodbye" then there is an emotional crescendo just as a main character dies.
I genuinely thought she was going to die as she ran. I was watching with my wife and as the image of her friends seemed to move farther away and the running slowed, I said "oh no, she's not going to make it..."
Absolute perfection. I will never ever forget watching this moment.
Perfect buildup, perfect emotion, perfect song choice... just perfect.