Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2.
Angela (Elodie Grace Orkin) is one of the worst characters Stranger Things has ever produced, but it is unlikely she will return for season 5. Breaking Stranger Things‘ unofficial bully rules, Angela essentially turns a whole school against a lonely Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Despite being a major part of the early episodes of season 4, it seems unlikely that this bully is getting any kind of comeuppance, nuance, or closure in season 5.
At the beginning of Stranger Things season 4, Eleven has moved to California with Joyce, Jonathan, and Will Byers following the apparent death of Jim Hopper at the end of season 3. Going by Jane Hopper, Eleven is mercilessly bullied, both emotionally and physically, by Angela and her gang. After Mike Wheeler comes to visit El, Angela humiliates her in front of him and a whole roller rink, causing Eleven to snap and assault her with a roller skate. The last time Angela is seen, she is mopping up her bloody nose, while Eleven is put back in the care of Doctor Sam Owens and Martin Brenner.
Eleven and Angela need some kind of closure, as she was tortured by her for months, leading her to lash out due to the memories of 001/Vecna’s attack on the Hawkins Lab. While some may find Eleven’s violent outburst cathartic, it’s meant to be a shocking moment that shows how far she has been pushed. It is a shame that despite the finale of Stranger Things season 4 bringing characters like Jim Hopper, Eleven, and Dustin Henderson back together, there is no closure or comeuppance for Angela. Eleven’s character arc could benefit from a moment where Angela apologizes to her, and Eleven acknowledges that not all of her foes need to be physically defeated in the way Vecna does.
Why Angela Likely Won’t Return In Stranger Things 5 (Despite Needing To)
Angela is unlikely to sour the screens of Stranger Things viewers in the upcoming season 5. The season has been confirmed to be Hawkins-focused by the Duffer Brothers, so California-based Angela who has no idea about the Upside Down, the Hawkins Lab, or Eleven’s powers is very unlikely to return. While she may seem a minor character, it is a mistake not to have her and Eleven reach some form of closure to give Angela more depth. At present, her character’s conclusion in the show feels rushed and stereotypical, and at odds with how Stranger Things has given depth to prior bully characters like Steve Harrington and Billy Hargrove.
Bullies have historically been punished in Stranger Things. Troy Walsh and James Dante are humiliated by Eleven in season 1, Billy is murdered by the Mind Flayer in season 3, and both Doctor Brenner and Lucas Sinclair’s season 4 bully, Jason Carver, are eventually killed in season 4, volume 2. It is, therefore, a little surprising that Angela does not even appear after Stranger Things season 4, episode 3 for some kind of comeuppance. Despite being in California, Eleven is able to interact with people across vast distances using her powers, and to not even see a vision of Angela conjured by Vecna is a shame. Angela is one of the worst characters in Stranger Things history, but as the Duffer Brothers gear up for the final battle against the Mind Flayer and Vecna in season 5, there is probably no place for her in the show anymore.
Stranger Things season 4 is available to watch on Netflix.
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