All Of Max's Memories In Stranger Things 4 Finale Explained
In the Stranger Things season 4 finale "The Piggyback," each of Max's memories has a distinct purpose and has its own meaning. Due to her anguish from her brother's death in season 3, Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) becomes one of Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) main targets. In Stranger Things season 4, episode 4, "Dear Billy," Vecna becomes even more vicious in his pursuit of Max when the boy manages to escape his grasp. Likewise, when Max has a better understanding of Vecna's murderous techniques, she develops her own strategies for self-defense.
Letter to Billy
Although the conclusion doesn't provide this experience a visual flashback, Max tempts Vecna to her by remembering her visit to Billy's grave. There are subtextual levels to Max's monologue, even though it appears to be a simple confession about how Vecna's remarks affected her in that scene during the finale. Here, Max shares some of her actual emotions—which she has never been comfortable sharing—and tricks Vecna into coming to her.
Young Max Skateboarding
In the Stranger Things episode "The Piggyback," Eleven spots a young Max skating in Los Angeles. In the recollection, young Max is challenged by a teenager who is making fun of her for skating, and she responds, "Shouldn't you bag your data-face?," while flashing her trademark middle finger. The recollection itself doesn't add much to Max's character development because it merely confirms what is already known about her. Max has tomboyish hobbies, she has always experienced hardship, and she utilises dismissiveness and sass as emotional coping techniques.
The Snowball
Outside of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," Max's happiest memory, the Snow Ball from the Stranger Things season 2 finale where she and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) share their first kiss, serves as her main line of defence. Max states in Stranger Things season 4, episode 8, "Papa," that Vecna can only use her "darkest memories" against her and can't use her happy memories as a weapon. She therefore intends to lure Vecna into the Snow Ball memory and then flee from him there.
Eleven's flashback meeting Max
Letter to Billy
Although the conclusion doesn't provide this experience a visual flashback, Max tempts Vecna to her by remembering her visit to Billy's grave. There are subtextual levels to Max's monologue, even though it appears to be a simple confession about how Vecna's remarks affected her in that scene during the finale. Here, Max shares some of her actual emotions—which she has never been comfortable sharing—and tricks Vecna into coming to her.
Young Max Skateboarding
In the Stranger Things episode "The Piggyback," Eleven spots a young Max skating in Los Angeles. In the recollection, young Max is challenged by a teenager who is making fun of her for skating, and she responds, "Shouldn't you bag your data-face?," while flashing her trademark middle finger. The recollection itself doesn't add much to Max's character development because it merely confirms what is already known about her. Max has tomboyish hobbies, she has always experienced hardship, and she utilises dismissiveness and sass as emotional coping techniques.
The Snowball
Outside of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," Max's happiest memory, the Snow Ball from the Stranger Things season 2 finale where she and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) share their first kiss, serves as her main line of defence. Max states in Stranger Things season 4, episode 8, "Papa," that Vecna can only use her "darkest memories" against her and can't use her happy memories as a weapon. She therefore intends to lure Vecna into the Snow Ball memory and then flee from him there.
Eleven's flashback meeting Max