Stranger Things Season 4 lived up to its massive hype, easily becoming one of the best shows this summer. A MASSIVE reason for its success was Sadie Sink and her Emmy-deserving performance as Max Mayfield.
I recently did a 5 Greatest Stranger Things Character list (which you can see here), where I included Max as the 5th greatest character. However, Sadie Sink’s performance this season definitely places her into the Top-3 now.
That’s how good Sadie’s acting was.
No character had as good a character arc as Max Mayfield in Season 4. Still dealing with the tragic death of her brother in the Season 3 finale, Mayfield’s struggle with depression, anger, grief, and guilt over Billy’s death was so realistic and honest that I sometimes forgot she was a fictional character.
The way Max dealt with her traumas by shutting out the world, especially her friends, and disregarding any and all of her school responsibilities was very realistic. Thousands of kids, many of whom probably watch the show, have dealt with the exact same feelings Max displayed, and have coped with them in similar manner.
Yet, what was more emotionally moving was Max’s ability to overcome her depression, guilt, and grief by standing up to Vecna (the symbol of her trauma), despite the risks he posed.
I’m almost positive that the Duffer Brothers intended to use Vecna as a symbol of tragedy and guilt and had him be as scary as possible to accurately portray him as the physical form of guilt/depression/anxiety.
Max’s triumph over Vecna’s mind games should give those kids who have dealt with likewise traumas hope that they can recover and see the world in a better light once again.
Nevertheless, none of what I have just said would have been possible if it was not for Sadie Sink. She was brilliant, especially her scenes with Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair). You could really feel her characters sadness, grief, guilt, hopefulness, and bravery in every scene Sadie was in.
And, of course, her final scene was the “magnum opus” of her work in Season 4. She delivered the undisputed most emotional moment in all of Stranger Things (a show filled with emotional moments), and she did it in a believable way.
Max dying in Lucas arms, crying and shaking with fear as her short life slowly slips away was not something fans of the show will ever forget.
(Netflix-Stranger Things-Max Mayfield)
Sadie Sink displayed the dual nature of Max Mayfield masterfully. Max Mayfield: a brave and fearless heroine, unfazed by fear and impossible odds, who is also a scared and lonely teenage girl battling against an otherworldly evil force. (What a character!)
Not many actresses (or actors) can pull off such a performance with such a complicated character. But Sadie Sink did.
That is why she deserves an Emmy nomination at the very least for Max Mayfield (though I’m rooting for her to win).
Images Source: Featured Image: (Netflix) (Sadie Sink on Max Mayfield’s Journey | Stranger Things | Netflix – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (Netflix) (Sadie Sink on Max Mayfield’s Journey | Stranger Things | Netflix – YouTube)
