‘Stranger Things‘ season four premiered on Netflix in two parts – the first volume on May 27, 2022, and the final two episodes on July 1, 2022. The season follows different storylines across locations and copes with the aftermath of the Battle of Starcourt. New characters are introduced like Jason Carver, the captain of the Hawkins football team, and Eddie Munson, the ringleader of the Hellfire club.
The first volume deals with the aftermath of Billy’s death and a string of mysterious murders, that are likely committed by Vecna, an inhuman powerful creature from the Upside Down. Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower is the antagonist of season four who goes by the human name of Henry Creel. Henry discovered that he had psychokinetic abilities and can alter others’ perceptions. He uses his psychic abilities to torture his family, eventually killing his mother and sister. Later when Vecna resurfaced, his first victim was Chrissy Cunningham.
Read more: Stranger Things 4: The Trajectory And Dark History Of Vecna, The New Foe In Indiana Town
‘Stranger Things’: Who Was Chrisy Cunningham?
Head cheer girl of Hawkins High School, girlfriend of Jason Carver, Chrissy Cunningham (Grace Van Dien) was the stereotypical popular high school student. She first appeared in the first episode of season four, ‘The Hellfire Club’. Chrissy shared a strained relationship with her mother, Laura Cunningham. Things were perfect only on the surface for her, eventually, Chrissy began to suffer from an eating disorder due to her mother and couldn’t handle the pressure from the cheerleading squad. Things later began to get worse in her senior year, when she started seeing the high school counselor, Ms. Kelly.
Chrissy was indeed a strong and secretive girl, she hid her inner struggles from her boyfriend and from her friends as well. She was kind to others. Though labeled as the popular girl, her personality was completely opposite of it.
Read also: Where Was ‘Stranger Things’ Filmed? Is Hawkins A Real Place?
When And How Did Chrissy Die?
In 1986, ‘The Hellfire Club‘, Chrissy’s condition worsened when she started hallucinating and hearing the gore voices of her mother. She encountered this episode first in the school’s bathroom. Later she met with Eddie Munson to purchase drugs, and that’s when she heard a clock strike. That was her second encounter. The same night Chrissy went over to Eddie’s trailer for marijuana. She was transported to a larger house with her mother, whose voice changed into a deep groan. Running away from her in the trance she faced, Vecna told its time for all her sufferings to end.
Meanwhile, Eddie was frightened to see Chrissy in this state and tried everything to bring her out of the trance. He remained unsuccessful when Chrissy’s body slammed to the ceiling back first. Then, her limbs twisted and snap, and then her jaw, and lastly, her eyes were gauged out.
Only the Duffer brothers can portray a graphically disturbing scene. But Chrissy’s death was crucial for the storyline to develop and move forward. Since she was Vecna’s first victim, it gave us an insight into how this creature hunts, tortures, and kills them. This made her death less tragic.
