This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1
The first part of Stranger Things Season 4 premiered via Netflix May 27 with seven episodes. These episodes see the return of an older character Sam Owens – which many diehard fans will recognize from the previous seasons. However, due to his brief role and long periods of absence, it may be challenging to recall his relevance. Proceed with caution as this article contains Stranger Things spoilers.
Returning to the Duffer Brothers series are regulars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schapp, and David Harbour; as well as the return of the all-too-familiar recurring characters Matthew Modine (as Dr. Martin Brenner), Priah Ferguson (as Erica Sinclair), Gabriella Pizzolo (as Suzie), and Paul Reiser as Sam Owens. Here is a crash course on Owens and his role in Season 4.
Who Is Sam Owens?
Dr. Sam Owens is first introduced in Stranger Things Season 2 as Will Byers' (Noah Schnapp) doctor. Often referred to by his last name, Owens plays an important role in the season with Will's mom Joyce bringing her son into the lab repeatedly given the events of the previous season, the foreboding anniversary of his disappearance, and his unpredictable behavior.
Despite being well-informed about the Upside Down, the doctor dismisses her concerns and chalks it up to typical adolescent behavior and PTSD from past events. It is later revealed that the young boy is connected to the Mind Flayer - a shadow monster and the ruler of the Upside Down. Through the following events, Owens is portrayed as an ally and helps the core cast defeat the evil beings. At the end of Season 2, he helps Jim Hopper (David Harbour) obtain adoption records for Eleven, sparking the father-daughter relationship beloved by fans.
His role in the following season is much more minor. The character carries a lot of weight in the community as a pivotal figure for Hawkins Laboratory and the US Department of Energy. Season 3 saw its finale battle take place at the Starcourt Mall and required sacrifices by multiple characters. The doctor and his army arrived too late, and did not provide much help to defeat the main antagonist, the Mind Flayer. Instead, his role was to cover up the events from the community. Through doctored images and narratives, he tells the community that the mall burned down in an accidental fire. Unfortunately, the character's arc takes a twist in the new season and his loyalty to the show's ensemble crew is questioned.
What Is His Role In Season 4?
The latest season of Stranger Things amps up the drama and places its core character in brand-new situations - many of which lead them to question their own moral compasses. This is seen more severely through the character Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). After suffering at the hands of the school bully Angela (Elodie Grace-Orkin) and her sycophants, she fights back, but the combination of her wits and strength do not heed good results. After assaulting the queen bee, Eleven is taken into police custody and begins to be transported to a juvenile detention center.
Owens intervenes during the transporting and flashes his authoritative badge to get custody of the superpowered teen. He then explains to Eleven that her friends in Hawkins are in danger, and she must strengthen her skills to save them, and the town of Hawkins. Given his reliable record, she trusts him and allows him to guide her to a secret location, but upon her entrance, she is sedated and the evil Dr. Martin Brenner steps out.
This leads to a series of intense testing and emotional manipulation being inflicted on the young girl, reminiscent of her early days in the laboratory. Throughout it all, Owens is shown worrying and defending Eleven - despite his newfound alliance with Brenner. It is not specific whether he has fully entered his villain era, or if he was tricked into believing that Brenner has good intentions. Given the cliffhanger finale of Season 4 Part 1, he is expected to continue playing a major role in Season 4 Part 2.
Stranger Things Season 4 Vol. 1 is now streaming on Netflix.