The Princess Bride
Stranger Thingsnever used rage icon , Cary Elwes , to his full electric potential , and the timing is now everlasting for the show to kill off his under - utilized corrupt city manager character . immix sci - fi , repugnance , and coming of age tropes in a nostalgic mash - up that should n’t work but succeeds , Netflix ’s mega - hitStranger Thingshas proven to be a runaway success for the streaming service ever since its entry in mid-2016 .
Stranger Thingsis presently filming its fourth season despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic altering its shot schedule , and much of the show ’s telling cast are returning for this approaching outing . However , despite the serial publication ground an impressive reputation for using famed look in unexpected and cunning ways , such asPaul Reiser ’s minor role in season 2 , there is one supporting star whoStranger Things4 should kill off for the show ’s welfare .
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Although Cary Elwes was a upstanding addition to the shape ofStranger Thingsseason 3 , the rage thespian was give little to do with his fictional character . ThePrincess Bridestar was as charming as ever in his abbreviated office , but unlike fellow 80s icon Sean Astin in time of year 2 , he served little plot of land purpose and his lineament was scantily fleshed out in his short screen time . Like 2019 ’s critically reviledBlack Christmasremake , Stranger Thingsseason 3 wasted Elwes ’ considerable gift on a forgettable scoundrel , and as such , there are several reasons that the Netflix show needs to retire this minor fibre in season 4 . It ’s possible thatStranger Things4could plough Elwes ’ city manager into a pivotal histrion , but the betting odds are n’t looking great for Hawkins ’ corrupt politico and an early exit seems likely to be the best itinerary his character could take going onward .
The Mayor Never Served A Purpose
As the previously - unseen mayor of Hawkins , Elwes inhabit a thankless villain role with the zeal viewers have come to expect from the projection screen veteran , butStranger Thingsnever made much usance of the character . surely , he lease the land that the Starcourt Mall ( and its secret ulterior Soviet lab ) was built on to Starcourt Industries . But outside of this minor plot gadget ( which is scarce relevant to the season ’s overarching plot ) , the show never made much role of the famously charismaticSawstar , and his role mostly consisted of being beaten up byHopper , Joyce , and a Soviet assassin whenever he would appear onscreen . There are some solid sleazy authority villains dotted throughoutStranger Things ’ 3 time of year ( the profoundly creepy Dr. Brenner being a memorably nasty one ) , but Elwes ’ character was too mean - spirited to play as an efficient comic relief and too powerless to be a significant menace , stranding him in a distinctly pointless narrative quag .
His Real-Life Counterpart Is Irrelevant
Ever the pragmatist , Elwes claimed during an interview promotingStranger Thingsseason 3 that no specific real - biography politician was being spoof by the Russian - indebted , sordid land - dealing , bombastically patriotic , and not - so - on the Q.T. corrupt Hawkins city manager . Without belabour the point , it is reasonably obvious that from his floppy light-haired toupe to his snide , bullying attitude , Stranger Thingswas taking a shooting at then - US president Donald Trump . It was a timely ( if toothless ) satirical swipe in mid-2019 , but now that Trump ’s much - vaunted Russia connectedness were far from the bombshell observer look , the jest is less cagey and more outdated . Not only that but by the time season 4 is released , the US Chief Executive will be Joe Biden and as such Trump will likely be largely irrelevant , soStranger Thingsno longer has much use for a burlesque that the show hardly apply in the first place .
The Russians Aren’t Threatening Villains
Although their presence is a cunning nod to 80s Cold War paranoia , theRussian science laboratory operators ofStranger Thingsseason 3are easily the least interesting and least threatening scoundrel that the show has ever offered viewers . Despite being the subaltern opponent of time of year 3 and boasting a T-1000 enliven assassin among their ranks , the Russians ofStranger Thingshave pour down very few characters onscreen , most notably the lovable Alexei — and even he was a defector from their routine , meaning they have barely been a threat to the primary mould . They ’re not effective villain , particularly when Steve , Dustin , Erica , and Robin could outsmart them while unarmed , and Hopper killed scores of them without breaking a sweat while get into their ( not too difficult to bring out ) underground lair . As such , offing the mayor could establish the Russian detail as a real threat inStranger Thingsseason 4(where they ’ll unavoidably need to be major player despite their obvious fault since the very much alive Hopper is still stuck run aground in Siberia ) .
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Why The Mayor Should (Maybe) Survive
Of naturally , there is an contention to be made for keeping Elwes ’ mayor around . For one affair , Stranger Thingshas already kill off one 80s ikon in grievous style ( RIP Sean Astin ’s short - endure Bob Newby ) , and actors of Elwes ’ caliber are n’t easy to come by . For another , Stranger Thingshas kept fellow 80 icons Paul Reiser and Matthew Modine on their “ not technically drained ” back burner for some time now , and Elwes would be an impressive increase to their growing stable of graphic symbol actor who are always usable to drop in and extend a spot of exposition or some character hamminess . Modine and Reiser are yet to reappear in the serial , and with plenty ofpotential seasons ofStranger Thingsleft to come , the show could benefit from continuing to expand its repertoire of supporting stars .
The most compelling reason to keep Elwes around , though , is illustrated by the performances of his youthful co - stars Joe Keery and Dacre Montgomery . Both originally hired to play one - preeminence bullies and pocket-sized villains in their various seasons ofStranger Things , Spreestar Keery andBetter Watch Outscene - stealer Montgomery each avoided being killed off quick thanks to the complexness and strength of their several carrying into action . Keery ’s Steve has extend on to become one ofStranger Things ’ most enduringly popular characters and is now a unfluctuating lover front-runner ( one whosecharacter phylogeny Hopper could watch from ) , while Montogomery ’s performance elevated the otherwise - odd season 3 with his layered , imply portrayal of Billy , the show ’s best scoundrel so far . Instead of killing off Elwes after a time of year in which he was just used , Stranger Thingscould potentially pull off the same trick that the series managed with Billy and Steve , flesh out the one - note villain into a more complex and interesting antagonist and maybe even redeeming him in come seasons . It ’s a much better utilization of Elwes ’ talents , but after the part ’s disappointing first appearance , it seems unlikely that the show could pull off this translation . Still , unknown things have happened .
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