Stranger Things 4 Missed The Perfect Die Hard Homage It Had Set Up

Although Stranger Things season 4 set up an ideal Die Hard homage, the Netflix hit managed to just about miss the perfect reference. Stranger Things season 4 is as full of nostalgic 80s references as ever before. However, the Netflix series managed to miss a perfect homage that the series seemingly set up early on in Stranger Things season 4.

While new villain Vecna was the show’s most obvious nod to an iconic 80s franchise, due to his resemblance to the Nightmare On Elm Street franchise’s Freddy Krueger, there was another new character who owed his inspiration to a similarly famous '80s hit. Jonathan’s pizza-delivering friend Argyle seemed like an obvious Die Hard reference, particularly given his function in the show’s plot. However, Stranger Things fumbled the perfect chance to acknowledge this creative borrow.

In Stranger Things season 4, Argyle is a lovable laidback comic relief character whose function in the plot is to crack wise, deflate tension, and provide a means of transport for the main characters. If that all sounds very familiar, it is because Argyle is a blatant nod to the character of the same  name in 1988’s original Die Hard. However, Stranger Things season 4 missed the most obvious opportunity to acknowledge this by introducing Argyle picking up Mike from the airport (thus recreating Argyle’s Die Hard introduction, wherein he is first seen picking up John McClane from the airport). Frustratingly, Argyle does pick up Mike from the airport in season 4’s second episode, but only after he’s been under-utilized in a few scenes of the opening episode.

It is a bizarre oversight, particularly when the character seems to be so closely modeled on Die Hard’s Argyle. Later in the series, the comic relief character arrives at a pivotal point to help the heroes out of a tight spot, much like Argyle does in the ending of the iconic action movie. Not only that, but Argyle acts as a sounding board for Jonathan and Nancy’s relationship woes, much like Argyle of Die Hard fame offered McClane a chance to explain his tricky issues with his ex-wife.

With all these similarities in mind, it seems to go without saying that Argyle should have been introduced in much the same way that Die Hard’s Argyle was. However, Stranger Things season 4 instead first showed the character in the season premiere (even though he barely appeared throughout the episode). While the character still gets a lot of chances to become one of season 4’s most memorable new cast members, it remains a shame that Stranger Things season 4 missed its own clever setup when it came to Argyle’s introduction. While the Netflix hit occasionally over-relies on 80s nostalgia, Stranger Things season 4 could have easily justified a nod to one of the decade’s most beloved movies in this instance. However, instead, the perfect Die Hard nod became a missed opportunity for Stranger Things season 4.