Who is Dr. Owens in Stranger Things?

At long last, Stranger Things has returned for its highly-anticipated fourth season and we finally have answers to some of our biggest questions. But of course, with a new season comes more mysteries we’ll be thinking about until we get more episodes.

Season 4 is split into two parts, with Volume 1 premiering on May 27 and Volume 2 releasing on July 1. Though it had been nearly three years since we got a new season of the sci-fi series, it’s worth the wait!

Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 4 volume 1.

Volume 1 sees the return of some of our favorite characters, including Jim Hopper (David Harbour), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), and more, along with a few new faces fans are bound to fall in love with. We also get reacquainted with a couple of characters you might’ve forgotten about, like Dr. Sam Owens (Paul Reiser).

Owens has a bigger role in Stranger Things season 4 than he did in season 3, as he’s back to find Eleven and help her get her powers back so she can save Hawkins yet again.

The third episode of the new season, “The Monster and the Superhero,” opens up in Ruth, Nevada as Dr. Owens is ambushed by the U.S. Army. New character Lt. Colonel Sullivan (Sherman Augustus) explains what’s going on in Hawkins, showing Owens photos of Chrissy’s (Grace Van Dien) dead body and suggesting that Eleven is to blame. It seems the Army believes Eleven is using “remote assassination” to commit murders. But of course, we know it’s Vecna’s doing.

Who is Sam Owens in Stranger Things?

If you started watching this episode and couldn’t place Dr. Owens, we don’t blame you! So much has happened since he was a central character back in season 2. To give you a refresher, we got to meet Owens in season 2 when he was working at Hawkins Lab. Joyce arranged an appointment with him for Will (Noah Schnapp) after seeing some of the creepy drawings he was creating. This was after Will made it out of the Upside Down at the end of season 1, so of course Joyce was very concerned.

Owens continued to help the Byers throughout season 2 and at the end even gave Hopper a birth certificate for Eleven, giving her the official name of Jane Hopper. That’s the reason she goes by that name to the public in seasons 3 and 4.

As we learn in season 4, Owens helped the Byers relocate to Lenora Hills, California in order to be far away from the threats in Hawkins. But of course, that isn’t exactly successful. The Army is looking for Eleven and even though Owens says she’s dead, they don’t believe it.

In Stranger Things season 4 volume 1, Owens assists Eleven alongside a very-much-alive Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) in trying to regain her powers. He seems to be a lot more empathetic towards El, and we’re happy she has him by her side. Hopefully he will continue to keep her safe come the final two episodes of season 4.

You can stream all seven episodes of Stranger Things season 4 volume 1 on Netflix right now!

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