After a long, three-year wait, season five of Stranger Things finally came out on Nov. 26! This popular Netflix show (created and directed by the Duffer Brothers since 2016) released Volume One of the new season the day before Thanksgiving at 8 p.m., delighting the devoted fanbase with four new episodes. This is my review with the least amount of spoilers that I could fit in (but still a lot), and just a warning – if you haven’t already seen the other seasons before, I would recommend this TV-14 show to those who are comfortable with intense and gory scenes.
In this season, the entire town of Hawkins is placed under a militarily-enforced quarantine. The catastrophic opening of the “Rifts” from the previous season unleashed dangerous supernatural threats that the U.S. government is trying to contain. They are oblivious to the real threat that is Vecna, the villain previously known as Henry Creel/One, who Eleven and her friends are much more familiar with. Often the two groups are seen working against each other despite sharing the same common goal: to protect people and to stop the spread of the rips between their world and the Upside Down.
One of Volume One’s greatest strengths that I noticed was its renewed focus on character. While past seasons leaned heavily on supernatural spectacle, this time the emotional journeys felt just as central as the monsters. Will Byers, in particular, emerges as a standout character. After years of being defined by trauma, he finally takes a more active role in the story, and fans have praised this as one of the most satisfying developments of the season. Max, Eleven and Hopper also grapple with deeper emotional layers as they balance vulnerability and determination in ways that make the season’s darker moments hit even harder. This is especially clear in the last episode when Hopper is willing to sacrifice himself for Eleven if it meant that he could potentially take out Vecna with himself.
The production quality remains top-tier. The visual effects are cinematic, with the Upside Down looking more surreal and menacing than ever. The soundtrack, resurrecting older hits like “Running Up That Hill” from the previous season, continues to shine as it mixes moody synths with recognizable classics that perfectly complement the emotional beats.
Regarding the rest of the final season, Volume Two is set to come out on Christmas while Volume Three is scheduled for New Years’ Eve. After that major cliffhanger, many fans’ speculations about the plot have already begun floating around on major social media platforms. Nevertheless, we can be sure that whatever the Duffer Brothers have in store is sure to make the finale a memorable one.
