Stranger Things S5 Vol. 1 Review: The Show’s Massive Scope Diminishes A Strong Start To The Season

by

I was really looking forward to seeing what happens in Stranger Things season 5, Volume 1, especially after waiting over three years since the last season ended! I had so many questions – like, will Eleven be able to beat Vecna again? Will Max recover? And can Will finally find some happiness? Luckily, the first four episodes of Volume 1 didn’t leave me wondering for long, and they answered a lot of my biggest questions.

Okay, so season 5 picks up about a year and a half after everything went down in season 4. Hawkins is basically under lockdown, with the military all over the place, because of that massive ‘earthquake’ – which, of course, we know was really Vecna causing trouble. We haven’t seen Vecna since he got blasted out that window, but everyone’s still on edge, preparing for his next attack. Hopper and Joyce are focused on helping Eleven get her powers back on track, while the rest of us – Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Robin – are all trying to figure out how to find him. It’s tough, though, because Max is still in a coma, and seeing her just reminds us of everything that’s at stake.

Returning to the world of Stranger Things is thrilling, but the first four episodes of the final season take some big risks with the story. These choices could significantly impact how the entire series is remembered. While the twists will likely spark varied reactions, a recurring issue with the characters is actually what’s holding the story back. With only four episodes remaining – the first three arriving on Christmas, and the finale on New Year’s Eve – there isn’t much time left to recapture the magic that made us love the Hawkins crew back in 2016.

The Duffer Brothers’ Final Season Hits The Ground Running

After a three-year wait, the creators of Stranger Things could have stumbled with a sluggish start to the final season. Luckily, Volume 1 avoids that pitfall. The characters are as eager and worried as the audience, hoping for a great ending. While getting ready for another battle with Vecna, the heroes from Hawkins have also been actively searching for him, planning an attack of their own.

Season 5 of Stranger Things jumps right into the action. Things have been tough for the characters, but they’re still sticking together as Hawkins continues to be a dangerous place. Since the events of the “earthquake,” they’re facing new difficulties, including avoiding the military – it feels like they’re living in a Red Dawn situation. This forces them to come up with even more clever and secret plans.

As the show begins its fifth and final season, the actors’ ages will likely be a topic of discussion. However, the cast’s maturity actually enhances the storytelling. For example, Eleven now seems more self-assured and open, while still being curious. We also see a touching moment where Mike acts as an older brother to Holly, who plays a key role in the most moving part of the first volume.

Volume 1 Runs Into A Familiar Stranger Things Problem

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

From the very beginning of Stranger Things, things rarely go according to plan when facing the Upside Down and its creatures. In the first part of season 5, the show splits the characters into smaller groups as Vecna’s plan begins to unravel. While this approach has led to some fantastic pairings – like Dustin and Steve, or Joyce and Hopper, and Nancy and Jonathan – it’s also created problems for the overall story in the past.

The large cast of Stranger Things season 5 highlights both the show’s strengths and weaknesses. After following these characters for so long, we’ve naturally become attached to them. While we care about some more than others, having so many main characters makes it hard to tell a focused story. This has become a bigger issue with Stranger Things, especially in season 4, when the characters were spread across different locations like Indiana, California, and Russia.

The fifth season continues to focus on the town of Hawkins. But this time, the characters spend most of the first part of the season separated into smaller groups. While dividing the group isn’t usually an issue, Stranger Things has grown so complex with its expanded story and background details that these separate storylines make the show feel overly complicated.

Despite having lengthy episodes, exciting scenes can sometimes be put on hold for up to half an hour as the story jumps between different groups of characters. Season 5 faces the challenge of balancing screen time for all the remaining characters while also resolving unresolved plot points, and with only a few episodes left, this will become even harder.

Volume 1 Takes Big Swings That Will Divide Stranger Things’ Audience

Season 5, Volume 1 of Stranger Things is incredibly ambitious. While the story gets quite complex with everything happening in Hawkins, the Upside Down, and inside Vecna’s mind, the first four episodes take some bold risks with the characters. These choices could potentially divide viewers as the show heads towards its conclusion.

The final season of Stranger Things isn’t a failure; the first four episodes actually have some really strong moments. However, because the show has taken so long to release new seasons—almost a decade to tell this story—some plot twists don’t feel as powerful as they could have. While the years-long love triangle between Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve might be realistic, it’s fair to question whether we still need that storyline after all this time.

Beyond the love stories, the final season of Stranger Things has some big surprises in store – surprises that fans might anticipate, or even criticize, given past reactions to the show. The fanbase has spent years analyzing every detail and coming up with theories, so some of the twists in season 5 might not feel entirely unexpected.

I appreciate the Duffer Brothers for being bold and trying new things with Stranger Things as the show approaches its conclusion. It’s certainly never been dull, even if some of their choices haven’t pleased everyone. There’s still a chance for the series to finish strong.

The first part of Stranger Things season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. The second part will be released on December 25th, and the final episode of the series will be available on December 31st.

Read More

2025-11-27 04:11