On November 26th, 2025, the first installment of Stranger Things’ three-part Season 5 was released. This season was highly anticipated after the cliffhanger we were left with in the last episode of Season 4, where the town of Hawkins was hit by an earthquake following Vecna’s claim of all his victims. That being said, this review of the first four episodes we get of Season 5 (the next ones are scheduled to release on December 25th and December 31st) will contain some spoilers. 

In the first episode of Season 5, we are presented with a great deal of information and various storylines among groups of characters, similar to previous seasons, where a lot happens at once to culminate in a final result. Some major points are Holly’s shift from a supporting character to a main one, Will’s continued connection to the hive mind of Vecna and the Upside Down’s monsters, and the military’s control of Hawkins after Vecna’s attack. Holly’s shift to a main character is a great foreshadowing of the future events of the next episodes, and sets up the plot of her as Vecna’s next victim. It also allows for the character development of Mike as he shares a heart-to-heart with her. Will’s connection to the hive mind is also an addition that contributes to the mystery of what is truly happening in Hawkins and what Vecna is planning to do next. Also, it was surprising to see the control the military has exerted over Hawkins after the devastating earthquake caused by Vecna, as they have installed surveillance all around and even in the Upside Down. These decisions play a vital role in keeping the audience engaged while also helping to build the town of Hawkins and the Upside Down in a more substantial manner than the previous seasons.

In the second episode, we continue with Holly being chased by a Demogorgon in her room and El going into the Upside Down to track her. The scene of Holly in her room was very well done, and her acting accentuated the fear and tension in the scene. She was very expressive, and her fear was clear to see in her quavering voice, her confusion, and, eventually, her frantic screams as well as running as the Demogorgon chased her. The later scenes with Holly and her mom, Karen, were also very intense, displaying the utter fear on Holly and the bravery and love Karen has for her. The intensity in every episode so far is one of the reasons why Stranger Things is so popular, as it keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing what is going to happen next. The special effects of the destruction, the Demogorgon, and the blood are really well done, and it looks as if the monster was actually in the house with them. Later in the episode, we see Will and Robin find out the place that Vecna was looking through Holly’s eyes. This scene ties into Will’s connection with the hive mind, showing how the writers wanted to add another layer to the plot. This would be difficult at times to keep track of the various storylines; however, this episode executes it effectively, allowing the audience to stay up to date on what each character is doing. Overall, this episode excelled at pacing, special effects, and the good use of dialogue. However, some scenes, such as the hospital one, could have benefited from less dialogue and more focus on building the storyline of El and Hopper.

In the third episode, Eleven and Hopper get stuck at the huge, living wall that blocks their path. The military displays their sound devices that mess with El’s powers, and we find out that Vecna is Mr. Whatsit and is abducting children for his plan. These all show how much stronger the antagonists have gotten and how high the stakes have risen in this final season. The wall that El and Hopper run into displays excellent graphics, with the slimy tentacles and construction seeming as if they could exist in real life. It also shows how the Upside Down has grown stronger, with room for fans to speculate whether Vecna created the wall or if it was made by something stronger. The sound devices the military uses show how they have created a weakness for El, highlighting their relentlessness to find her and how misguided they are to think she is the cause of the destruction. Additionally, Vecna, appearing in his human form, Henry, shows his growth as a more calculated and analytical villain, as he seems to gain his victims’ trust before using them for his plan, whereas he stalked his victims by using their deepest fears in the last season. The music choice for this episode also enhances the mystery and uncertainty that is tied with it, showing how well the show has been able to keep a similar creepy tone throughout. This episode is full of intense and adrenaline-inducing scenes, with the threat of the Demogorgons being ever-present, and Vecna’s control is shown to be more powerful, and excels at contrasting a dark tone with El and Hopper and a mysterious one with Mike, Will, Steve, and the others. 

In episode 4, we see El and Hopper sneak into the military base in the Upside Down, where young children are inside the military base, and Max and Holly are living inside of Vecna’s memories. These scenes left me wondering how they will be continued in the next episodes and what the main characters will have to face. The episode excels at pacing the battles and action-packed chases and fights, while also introducing a new, menacing upgrade to Vecna’s look. This highlights how powerful the antagonists have grown and the great evil the humans will have to face. When asked about their thoughts on the last episode, one student named Adrian said, “It was kinda boring to me, but it got interesting at the end when Will got his powers. I can’t wait for the next part.” This suggests that some fans may have felt the dialogue and various storylines were a little too much, and more action could have contrasted with duller moments. It also shows how some viewers may have felt these first four episodes were weak as a whole, so the next installments bring more anticipation. Another student named Madison said that “Mike has been useless since Season 1.” Although I do not agree, this shows how the writers could add more character development to different characters to more fully flesh out their strengths and weaknesses. In this season, Mike helps come up with the plan for hunting the Demogorgon using a tracker, as well as helping build Holly’s storyline in a heart-to-heart. This shows how Mike’s character might need more development, but he still plays a vital role in the show.  Overall, the first four episodes have left me curious for the next installments and were a really great start to the show’s finale.