Part 1 Review: 10/10
The long awaited fifth and final season of Stranger Things has finally dropped! Without any new episodes since 2022, fans have been patiently, or impatiently, anticipating their favorite series to finally come to a close. The season did a beautiful job of bringing suspense, action, and feeling into the beginning of the end of the Hawkins’ story.
Here are some important details to remember from past seasons to help understand the new season. The producers of Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers, highlighted four important episodes that are ideal to watch before watching the 5th season.
- Season 2, Episode 4 (“Will the Wise”),
- Season 2, Episode 6 (“The Spy”),
- Season 4, Episode 7 (“The Massacre at Hawkins Lab”), and
- Season 4, Episode 9, (“The Piggyback”)
The Duffer Brothers did not elaborate on why these episodes were important, but watching the episodes myself I gathered that the episodes focus on Will Byers’ point of view.
Season 5 of Stranger Things picks up exactly in the aftermath of the season 4 finale as Vecna, the villain’s, grasp on the real world tightens. Episode 1 focuses on the youngest Wheeler child, Holly. She has a new friend whom only she can see. Mr. Whatsit, also known as Vecna or Henry Creel, appears as Holly’s companion, but the viewers know he is actually dangerous.
Along with an addition to the plot line, Stranger Things also added brand new characters. Derek Turnbow, also known as Delightful Derek, is introduced with his sister Tina, Erica’s friend. With his young age and adult jokes, delightful Derek brings humor and heroism back into the plot.
Episode 2 of Stranger Things focuses on Holly’s abduction. Holly is taken by the Demogorgon, who attacks both her parents, and brings her back to a time in Henry Creel’s mind. As Eleven searches for Holly (Nell Fisher) in the wrong place, the Upside Down, Holly finds Max, a character in a coma on the outside and lost in Vecna’s mind on the inside, and they form a plan to escape Vecna’s mind. I personally enjoyed the amount of screen time Holly had in the new season. Her acting at only 10 years old was more mature than some of the older actors in the series.
Episode 3 highlights the plan formed to save Holly both outside and inside Henry’s mind. As Delightful Derek is dubbed the next victim of Mr. Whatsit, the crew in Hawkins creates a plan to catch the Demogorgon and follow it to wherever Holly is trapped. Max and Holly begin to initiate their plan to escape from the inside of Henry’s mind.
In the finale of part 1 of Stranger Things, Vecna is let into the real world, and the monsters from the Upside Down are released onto any nearby people. As each of the Hawkins crew members are cornered by the Demogorgons, Will finds that his power to see through their eyes also stretches to controlling them. The episode ends with an action filled battle and a plot twist that turns the tables for the rest of the season. I thought this plot twist was just what the audience needed to keep them excited for part 2 of season 5.
Overall, the beginning of Season 5 has been packed with action, suspense, and major plot twists. Some important things to remember when watching the second part are Will’s newfound powers, Holly and Max’s whereabouts, and Vecna being in the real world.
Overall, I am very happy with how the ending of season 5 part 1 played out. I love how unsolved plots from previous seasons finally were resolved, and I liked how every character was finally brought together. I think the Duffer Brothers did a great job of continuing the suspense and excitement every Stranger Things fan stays for.
