That’s the time I sacrificed over Thanksgiving break to binge Stranger Things Seasons 2 through 4 for the first time, solely because I wasn’t about to walk into Season 5: Part One unprepared.
In February of 2022, the Duffer Brothers confirmed the fifth and final season of the Emmy Award-winning series Stranger Things. Since then, fans have been eagerly anticipating its arrival, and last Wednesday, Netflix finally delivered.
Almost a week after its release, Stranger Things sits at the top of Netflix’s global Top 10. Season Five has already become one of the platform’s biggest releases, setting records and delivering 59.6 million views in its first five days. I’m still reeling, looping theories, and counting down the days until December 25. After nearly 80 hours invested in Hawkins, it feels like I left a real place behind–and I already miss it.
Watching this season immediately after the others proved that this new season was written very intentionally. Season 5 clicks in a way that almost demands a full rewatch beforehand. Season 2 especially is constantly on my mind and once I saw how much it feeds into Season 5.
Part One trades the gore and brutality of Season 4 for a heavier mystery–the tension threading through nearly every scene and keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. And while the tone hit perfectly, some things did not. Eleven’s storyline had me exhausted, and the fact that everyone looks so grown up made parts of the season feel insufferable and unintentionally unserious. Visually, it threw me off more than once–Caleb McLaughlin’s hair alone deserves a full post-episode discussion, because after the perfection of Season 4, I was not prepared. Meanwhile, the Walk-Em-Down Wheelers came THROUGH this season. Ted… tried his best.
Watching everyone crawl casually into the Upside Down as if it hadn’t once been a biohazard death-zone was hilarious in the most unintentional way. Meanwhile, the demobats seem to have vanished entirely, extinct, hibernating, or relocated for plot convenience, I genuinely have no idea.
One thing I loved was the integration of A Wrinkle in Time. The literary parallels, themes, quiet symbolism were all so fun to catch as someone who loves the story already. Mr. Whatsit was sly brilliance; but Henry Creel has earned more titles than any character should.
Robin’s arc was a standout for me, though the sheer amount of focus she gets has me clutching my pearls because she’s absolutely a candidate for emotional trauma, or worse.
Meanwhile, I wish they’d sacrifice Dustin solely because he annoyed me all season, but that interview where the cast yelled “Dustin dies!” pretty much told us he doesn’t. No one with an NDA risks that joke if it’s true. But he needs to retire the Hellfire shirt immediately. To add, where is Suzie? She is crucial in my opinion and saved them twice! Three words: Never. Ending. Story.
The military irritated me endlessly, especially considering Derek Turnbow figured out more in minutes than trained officials managed throughout the entire series. On that note, Delightful Derek was exactly what the name promises. He’s hilarious, and the actor who plays him (Jake Connelly) seems so genuinely sweet. I absolutely love him, and they better not touch him.
Moving onto the TikTok theories… they’ve been unhinged, but the one I can’t shake is the idea that Mr. Clarke is Mike in the future. And based on how heavily this season leans into time, space, and metaphysics, it actually fits. If the show doesn’t touch on time travel by the finale, I’ll be shocked.
Now for predictions: Eleven, Steve, Robin, and Max are at the top of the “might not survive” list. Their arcs feel too heavy, too complete, too doomed. And yet I still need Max back, because she absolutely cannot go out like that. But unfortunately, based on interviews and cast reactions, either Sadie Sink isn’t happy with Max’s fate or she’s simply exhausted. I really hope it’s the second one.
On the flip side, Erica is untouched. Vecna knows who not to mess with, because “you can’t spell America without Erica.”
There were also smaller things that stuck with me: Will jumping Derek gave me White Chicks flashbacks, the Episode 4 finale is still playing on repeat in my brain, and that messy wet hair moment is burned into my memory permanently.
By the time Part One was ending, I had already pieced together where it was going, but the execution was still so cold and cinematic that I sat in silence. William Byers went from worst to best character in the span of minutes.
The soundtrack selections–“Rockin’ Robin,” “Upside Down,” and “Mr. Sandman”–were perfect, and the dialogue this season was so unhinged that I felt like Robin when she said, “Jesus, what?!”
On the other hand, the Eddie callback lines woven through other characters were beautiful and honestly emotional, he would’ve dominated Season 5, and I’ll never change my mind about that.
Lastly, Murray Bauman continues to be the funniest character in this entire show, Hopper needs to stop death-fishing every season, and Jonathan needs to sit down somewhere and reevaluate his choices. And Tina Turnbow… all I’ll say is that I definitely pictured a Black girl. Those who know, know.
Right now, my ranking stands: ST5, ST2, ST4, ST3, ST1. Season 1 is great, but none of them are touching Season 5 for me at the moment.
