The long-awaited action-packed fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” has finally been released, with volume one being released on Wednesday, Nov. 26, streaming on Netflix.
I personally love “Stranger Things” despite any backlash for its bad acting. I love the numerous characters and all the different personalities we get to see, and how they mesh with each other. One thing I am looking forward to is which song is named the season’s “top song.” For example, “Running up that hill” by Kate Bush, which was featured in the fourth season. Season four was my favourite, so I am excited to see if season five lives up to the high expectations the internet has for it. It is a show you can never get tired of, and you can re-watch multiple times because of the constant thrill and excitement that it offers.
In season five, volume one of “Stranger Things,” there are four episodes, also known as chapters. Chapter One: The Crawl, Chapter Two: “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler”, Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap, and Chapter Four: Sorcerer.
To start this season, Hawkins is under an exhausting military lockdown after the earthquake triggered by the last battle with Vecna in The Upside Down. The season begins with an unsettling flashback of a young Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp, being taken by a demogorgon for the first time. I love how Will is finally getting his moment to help. Even though he technically started it all, he hasn’t had his chance to express himself truly. The parallels and flashbacks they incorporate add depth and emotion to all of the chaos the group has endured, especially for him. This connection later allows Will to see through Vecna’s eyes when he is near the hivemind and have the control to tap into it.
As for character changes, Dustin, portrayed by Gaten Matarazzo, has been really discouraged and dejected since Eddie’s death and the chaos surrounding it, a shift from his upbeat personality in previous seasons. It is hard to watch him in such a bad state, given the fun he adds to the group. However, he does a wonderful job of portraying grief and its stages, especially denial and anger. He still wears his “Hellfire Club” shirt and is arguing with Steve, who is his best friend, so it is upsetting to see the impact it’s had on him.
Continuing with characterization, we have a few new characters, some of whom play bigger roles than in previous seasons, including Holly Wheeler, portrayed by Nell Fisher, who offers more insight into Henry Creel, and Derek Turnbo, portrayed by Jake Connelly, who adds comedic relief. I like the whole imaginary friend idea connected to Mr. Whatsit from “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. It adds an innocent background, turned into a more disturbing idea, which is Vecna’s plan to kidnap her. I don’t know what Holly’s connection to Vecna is, but I hope her story continues and that I can figure out the reasoning later in the season. As for Derek, he is a fan favorite due to his quick character development. He was initially perceived as annoying but quickly became both entertaining and humorous. I especially like how they are adding more comedy to this season, as it adds a lightheartedness to counteract the intensity.
Focusing on the audio and sensory aspects of this season, it has been so immersive and really fits with the whole theme. Starting with the songs “Upside Down” by Diana Ross and “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes. “Upside Down” is a wonderful connection to the show, obviously because of the iconic Upside Down, so it was quite fitting to include it. Also, Mr. Sandman is such an eerie yet nostalgic song to add to Henry Creel’s scene. It adds to the unsettling feeling given his impure intentions, but it remains an upbeat song that gives the ’80s vibe. It makes Henry seem so innocent when he is truly evil.
One part of this season I was a tad lost on was the reappearance of Kali Prasad, portrayed by Linnea Berthelsen, also named 008. We saw her previously in season two, but Eleven left her to return to Hawkins. We see her for a split second this season in The Upside Down Lab, but we are left clueless about what is going on or why. I wish they had elaborated more on it, but I assume they will later in the season, so I am intrigued to see the reasoning behind her reappearance and to see what role she will play this season.
One major plot development is Will’s acceptance of his sexuality. Starting from a sentimental flashback of Will and Mike first becoming friends in kindergarten to Will realizing his true feelings for Mike, it is truly a sweet moment. It is hard to decide how to feel about it, since Mike and Eleven have had a romantic connection from the start, and have throughout the show showcased their love for one another. In my personal opinion, it unfortunately seems one-sided only on Will’s side, but I am still excited to see how Byler (A ship between Mike Wheeler and Will Byers) develops. As it is a hot topic on the internet, I am excited that he is finally opening up and coming to terms with his feelings.
Another thing regarding Will is his big moment, which is the channeling of his powers. My jaw dropped at this scene because it was the craziest performance. From the blood dripping from his nose to controlling the demogorgons, it has got to be my favorite scene so far. It was sharply executed, with the zoom-in on him, heavy breathing, chilling atmosphere, and coloring. It was also a sweet moment because he was protecting the people he loved the most, which was super heartwarming. He finally got his moment to shine by tapping into his powers in a time of need and showing his resilience through everything he’s been through.
This is the most insane and unexpected plot twist so far. We all knew about Will’s true sight ability to see visions and sense Vecna, but I never expected him to have powers because of his connection to the hivemind. I was still shocked but also very happy for him to have this opportunity. It was a really nerve-wracking scene because of the high chance of the demogorgons killing Mike and Lucas Sinclair, portrayed by Caleb McLaughlin and Robin.
As someone who isn’t the biggest science fiction fan, “Stranger Things” remains a gripping, binge-worthy show. It is constantly impressing me left and right and never fails to catch my attention. With the never-ending plot twists, numerous storylines for each character and a captivating blend of unsettling mysteries paired with authentic drama, the show is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece created by the Duffer Brothers.
