Stranger Things Season 5 Review: The Beginning of the End

Stranger Things Season 5 Review: Stuck in the Upside Down or Going Out with a Bang?

We have been waiting a long time for this, When Stranger Things first dropped on Netflix back in 2016, it was this cool, spooky little show about nerds playing D&D and riding bikes. It was simple. It was fun. Fast forward to Wednesday, November 26, and the first volume of the fifth and final season has finally landed. But things aren’t so simple anymore.

The show that started as a nostalgic trip to the ’80s has morphed into a massive, apocalyptic war movie. After watching the first four episodes, I have to ask: Is bigger actually better? Or has Hawkins, Indiana, finally bitten off more than it can chew?

Grab your Eggos. (Spoiler alert: Things get messy.)

The New Normal: Welcome to Quarantined Hawkins

Remember how Season 4 ended with the literal ground cracking open? Yeah, that wasn’t a dream.

We pick up about 18 months after that disaster. The Duffer Brothers (the creators) didn’t hit the reset button this time. Instead, they leaned into the chaos. Hawkins is now under a strict, military-enforced quarantine. It’s walled off.

Here is the lay of the land:

• The Fissures: Those giant cracks in the earth? They’ve been patched up with massive sheets of metal. It looks like a war zone.
• The Lockdown: Nobody gets in, nobody gets out. The town is described as “the most heavily secured location outside of the White House.”
• The Vibe: It feels claustrophobic. The outside world has basically ceased to exist for these characters.

It’s a grim setup. But, somehow, life goes on.

Where is Everyone?

Since half the town is destroyed, living arrangements have gotten cozy.

• The Byers (Joyce, Jonathan, Will) are crashing on couches and pullout beds at the Wheeler house.
• Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke) have ditched the Scoops Ahoy uniforms (RIP). They’ve leveled up to working at the local radio station. Honestly? It’s a great look for them.
• El (Millie Bobby Brown) is… “missing.” Well, not really. She is in deep hiding. The military, led by the terrifying new villain Dr. Kay (played by the legendary Linda Hamilton), is hunting her down. They want the “freak” at any cost.

Nostalgia and Thrills

Look, it’s still Stranger Things. Even when it’s messy, it’s entertaining, the show remembers its roots. There are still those sweet character beats that make you smile. We get plenty of ’80s nostalgia (shoutout to Peanut Butter Boppers appearing on screen).

The Action Still Hits

When the gang is fighting monsters, the show shines. There is a sequence where the crew has to booby-trap a house—think Home Alone but with Demogorgons—and it is undeniably fun. Watching them scramble, plan, and fight is what this show does best.

Character Dynamics

• Will and Robin: This is a friendship I didn’t know I needed. Robin has become a sort of queer mentor to Will. It is touching and gives Noah Schnapp some quiet, emotional moments to shine.
• Mike the Big Brother: We finally see Mike (Finn Wolfhard) stepping up for his little sister, Holly (Nell Fisher). Seeing him protect her is sweet, even if his promises that “monsters aren’t real” feel ridiculous considering they live in the monster capital of the world.

Growing Up is Hard to Do

Here is where the review gets a little tough.

There is a weird disconnect this season. Stranger Things has always been about growing up. But in Season 5, the characters feel… stuck.

The Age Gap

We have to address the elephant in the room. Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and the rest of the “kids” look like the 20-somethings they are. Yet, the script treats them like they are still 16.

• Will is still rocking that bowl cut (even he knows it’s not cool anymore).
• Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) seem to have regressed. Remember Lucas trying to be a jock? Or Dustin’s girlfriend Suzie? Those plotlines have just… fizzled out.

It creates a jarring “uncanny valley” effect. You are watching adults play children who haven’t mentally aged in two years, despite the actors aging significantly. It breaks the immersion.

The Stakes Are Too High

Because the world is ending (again), there is no time for normal life. In previous seasons, the magic came from balancing math tests with monster hunting. Now? It’s all monster hunting.

Critics received the first four episodes (which are long between 54 and 83 minutes each), and the breathless pace can be exhausting. There is no room for the characters to just breathe.

The Villain Problem: Where is Vecna?

Jamie Campbell Bower returns as Vecna, the Big Bad. But for a while? He is a ghost.

Our heroes have been doing “crawls” into the dimension to find him, but he’s been missing. Of course, by the end of the premiere, the evil starts leaking back in. The season quickly pivots into a frantic race to find Vecna before it’s “too late.”

But too late for what? The stakes are vaguely “bad things will happen,” but after four seasons of near-apocalypse, it’s getting harder to feel the fear.

Suspension of Disbelief (Or Lack Thereof)

We watch this show for sci-fi fun, not realism. But some things are pushing it.

Take Murray (Brett Gelman). We are told Hawkins is locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Yet, Murray manages to smuggle illicit supplies into town. Once? Sure, I’ll buy it. But he does it multiple times in a few days.

Who is watching the gates?

It’s these small details that start to chip away at the story. When the plot holes pile up, the emotional hits don’t land as hard.

Final Verdict: Is Part 1 Worth Watching?

Yes. But keep your expectations in check.

Season 5 is massive. It looks expensive (because it was). It has the cast you love. Winona Ryder and David Harbour (Hopper) still have great chemistry. Sadie Sink’s Max is still in a coma, providing a somber emotional anchor for Lucas.

However, the show feels like it is struggling under its own weight. It’s caught in a “murky CG expanse.” It looks big, but sometimes it feels small and empty, much like the Upside Down itself.

The creators, Ross and Matt Duffer, have a huge task ahead of them in the second half of the season. They need to let these characters grow up. They need to move past the nostalgia and give us a real conclusion.

For now, the gang is frozen in time. Let’s hope Part 2 lets them finally move forward.

Quick Cast Refresh: Who is Who?

• The Powerhouse: Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven (El)
• The Chief: David Harbour as Jim Hopper
• The Mom: Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
• The Heart: Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
• The Leader: Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
• The Brains: Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
• The Ranger: Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
• The Zoomer: Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
• The Babysitter: Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
• The Cool Girl: Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley
• The Journalist: Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
• The Outcast: Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers
• The Villain: Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna/Henry Creel
• The New Threat: Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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What Do You Think?

Are you tired of the “kids” staying kids, or are you just happy to be back in Hawkins? Drop a comment below and tell us your favorite theory for the ending!

Don’t forget to share this review with your D&D party before you binge.