Stranger Things 5: Fans Prepare for Hawkins’ Final Battle
Over three years have passed since the Duffer Brothers released their last season of Stranger Things. Since then, their prequel play—titled Stranger Things: The First Shadow—opened on Broadway in April of this year, and fans have spent this time reflecting on just how far the show has come and how much still waits to be answered. Just this morning, Netflix dropped an exclusive peek into Stranger Things’ fifth and final season. The show might be slated to release in three volumes at the end of this year, but Netflix won’t let us forget that the last, epic battle for Hawkins is coming. In this behind-the-scenes glimpse, the cast and creators revisit key moments from Hawkins while teasing some frames of what is yet to come. Powerfully, the trailer sets up this last season as more than just a farewell but a celebration of all that led us to this moment—every victory and every loss. Together, let’s take a look at just how much this series has grown since its release in 2016, some of the things that still need to be answered, and how this final season will succeed or fail at doing so.
Questions Still Lingering
Despite the two teasers we’ve received so far, there are still many storylines and events that remain cloaked in mystery as Stranger Things 5 draws near. At the end of season four, Vecna was wounded but escaped, and ultimately, his master plan remains unresolved. With the gates splitting Hawkins (almost literally), we were left to wonder how these kids and families could return to normal after such a devastating “earthquake.” Additionally, the Upside Down version of Hawkins being stuck on the same day as Will Byers’ disappearance brought up more questions than it did answers. For one, what exactly ties the Upside Down to this date? Or, at least, why? Is it Will Byers? Or Eleven? Or perhaps even Vecna? Beyond the shrouded hellscape that is the Upside Down, how will our main group reunite (or split) for this final battle against Vecna and the army of the Upside Down? All the seasons up to this point follow a formula where different groups of characters experience major events on their own, piece together what is going on, and then come together for the bigger picture and final confrontation. Will this final season follow the same formula? Or create a new one as the end approaches? Today’s teaser from Netflix talks about how every episode, every season, makes the world and its stakes greater than the last. Some people might find this more harmful—a far cry from what the show was at its inception—but I believe this is the show’s greatest strength. Its ability to raise the stakes, whether you believe it is contrived or not, represents your typical fantasy campaign from Dungeons and Dragons or any fantasy novel. As our heroes slowly level up or get better gear, so too do the monsters they face, all while the evil mastermind works in the shadows, influencing or intruding on the heroes’ main and side quests.
After 3 Years, Fan Expectations are High
Watching fans theory-craft on Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok has been entertaining since Season 4 ended in the summer of 2022. What has made me the most nervous of all is not my distrust in the Duffer Brothers; On the contrary, I know they have a great ability to write powerful and impactful stories. Instead, I am worried about the growing fan anticipation of what’s to come, as I know my own expectations are very high after waiting so long for the finale. So many fans want a full-scale battle between the show’s driving forces, while many others want a deep dive into the mythos of this world to answer some of those deep-seated mysteries. It is not impossible to do both, but being stuck trying to answer could end up doing more harm than good. This leaves me excited to see what is resolved and what pieces are left unresolved when Volume Three closes on New Year’s Eve. Many may find this kind of thinking unusual but, in my head, if something is unresolved perhaps that means there was never meant to be a resolution in the first place. For example, many fans are on the same page as each other when it comes to Season 2 Episode 7, “Lost Sister.” They are afraid that nothing will come of this storyline and have a problem with that. While it is far from my favorite episode, I think it was an important piece in Eleven’s journey no matter whether Kali comes back or stays gone. It is reminiscent of the backstory a Dungeons and Dragons player character will have that get answered as the main quest goes on. This does not necessarily justify an entire episode tangent, but I believe we can categorize this episode as part of the hero’s training montage. Eleven needed to meet Eight to remember why she has her powers. This is subsequently mirrored in season four when Eleven revisits Hawkins Lab. Her “siblings” might have bullied her when she outshone them, but she still cared for them. She is not fueled by hate and a desire to stand out as a favorite, but rather as a friend, protector, and person just like any of the rest of the main cast. Emotional closure for audiences is an important part of any story, and I hope, at the very least, the Duffer Brothers are able to deliver a sweet (even if slightly bitter) ending to one of the greatest shows of our generation.
The Road to the Final Battle
In the end, I think it is fair to assume this morning’s featurette is the first of many coming as we approach the epic closing to Stranger Things. Expect a steady drip of teasers, spotlights, and full trailers over the coming months as Netflix builds anticipation for one of its flagship series. For fans, that means more clues to dissect, more theories to debate, and even more reason to start your last rewatch of earlier seasons. I will follow all the most recent updates, bringing them to you as soon as they are revealed. Considering how season four ended, there will be much to look forward to in the show’s conclusion and I believe the Duffer Brothers and Netflix will be able to deliver on some truly memorable moments.
If you want to stay up to date on new trailers and information on Stranger Things 5 as it’s released, subscribe to Pages and Pixels! For every trailer, teaser, poster, or otherwise, I will be doing an in-depth breakdown and analysis of what we might expect to see in Season 5. Or if you’d like to see more fun speculation, let me know, and I will work on getting that out!
