Stranger Things 5 Review: Stranger Things has always carried this weird magic, part nostalgia, part horror, part friendship, and somehow, this final season captures all of it at once. Volume 1 doesn’t feel like the show is trying to impress you. It feels like the show is remembering exactly why you fell in love with it in the first place, and then turning every dial up a notch.
I binged all four episodes the second they dropped. No breaks. No, “I’ll finish the rest tomorrow.” Just pure adrenaline, dread, excitement, and that slow creeping sadness of oh damn, this is actually ending.
My Rating: 5/5
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Show | Stranger Things 5 (Volume 1) |
| Episodes | 4 |
| Genre | Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery, Drama |
| Creators | The Duffer Brothers |
| Main Cast | Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour |
The Vibe: Season 1’s mystery mixed with Season 3’s energy
Season 5 doesn’t feel like a new chapter. It feels like a reunion. All the kids are back in the same space again, and suddenly the show has this heartbeat it didn’t know it was missing.
Remember the excitement of Season 3? Remember the atmospheric dread of Season 1? Now imagine both of those blended together with the scale of Season 4.
That’s Volume 1.
The writing feels confident. The pacing feels intentional. The tension is constant, never chaotic, never empty. It’s the Duffer Brothers saying, “Relax. We know exactly what we’re doing.”
Character Arcs That Actually Mean Something
One thing you can feel immediately: the writers came to finish stories, not stretch them.
- Will Byers finally gets the spotlight
For years, Will has been the emotional core of Stranger Things but never the narrative core.
This time? He steps into his destiny, and it is wild.
The reveal. The moment. The powers.
That scene had me yelling at my screen like a lunatic. It’s one of the strongest payoffs this show has ever delivered. Theories have been floating around since 2016, and Volume 1 finally says, “Yep. You were right.”
- Mike Wheeler is actually Mike again
I don’t know what happened in Seasons 3 and 4, but Mike felt… off. In Volume 1? He’s back.
The leadership. The emotional intelligence. The loyalty. The boldness.
Finn Wolfhard looks dialed in. This feels like Season 1 Mike, older, more mature, but still the heart of the party. He went from “I don’t know about this guy anymore” to “oh, right, THIS is why we loved him.”
- Eleven continues evolving beautifully
Millie Bobby Brown brings a weight to this role that’s just impossible to ignore. Every single scene with her feels bigger than the show itself. She’s no longer “the weapon.” She’s a person trying to carry the trauma of five seasons while still figuring out who she is. And honestly? It hits.
- Max Mayfield’s return is a knockout
Sadie Sink does not miss. Max doesn’t just come back, she comes back with emotional depth, quiet rage, and that sharp vulnerability that made everyone fall in love with her in Season 2.
And yes, her big reveal moment is chef’s kiss.
- Dustin, Hopper, Joyce, Nancy, Lucas, you can tell everyone is being written with purpose
Even characters with less screen time feel placed, not forgotten.
A Season That Feels Like It Remembers EVERYTHING
This is where Volume 1 really shines.
Stranger Things has never been the kind of show to drop deep lore answers casually. But here? They’re checking boxes that fans assumed the writers abandoned years ago.
Tiny clues from old seasons. Throwaway lines. Past mysteries. Unresolved weirdness.
Volume 1 picks them all up and turns them into something that actually matters. It’s satisfying in a way a final season should be—like watching puzzle pieces finally click.
Kali (Number Eight) Returning Was a Genius Move
Everyone joked about that Season 2 episode for years. Everyone wondered if the writers would pretend it never happened.
Then boom, Kali steps back in like she was always part of the plan.
Her reintroduction is sharp, emotional, and honestly a little thrilling. Now we’ve got Eleven + Kali + Will… and the final showdown suddenly feels bigger than we imagined.
The Action: Pure Chaos in the Best Way
Let’s talk about that massacre scene in the base.
That entire sequence is Stranger Things at its most intense, claustrophobic, unpredictable, brutal. The stakes never feel fake. No one feels safe. You’re fully convinced someone important is about to die.
And episode 2’s opening? Hands down, one of the craziest openings this show has ever done. No exaggeration.
Themes: Stranger Things 5 Hurts in a Real Way
There’s this slow, sinking feeling that creeps into you around episode 3. Not sadness for the story… But sadness because you know this is the last time you’ll ever experience Stranger Things for the first time.
The nostalgia isn’t forced. The emotion isn’t cheap. Volume 1 understands something many final seasons forget: Fans don’t just want answers. Fans want closure. And so far? It’s delivering both.
Nitpicks (because nothing is perfect)
Honestly, these are small:
- Dustin deserved more screen time
- The Steve–Jonathan subplot could go either way—interesting or pointless
- Some moments could’ve used an extra 10 minutes of room to breathe
But none of these breaks the experience.
The Spoiler Madness (short version)
- Will’s powers reveal → legendary moment
- Kali’s return → handled perfectly
- Max’s involvement → so emotional and so satisfying
- The Demogorgon attack → pure chaos
- Henry/Vecna manipulating Holly → creepy, clever, and well-used
- Every episode ends with a “holy sh*t” moment
Volume 1 doesn’t just set up the finale. It builds a runway, lights it on fire, and tells you to buckle in.
Also Read: Stranger Things 5 Ending Explained: Vecna’s Biggest Fear Finally Revealed
Good & Bad in Stranger Things 5
| What Works (Good) | What Doesn’t (Bad) |
|---|---|
| Will finally gets a powerful, meaningful arc | Dustin feels sidelined with surprisingly low screen time |
| Mike returns to strong leadership form | A couple of emotional scenes feel rushed instead of being fully explored |
| Eleven’s character depth hits harder than previous seasons | Steve–Jonathan subplot feels uncertain and slightly dragged |
| Max’s comeback is emotional and impactful | Some pacing issues where episodes could use 10–15 extra minutes |
| Kali’s return ties Season 2 back into the main story | A few secondary characters get lost in the shuffle |
| Episode openings and endings hit with real tension | Not every mystery gets enough breathing room yet |
| Action scenes are brutal, well-directed, and intense | Side mission sequences occasionally break momentum |
| Dark, nostalgic tone feels like classic Stranger Things | Volume 1 ends sooner than expected (only 4 episodes) |
| Lore from past seasons finally connects in satisfying ways | Fans wanting lighter, funnier moments may find it too dark |
| Emotional weight lands—closure feels close | Cliffhanger may frustrate viewers who hate waiting for Volume 2 |
Final Thoughts on Stranger Things 5
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 is the beginning of the end we’ve always hoped for.
Emotional. Terrifying. Nostalgic. Skillfully written.
If Volume 2 sticks the landing, this show easily becomes one of the greatest TV series ever made.