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Come join the circus. It: Welcome to Derry finished up two days ago, and it is all the rage. It's weird, because in the midst of the excitement for Stranger Things 5 , Welcome to Derry has been heating up and getting all kinds of incredible buzz. The prequel to the It movies provided a new, fun, and absolutely horrifying look at everyone's worst clown-related nightmare as well as the town that he haunts. So, that said, here's my ranking of every episode of Welcome to Derry . 8. Now You See It (Ep. 3) The most CGI-heavy scares prove the least effective in this episode The beginning of the season really was built around teasing Pennywise and having various encounters with It. Andy Muschietti had said that this season was going to be a slow build to Pennywise, and it feels like episode three teases us a bit too much with that. It very much repeats the beats that we had seen in the first two episodes, although the scares and plot developments just aren't as interesting. The connection between Rose and General Shaw is a cool little reveal, but all of it feels like they are just trying too hard to tease Pennywise. The final sequence in the graveyard is the worst of the CGI-heavy scares as the kids are chased by the ghosts of their dead friends. That's a scary concept, but the way it's portrayed is just goofy. And the last reveal of the clown silhouette doesn't even end up being Pennywise. It's still an entertaining entry, but definitely the weakest one this season. 7. The Thing in the Dark (Ep. 2) The fallout of episode one starts to unravel in a slower but solid episode After the shocking conclusion of the first episode, The Thing in the Dark has a lot to live up to, and it doesn't. This very much feels like an aftermath episode, but that's okay. We see the remaining kids dealing with the fallout of the movie theater massacre, and it is very upsetting. Ronnie's encounter with It appearing as a monstrous mix of her bed and her mother was absolutely horrifying. We see actual, sensible conflict arise between Lilly and Ronnie as Lilly wants to avoid being sent back to Juniper Hill and Ronnie wants to prove her father's innocence. It doesn't hit as hard as the first episode, but this is another solid, scary hour of TV that really does start to build out the main plot of the season. 6. The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet's Function (Ep. 4) The mid-season finale contains one of the most horrifying sequences I've ever seen When watching this the first time, I fully did expect Pennywise to appear, because they had teased him so heavily in episode three and the mid-season finale seemed like the place to have him. I was a little disappointed when he did not appear, but if you ignore that, this is a pretty good episode. The standout sequence here is, of course, Marge's eyes bugging out. That visual is just so grotesque and memorable and truly makes for one of the scariest, most disgusting scenes not only in Welcome to Derry , but in the entire It franchise. The episode is at its strongest when everyone starts to realize that It exists and begins to try and track it down. It definitely has some weaker moments: we start rehashing the origins of It that we saw in It: Chapter Two , and that's just not that interesting to me. But, really, this episode has some of the most unsettling imagery I've seen in a horror film or show in a while, so for that, I give it props. 5. In the Name of the Father (Ep. 6) A revelatory entry that raises the stakes for the final few episodes After episode five was when Welcome to Derry kicked into high gear for me. Episode six continues that wonderful momentum by diving into the origins of Pennywise...but not It. No, this episode has some great, unexpected revelations about the real person that was Pennywise the Dancing Clown before It stole that identity and used it as its primary form. The slow realization that Ingrid is Mrs. Kersh from It: Chapter Two was so dread-inducing and creepy. Madeleine Stowe is great at being so warm yet so creepy at the same time. On top of that, Hank Grogan escapes from the Shawshank bus and hides out in the Black Spot, which sets the stage for the tragic events to come in the following episode. This whole episode builds towards the ultimate climax of the season, and it is fantastic. 4. The Pilot (Ep. 1) A great reintroduction to Derry with a shocking and terrifying ending I was excited for Welcome to Derry as soon as it was announced, but my expectations were somewhere in the middle. It is a great story, but it's tough to see how you can expand on the story without it feeling repetitive or too lore-heavy. Well, Welcome to Derry establishes its differences right off the bat. You thought that Georgie's death was a horrifying way to kick off It? Well, Welcome to Derry kicks off with an equally scary child murder...and then ends its first episode by massacring half of the kids that we thought were going to be this show's Losers' Club. As soon as that happened, I was hooked. The It movies have this sense of hope and strength in fighting back against Pennywise, but we know that the characters in Welcome to Derry don't defeat him, so the show uses that to its advantage by immediately telling us that it isn't messing around. This series is going to be darker, scarier, and even more gruesome than the movies. And I am all here for it. 3. Winter Fire (Ep. 8) The finale is a satisfying resolution that sets the stage for an exciting future Winter Fire does a great job of wrapping up this prequel story while also giving way to a bright future for both the It franchise and Stephen King's other properties. I loved the icy, fogged-up visuals of this episode. It made everything have this ghastly veil around it that really amplified the creepy feeling, but it also really hit home when it needed to. Moments like Leroy telling Will that he doesn't need his son to be like him and loves him for who he is are so powerful. Rich's ghost showing up to help the kids restore the dagger and flipping off Pennywise in the process is such an awesome moment. And, of course, Skarsgård goes all out with his swan song for the season, delivering another terrifying performance that gives us a litany of iconic new Pennywise moments. I really thought that this episode excelled in cementing some of its connections to both the It movies and other King properties. Of course, Hallorann's final interactions with Leroy tease his future at the Overlook Hotel. As many speculated, Marge is revealed to be Richie Tozier's mother. The after-credits scene is a great little bow on the entire thing as we now fully understand why Pennywise appears as Mrs. Kersh to Beverly in It: Chapter Two . And, finally, by having Pennywise experience time as a flat circle, that gives way to a ton of potential directions for this franchise to go in the future. This is a great finale for a great first season. 2. 29 Neibolt Street (Ep. 5) Pennywise's epic return is paired with some of the best dramatic moments in the season Although episode four is technically the mid-season finale, this episode really feels like the midpoint of the season. All of our main characters are raiding the well house on Neibolt Street. The military is going after the pillars that we learned about in episode four, while the kids discover that Matty is alive and the rest of the kids from episode one may also have survived, so they go down to the sewers to rescue them. This leads to an action-packed, thrilling episode wherein a bunch of soldiers have constant encounters with It. I love how It invades Hallorann's mind and unlocks the boxes that we learned he uses in Doctor Sleep . And, of course, the climactic ending reveals that Matty was never alive. The kids discover the bodies of Matty, Phil, Teddy, and Suzie while the false Matty begins to sing...and slowly transform into Pennywise. The epic reveal of the world's scariest clown was just such an incredible moment that had been properly built up to and paid off. And, after Pennywise appears, we get another shocking moment as Leroy, thinking his son is just another hallucination made to mess with him, prepares to shoot him. Pauly jumps in the way and takes a bullet for Will, stopping Leroy from accidentally murdering his own kid. Just an absolutely explosive, incredible episode that truly raises the stakes and horror of the season. 1. The Black Spot (Ep. 7) The climactic penultimate episode is an incredible mix of heartbreak and unflinching horror I have read It twice, and some of the coolest things that are left out of the movies are these interludes that Stephen King writes about the history of Derry. One of those interludes is narrated by Will Hanlon as he tells the story of the Black Spot, a nightclub for black army men. The Black Spot was burnt down by a racist cult as the violent end to Pennywise's cycle. This episode portrays the burning of the Black Spot with absolute perfection. Gorgeously horrifying visuals and truly tragic, upsetting moments highlight this as one of the best sequences in any Stephen King adaptation. There are so many things to love about this episode. The way that they have built to the Black Spot burning down is so tragic, but it feels earned because they have shown these racist characters wanting to track down and kill Hank Grogan. This episode does such a great job of showing how human-induced horror is what feeds Pennywise. He does not cause the fire at the Black Spot: he just feeds on it. Rich's death is also one of the saddest moments in the entire It franchise, and it made me realize that Marge is likely Richie's mother in the future. This episode just has so many incredible, jaw-dropping moments that elevated Welcome to Derry as a whole. But really, the best thing about this episode is, of course, Pennywise. Somehow, Bill Skarsgård is better than he's ever been here, which is saying something, because he is amazing at playing this clown. This is the scariest and most evil Pennywise has ever appeared. Muschietti doesn't lean on CGI scares or graphic, horrifying imagery (although there are definitely some viscerally memorable deaths). He just trusts his lead actor to deliver the scariest version of Pennywise we have ever seen. I hope to God that Skarsgård is nominated for an Emmy, because he elevated this already incredible episode to newer, more terrifying heights.

Go back to where IT all began. It: Welcome to Derry is a 2025-present supernatural horror television series created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, produced by Rideback, Vertigo Entertainment, FiveTen Productions, K Plus Ultra, Double Dream, Warner Bros. Television, and HBO, and distributed by HBO. The series stars Javon Adepo and Taylour Paige. It is based on Stephen King's 1986 novel, It . The series acts as a prequel to both It and It: Chapter Two . "Duck and cover, kiddos." - Pennywise the Dancing Clown Plot In 1962 Derry, a group of young kids begin to investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their friends. Meanwhile, at a local army base, the military is searching for answers about the long and terrifying history of the seemingly quiet town. The Sweet Let me just say that, while I was pretty excited for Welcome to Derry , I was not really expecting it to be great. I like both It movies, but I was just worried that this show would not be able to capture the same mix of child-like wonder with abject horror. I also knew that they would not be able to get kids with the same level of charm and chemistry as the Losers' Club in the first film, so that had me hesitant. And, color me shocked. This is probably my favorite project from the It franchise. It is a 1100-page novel. That thing is long (I have actually read it twice, which is kind of insane). So, at first glance, due to the epic nature of the story, it seems like Pennywise and Derry would be best in a cinematic format. You've got an extravagant tale about an evil shapeshifting entity and seven kids trying to kill it and then returning to finish the job as adults. That feels like a story perfectly made for a movie. And, yet, I think this world and this story work better as a TV show. Obviously, Welcome to Derry is not directly based off of It , but it's a spin-off, so its not not based off of the book. TV allows you time to explore the setting and sit with the characters, and Welcome to Derry uses that time beautifully. It really takes the time to get you invested in these characters, whether it be the kids or the adults, so you have a true emotional connection to them when the show reaches its climax. And, look, the kids here are not as good as the kids in the first film, but that's a ridiculous ask. That first movie has Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Sophia Lillis, and Jaeden Martell in its group of kids. Enough said. The kids in Welcome to Derry , while not the insane perfection of the kids in It , are still really good. I actually think it helps that we rock with a smaller group here, because it gives us more time to understand them as individuals before they all come together. We see Lilly as this traumatized girl who everyone thinks is crazy. We see Will as the new kid who has trouble connecting with his dad. Ronnie is suffering because her dad is being blamed for Pennywise's atrocities. Marge starts off as a pretty unlikable and insecure tween who becomes better after encountering Pennywise. And, of course, the best of the kids is Rich, who is just so funny and lovable. Part of the reason that Rich is the best of the kids is because of his devastating sacrifice at the end of episode seven, which leads me into my next point. Welcome to Derry delivers some emotional moments that outdo both of the It movies significantly. It and It: Chapter Two have their fair share of poignant moments, but nothing in those films hits like Rich's death. This is the first time we've seen a kid that we have grown to love die in a horrific and sad way, and it stings. The capper on it is when his ghost appears to help the kids put the dagger back where it belongs to re-trap Pennywise. The show also is able to have other poignant moments, whether you are talking about Hank and Ronnie's reunion or Leroy telling Will that he loves him because he's different than him. Like, I don't know where these writers brought all this emotion from, but I am here for it. But far and away the best thing about Welcome to Derry is, to the surprise of absolutely nobody, Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Bill Skarsgård is great in the It movies. But he just dials it up to eleven in this series and gives his best performance as the world's scariest clown. As soon as he showed up in episode five, the show got significantly better, and so much of that is due to Skarsgård. The It movies rely too much on CGI spectacle for scares, and, while Welcome to Derry does have that problem from time to time, when Pennywise is on screen, he's not CGI. They don't do as much of the weird jerky charges that he does in the movies. Instead, Andy Muschietti lets Skarsgård terrify the audience with his line delivery and physicality. I just felt the terror of Pennywise way more in Welcome to Derry than I have in any of the other It movies. And a lot of that is due to Bill Skarsgård's incredible performance. The other reason that you feel the terror of the clown here more than in any of the movies is because it really leans into the human horrors as well. The book makes Derry feel like a character. It's a rotten town of cyclical violence that is always inevitably ignored and forgotten about. This show understands that and really uses that in its narrative. We see how Pennywise's influence causes people to do terrible things. The incredible Black Spot sequence in episode seven is just a perfect encapsulation of how Pennywise feeds off of the evils of humanity. I love that side to the book, and it really isn't a focal point in the movies, so I was just ecstatic to see it here. I guess I should've prefaced this review by saying that I am a massive Stephen King fan (if you can't tell), so seeing all of this book accuracy just had me through the roof. But the thing that got me even more excited was the connections to King's other properties. The shared universe is a tired trope of Hollywood that has only been executed well by the MCU. But Stephen King has been doing a shared universe of his own for his entire career. And it isn't about having interconnected stories that lead to some big climax. No, it's a universe tied together thematically and conceptually, and that's what Welcome to Derry does. It uses Dick Hallorann, the cook from The Shining , who actually appears in the It book, and has him contribute to the story in a meaningful, sensical way. Shawshank prison makes an appearance. Characters who possess the shining ability use it. This is how King interconnects his novels, so it was just so exciting to see that done on screen. I also loved how dark and violent this season was. It is obviously an incredibly dark property, but the movies have generally leaned away from truly graphic violence. Sure, Georgie's arm got ripped off, but besides that, there haven't been any insane kills or gory moments...until Welcome to Derry . From the first episode, this show just establishes that it is not messing around. It kills off three kids and makes sure you see what happens to them. There's a scene where Pennywise slices someone's face in half with a cleaver, and it is just awesome . Like, it's so scary, but at the same time, it just feels like the dark, horrifying character that he should be. Finally, I think Welcome to Derry does exactly what a great prequel should do: it makes the original film(s) better. Instead of over-explaining everything and providing answers to questions we weren't asking, Welcome to Derry explains things that we didn't expect or didn't make a ton of sense in the movies. Why did Beverly see Mrs. Kersh in It: Chapter Two ? Why did Mrs. Kersh act like she was Pennywise's daughter? All of these are questions that are answered in such a satisfying and cool way in this show, and I just loved it. Marge being Richie's mom was a fantastic little twist that felt earned , because you believe that she would name her kid after Rich. The finale even sets up the prospect of an It: Chapter Three or some more, expanded spin-offs with Pennywise beyond Welcome to Derry , but it sets those things up sensibly, not just randomly. Pennywise experiences time as a flat circle, not linearly, so that could make for some really, really interesting stories in the future. The Sour Welcome to Derry does have a few problems. First off, I think the show takes a minute to get going. Pennywise does not show up until episode five, and, while I was okay with that, I think they spent too long teasing him and meandering through the same beats for those first four episodes. Episode one is great, but episodes two through four definitely have some trouble finding their footing. It feels like we are just going through the motions: the kids have a scary encounter, the military argues about the pillars and finding Pennywise, Hallorann has some hallucination, and Charlotte is trying to help Hank. Once Pennywise did show up, however, the show was basically perfect from there on out. I also still was not a huge fan of the CGI monsters. To me, the scariest part of the show was when Bill Skarsgård was just acting his ass off as this inherently horrifying clown. The thing that makes his performance and the way he plays Pennywise so scary is the unpredictability and the eeriness of how he acts and looks. A gloopy CGI monster just doesn't have that factor to it. If you made some practical scares or combined something practical with CGI, it can be more effective. The two scariest scenes without Pennywise in them are when Ronnie gets re-birthed by her demon mother bed (yes, that was a sentence I just wrote) and when Marge's eyes bug out. Those two scares are combinations of CGI and practical effects. And they were way more effective than any of the crazy, solo CGI forms of It. Lastly, I was not a huge fan of the military plot line. It becomes less of a focus when (say it with me now) Pennywise actually shows up, but I just thought the logic and reasoning behind what General Shaw was trying to do was stupid. Based on the established rules of Derry, you are supposed to not remember what happened when you were a kid. The Losers' Club forgets about Pennywise and does not remember him until Mike pushes for them to remember. Yet Shaw seems to completely remember Pennywise. And not only that, he wants to use him? To make the country better? I just didn't really buy into anything that he was saying. It's not a huge deal because the military plot line really fades out by the time you get to the final few episodes, but I would kind of roll my eyes anytime it cut to them. Final Thoughts and Score Welcome to Derry blew my expectations out of the water with fantastic scares, great characters, emotional moments, and some awesome faithfulness to Stephen King's iconic source material. I am going Sweet here. Age range is 16+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "It: Welcome to Derry" Fun Factor: 9/10 Acting: 8/10 Story: 8.5/10 Characters: 8.5/10 Quality: 8.5/10 Created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and images, language, sexual content, thematic elements Premiered on October 26, 2025 Episode runtime: 55 minutes Javon Adepo as Leroy Hanlon Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge Amanda Christine as Ronnie Grogan Arian S. Cartaya as Rich Santos Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann Madeleine Stower as Ingrid Kersh / Periwinkle James Remar as Francis Shaw Peter Outerbridge as Clint Bowers Rudy Mancuso as Pauly Russo Kimberly Guerrero as Rose Joshua Odjick as Taniel Thomas Mitchell as Colonel Fuller Alixandra Fuchs as Terri Bainbridge Maya McNair as Patty Stanton Miles Ekhardt as Matty Clements Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin Matilda Legault as Susie Malkin Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown

Turn your world upside down. StrangerThings 5 is about to pick back up in just a few weeks here. After the climactic ending of volume one, us fans have a ton of questions that will be answered in volume two. I have gathered my ten biggest questions that must be answered in the second volume, alongside my theories as to what the answers to these questions will be. Check them out below. 10. Who is Nancy going to end up with? The Steve-Nancy-Jonathan love triangle is one of the show's biggest subplots This is a pretty easy one: I don't think Nancy is ending up with either of them. To me, there is a high likelihood that either Jonathan or Steve dies, and if one of them dies, there is a zero percent chance that Nancy is ending up with the other. She's also got an incredibly strong will and independence to her that makes me think she's destined for a life outside of Hawkins. Steve and Jonathan have their strengths, but neither of them seem like the type that would go out with Nancy to chase her dreams. And, as we've seen in season five, Jonathan plans on proposing to Nancy despite their relationship being in a pretty bad spot. The end of season four showed both of them having their doubts, while season five has consistently shown Nancy disagreeing with or getting annoyed with Jonathan. There will undoubtedly be some more emotional scenes between the three of them 9. Will Kali help fight Vecna? 008's surprising return will be huge in volume two This seems like a pretty easy question to answer, but this kind of relates to Kali as a whole. What has she been up to this whole time? How did the military get their hands on her? How did they know that she was one of Brenner's kids from Hawkins Lab? It is possible that she is working with Vecna, but I doubt it. Obviously, I expect the two of them to know each other, because Vecna even mentioned her by name in one of the season four flashbacks. I don't really know how they will include her in this season. She very much preached anger and hatred to Eleven in season two, so if that's still her mindset, I could very much see her allying with Vecna. I do think whatever they do will be interesting. I am excited to see the rest of our characters interact with her. The Lost Sister isn't a good episode, but Kali isn't really the problem. I think she has the potential to be a really good character. I also think she is definitely the most likely heroic character left to die. But we shall see. 8. Why is Dr. Kay searching for Eleven? Linda Hamilton's mysterious antagonist might have ulterior motives It's easy to kind of forget about this question, because there's so much going on in season five. We don't know anything about Dr. Kay. We don't even know her first name. Linda Hamilton's character was presented as an antagonist about Colonel Sullivan, and I am really curious as to why that is. Like, who is she? She doesn't even have an official military position. She's not General Kay. She's Dr. Kay. We knew that Sullivan was looking for Eleven because he thought she was committing all of the Vecna murders. I highly, highly doubt that that's the reason that Dr. Kay is searching for her. Even in her interaction with Eleven, she seemed like she was more fascinated with her than actively antagonistic to her. So I think she plans to possibly kill Eleven and study her in some way shape or form. Or...even crazier... what if she's somehow in cahoots with Vecna ? I know that seems so outlandish and impossible, but the two seem so distant that it would be really unpredictable if she was secretly somehow taking orders from Vecna. 7. What is Vecna's true final plan? We don't really know why he is taking all of these kids This, to me, is really the biggest mystery of season five. Vecna has said that he is using these kids as vessels to reshape the world, but what on earth does that mean? How is he using them to reshape the world? What is his endgame? Some people believe that he isn't even taking these kids for something bad, which I wholeheartedly disagree with. I'm not exactly sure what is going on with them, but I think it's something involving time travel. Now, I'm generally against using time travel in the final entry in a popular franchise, because Endgame did it so it would just feel a little cliché now, but if they can do it in a satisfying way, I'm okay with it. Vecna kidnapped twelve kids. When Will had that vision of them, it looked like they were positioned in a circle. And we now know that the Upside Down itself is a big circle outlined by the wall. To me, that is giving serious clock imagery. Twelve kids. A big circle. Hawkins Lab in the center. I don't exactly know how or why time travel will be used, but I feel like it has something to do with these kids and Vecna's ultimate plan. 6. How are Dimension X and the Upside Down related? The alternate dimension that the Upside Down may reside in is different For how big of a mystery this is, it hasn't been explored in the show that much. For the casual viewer that has only seen Stranger Things once and doesn't read stuff on the internet about it, they might think that Dimension X and the Upside Down are the same place. When I initially watched season four, I thought that Vecna had just been sent to a different part of the Upside Down. I did not realize that they are meant to be two different places. It seems like the Upside Down is almost definitely in Dimension X, but is surrounded by the mysterious wall that we saw in volume one. The Upside Down itself was likely created by one of three people: Vecna, on the day that he kidnapped Will Byers, Eleven, on the day she opened the first gate, or Will himself, on the day he was taken by the Demogorgon. The answer to the true nature of the Upside Down will likely explain how it relates to Dimension X, and I am very curious what that final reveal will be. 5. How will Max and Holly escape Camazotz? This will be answered in Escape from Camazotz We know that episode six of Stranger Things 5 has been titled Escape from Camazotz . This episode will definitely feature Max and Holly heavily, and I do really expect it to be a complete thrill ride. The Duffers have said that the performances in this episode make them cry every single time, which makes me think that someone may not make it out of Camazotz. So here's what I think will happen: first of all, I believe that every other kid that was taken by a Demogorgon will appear in Camazotz. I think we will see Derek and Debbie and all of the others that were dragged into the Upside Down in Sorcerer . I think there's a relatively high chance that Max does not escape and instead sacrifices herself to let the kids escape. Maybe she will wake up for a second or be able to see Lucas for a second so she can have a final goodbye, but I just don't think everyone is making it out of Camazotz. 4. What is up with that cave? The First Shadow lore connects to Vecna's fear in regards to the cave I have not seen The First Shadow . I read the plot synopsis a few months back, but I don't really remember that well. From what I've gathered, this cave seems to be the place where Henry was first transferred to the Upside Down (or Dimension X). Somehow, this cave connects him to the hive mind and the Mind Flayer, and he is clearly terrified of it. I think there will be more reveals about Vecna's true connection to the Upside Down and maybe he will end up not being as evil as we all assume him to be. I don't know if I would like that, but I trust the Duffers. 3. Is Vecna or the Mind Flayer in control? The ultimate villain of the show is still somewhat unclear Season four seemed to answer this question by showing that Vecna warped the Mind Flayer into the shadow monster, but when The First Shadow debuted, it seemed like this may not be the end of the lore. The true master of the hive mind is still unclear. To me, it would be way more satisfying for Vecna to be the final villain, because he is an actual character. The Mind Flayer is awesome looking and a very scary monster, but it's not really a character . I think it would just serve the show better if Vecna was the one in control. But my theory makes this question not so simple. I believe that Henry was a troubled child who leaned into his worst instincts when he first encountered the Upside Down. I think the Mind Flayer gave him powers in an attempt to control him and use him for whatever master plan it had, but Vecna used those powers to control it back. I think that Vecna is probably still terrified of the Mind Flayer because it does pose a threat to him, but I feel like he took control from the swirling mass of particles and become the true master of the Upside Down. 2. Why was Will the first one kidnapped? The show's inciting incident seems to be important to its endgame Whatever Vecna is doing with these kids obviously relates to Will's initial kidnapping, but it is strange to me that Will was kidnapped four years earlier than the rest of the kids. Also, Vecna did not (to my knowledge) kidnap anyone else when he took Will. Something about Will is important. Something about him means something . When Max is crawling through Vecna's memories, she sees a flyer being handed out by a young Joyce. The flyer is advertising the school's production of Oklahoma! , and Henry is starring in it alongside Joyce, Karen, Hopper, Ted, Eddie's dad, and Patty Newby, Bob's sister. This connection is important. Whatever reason Vecna had for kidnapping Will first is, in my opinion, likely to be connected to his relationship with Joyce or the rest of these parents that he had when he was in school. 1. What is the Upside Down and why is it frozen on November 6? The ultimate question of Stranger Things will be a huge revelation in volume two The Duffers have promised us an answer to this question, and I feel like they are hinting at it being something massive. We know a few things about the Upside Down after seasons four and five: it is frozen on November 6th (the day Will was kidnapped). It is a circle with a huge wall around it and Hawkins Lab in the center. And Vecna is doing something mysterious with twelve kids. So what does this all mean? Well, I have no idea, but if I had to guess, I'd say the Upside Down is one huge clock. We know Vecna loves time. We also know that he murdered his family on November 6, 1959. So, clearly, that day is significant. In season five, it is currently November 4th (I believe). We are hurtling towards the finale taking place on November 6, 1987. I think that this will be the day that Vecna's full plan comes to fruition. Whatever sort of clock mechanism the Upside Down is will kick into gear and something massive will happen. Maybe it will be a method of time travel. Maybe it will be something else. Who knows? We'll see in about two weeks.

Oh. my. God. Well, guys. I have finished volume one of Stranger Things 5 . We are officially halfway through the final season of this show. And I just cannot believe it. I'm not really giving an intro here, because I just want to talk about this mid-season finale so badly. Also, stay tuned for a full review of volume one tomorrow. I am still doing that despite reviewing each episode individually. The Sweet Well. That was insane. For four seasons of this show, they have not known what to do with Will Byers. Although he is the central character in the first season, he's barely in it because he's missing the whole time. He definitely gets some time to shine in season two, but his mind is flayed for half of it. And then he was basically an afterthought in seasons three and four. Sure, they made his sexuality be a significant part of his character, but besides that, he hasn't really done anything. And, in the words of Vecna, at long last . Will motherf**king Byers has powers. This honestly felt like the TV show equivalent of Captain America lifting Thor's hammer. It does not get more badass than this. We have waited for Will to do something. They had done a great job making him proactive throughout the first three episodes. They set this up beautifully by having a Demogorgon retreat from Joyce just because she swings an axe while you see Will being in the Demogorgon's mind. And, when all of his friends are in peril, Will swoops in with whited-out eyes and terrifyingly awesome looks to destroy these Demogorgons Vecna-style. He twists their bodies up and falls to the ground before looking up and wiping his now bloody nose. And volume one ends there. Are you freakin' kidding me???? I just don't have words for it. Nothing in this show is beating the Running Up That Hill sequence in terms of emotion and excitement...but this got pretty dang close. The entire twist was beautifully executed. Leading up to that moment with flashbacks of Will's childhood in the style of the home video that Robin described while her speech plays in the background is just perfect. It feels like the true culmination of Will's character. He's been the victim for so long. It's time for him to become the titular sorcerer that he was destined to be. Also, I totally called it. I have the receipts right here . The reveal was still awesome and way better than I imagined it in that post, but I said this would be the episode were Will unveiled his powers. So, now that I've gushed about that, let's talk about the other stuff in this episode, because there's a lot. I also called the return of 008. I said it in my review of The Turnbow Trap . I even said you guys who are reading this aren't going to believe me if I predicted that correctly, but I don't care if you believe me, because I did. Kali Prasad has returned to Stranger Things , and I am curious. I don't know how to feel about it, to be honest. I love that the Duffers have the confidence to bring her back, but I just hope that they are able to make her a truly great character and improve the reputation of The Lost Sister . As much as Will is the definite MVP of this episode, there are two others that are close behind. Robin Buckley has been one of the best characters in the first volume, and she honestly has some of her best moments here. Her speech to Will about accepting herself for who she is is just so real . Like, how do they do this? They have this incredible story and characters and they manage to blend this epic fantasy about alternate dimensions and monsters with a humanity that is so touching and relatable. Maya Hawke delivers this speech with so much raw emotion and grace that it hits even harder. I love that this was the launching point for Will to unlock his powers, and I really hope their dynamic continues throughout the season. They are just incredible together. And, shockingly, the other great addition here was Max. I was being sarcastic when I said shockingly. She's one of the show's best characters. Sadie Sink might be the best actor on the show. And her return is more than welcome. She's not in a ton of this episode, but we finally see what happened after Vecna killed her. And it is frickin' heartbreaking. Watching Max desperately search for a way out of this mind prison that Vecna has created is just devastating. She gets so close, I mean so close , to getting out of there and reaching Lucas. Sadie Sink's gorgeous delivery makes Max's entire storyline such a tearjerker. I hope to God that she ends up okay. Because I won't be okay if she's not okay. Also, I absolutely called what Camazotz was also. Sorry that I'm flexing my predictions, but this is why I made them. Check that out here . You cannot talk about this episode without talking about the action. The Duffers have truly put their all into this season, because this final battle sequence of the military versus the Demogorgons was just breathtaking. They really do a great job of making it feel chaotic while also allowing you to see the carnage and fighting taking place. There is an incredible long take as we follow Mike navigate the chaos with the kids he's protecting, and it just lets you feel the scope and size of this season. And, of course, the action is capped off with the return of Vecna. Henry Creel finally returns with his new, terrifying redesign, and it is scary. The way he just destroys the military is really, really intimidating. There's a specific kill he has where he just spikes a guy in the face with his nasty Upside Down tendrils that had me and my friends wincing. He is on another level in this season. I expect we will see a lot more of him in volume two, and I cannot wait for it. The Sour I do think this episode has a few problems, but they are so outweighed by the great moments that it doesn't really matter to me. The main thing that bothered me slightly was Vecna's return, actually. The sequence was awesome. He was as scary as ever. I loved all of that. I'm just not really sure why he showed up. It felt very abrupt. Like, I get that the Demogorgons were on fire and he maybe needed to swoop in to annihilate the military and let the kids get kidnapped, but it just feels like he didn't really need to come in. He's supposedly been in hiding for a year and a half, so he just randomly pulls up now? I don't know. I also would've liked to see more of him. If you're going to have him return, have him return and stay . He just massacres the military, taunts Will, and then leaves while the Demogorgons take the kids and try to kill the party. This can easily be remedied by having him just appear a lot more in volume two and the finale, which I expect, but it was just a minor frustration. I am also definitely a little bit nervous about all of these questions that need answering. There's plenty of time left in the season, but I don't want volume two getting bogged down by lore dumps and plot twists. We have to wrap up this incredible story and these incredible characters. I get that we want to tie it back to season one, but I just don't want all the reveals and mythology overshadowing the main conflict and the character arcs. Final Thoughts and Score The first volume of Stranger Things 5 comes to a close with an absolute slam as Will Byers finally gets his time to shine. Waiting for volume two is going to be the longest month of my life. I am going Moldy here. Just kidding. I am obviously going Sweet. Age range is 16+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Sorcerer" "Stranger Things 5" Fun Factor: 9.5/10 Acting: 10/10 Story: 9.5/10 Characters: 10/10 Quality: 10/10 Directed by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and images, language, thematic elements Premiered on November 26, 2025 1 hour and 23 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Jane Hopper / Eleven Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel / Vecna Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler Jake Connelly as Derek Turnbow Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Sherman Augustus as Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan Alex Breaux as Lt. Akers Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield Linnea Berthelsen as Kali Prasad / Eight Eden Stephens as Debbie Miller

We may have some sorcery in here. With the release of Stranger Things 5 volume one, we have plenty of rankings to follow it up. The first is going to be my favorite moments. This was a tough one, because these first four episodes were chock-full of incredible, iconic moments. Some of the biggest reveals we've gotten in the show take place in the first half of this season. We also get some amazing character interactions that I had to include on the list. I just loved so much about this season right off the bat, so here are my top ten favorite moments from volume one. 10. Mike Gives Holly Her D&D Character Chapter One: The Crawl Season five has seen the reemergence of the Mike Wheeler that everyone knows and loves from season one. Mike has had an angsty, unlikable stretch since then, but this season automatically reintroduces him as the loyal "heart" of the party. We see him interact with his little sister for what may be the first time in the show, and he does a great job of cheering her up. She's clearly struggling with the visions of Mr. Whatsit, so Mike gives her a D&D character that he created for her: Holly the Heroic. He tells her that Holly the Heroic will help her whenever she feels lost or scared. Holly later puts the mini-figure on a necklace and wears it for the rest of the season. I love seeing this version of Mike back. It felt like he had lost what made him such a great character in the past, so seeing him be a good older brother felt refreshing. It felt like we were being reintroduced to an old friend who we hadn't seen in a while, and that was really nice. Beyond that, Nell Fisher and Finn Wolfhard are just really good in this scene. Wolfhard gives Mike his typical nerdiness, but you can see that he really cares about his baby sis. Fisher does a great job showing that she really is appreciative of this gift and automatically feels better. This is the type of scene that Stranger Things has always been great at: sweet, touching interactions that really hammer home how much you love these characters. 9. Joyce is Protective of Will Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap This was actually the first clip we ever saw from Stranger Things 5 . The date announcement teaser opened with this shot of Joyce saying "I think about that night all the time. The night it took you." This line opens up a long conversation wherein Joyce explains why she is so protective of Will. You see Winona Ryder really let her son in on some strong vulnerability, and its very powerful. A lot of stuff happens in Stranger Things . It's a very chaotic show. In that chaos, it's easy to overlook character elements like this. It makes total sense that Joyce would feel so guilty about Will being kidnapped. You never really think about the fact that she didn't notice Will was missing until the morning, but when she points that out, you immediately understand this wracking, gnawing guilt that she must have for letting this happen to her son. Beyond that, it really reaffirms both Joyce and Will's character arcs. Joyce's arc feels like a normal parent arc of having to let your kid go on their own eventually, but the way they do it and the context in which this conversation happens just makes it hit harder. Will, on the other hand, is learning how to accept his own identity, and breaking free of Joyce's protectiveness is a part of that. Their reconciliation and acceptance of the other's opinions and feelings just shows how well the Duffers write relationships. And this mother-son one is just so poignant. 8. Rockin' Robin Announces the Crawl Chapter One: The Crawl The introductory episode does a great job of really showing us the group finally being interconnected in Hawkins for the first time in what feels like forever. The pinnacle of this is when Robin announces to the group that they will be performing a crawl through a secret code that she broadcasts from the WSQK radio station. Backed by Diana Ross's Upside Down (yay, Motown!), Robin proceeds to secretly give coordinates and information to the group about the night's crawl. I love how everyone is tuning in and listening. It makes the group feel like some sort of secret spy network working undercover to get into the Upside Down and take out Vecna while avoiding the suspicions of the military. 7. The Turnbow Trap Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap The final sequence before the final reveal of episode three is a doozy. After Erica drugs the entire Turnbow family and they are taken to the McCorkle farm, the rest of the group quickly breaks into their house and begins to set up a bunch of Home Alone -style booby traps for the Demogorgon. I love the montage of them setting it all up, because it really does a good job of planting this Rube Goldberg-esc trap that they are setting so that it is extremely satisfying when we get it in action. Also, if you hand Steve Harrington a chainsaw, I am going to love that. That is automatically awesome. Once you get into the actual action sequence, it is just as incredible. Frank Darabont of The Shawshank Redemption famously came out of retirement to direct this episode, and this is where he really flexes his skill with a camera. Smooth camera movements through this house and exciting, interesting action highlight an incredible sequence that feels like a truly incredible combination of Home Alone and Stranger Things . It ends with Nancy shooting a telemetry tracker into the Demogorgon and it flipping into the Upside Down while Dustin and Steve attempt to follow it in the car. What an action sequence. And what a way to cap off this episode. 6. Max's Near Escape Chapter Four: Sorcerer After she was reintroduced in episode three, Max Mayfield decides to tell us (through telling Holly) what happened to her after she was killed by Vecna. We see that she is stuck in Vecna's memories, and it is just heartbreaking to watch. Sadie Sink delivers an absolutely stunning performance, as always. I love the visual confusion and panic as she runs through this mind maze, having no idea where to go and no plan to escape. What makes it even worse is when she does eventually find her way out. She re-enters Vecna's mind lair and sees a portal open with Lucas sitting at her hospital bedside. Running Up That Hill is playing and allowing this portal to be active. When she says she got so close that she could feel his hand on hers, a part of my soul just broke. She gets so close before the cassette tape stops playing and the portal closes. Ugh. This is truly some of the saddest stuff we get in volume one. Whenever Max does hopefully wake up, that is just going to make the tears flow. 5. Max Finds Holly Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap The final battle of The Turnbow Trap is awesome, but the best moment in that episode comes in it's actual final scene. Earlier in the episode, Holly had received a mysterious letter from someone who claimed to be Henry. The letter told her to go through the woods and meet at the X, which was by some sort of rock cave. The ultimate payoff to this mysterious meet up was, of course, Max, who returns in all her messy-haired, ragged adventurer glory. As soon as Holly got the letter, I had a sneaking suspicion that it was Max. I had honestly expected Holly to run into Max during her time in what we now know to be Camazotz, and it was just as satisfying as I expected when they ran into each other. Even if I did predict it, it was still so much fun to see one of my personal favorite characters on the show make her return. 4. The Final Battle of Volume One Chapter Four: Sorcerer I know it's not the "final" final battle, but I had no idea what else to call this, because it feels just as big as any epic ending fight scene. This is, for my money, the best action sequence in all of Stranger Things . We start off with the group being captured by the military, their plan foiled and everyone now being split up. Robin has taken some of the kids into a truck with Murray. Lucas is helping some of them escape through the tunnels. And Mike, Will, and Joyce were all discovered by the military. And then the Demogorgons show up. What ensues is an absolutely insane fifteen minutes of glorious carnage and epic action. The visuals in this show have come so far since the shadowy Demogorgon of season one. Now, we have epic fight sequences with multiple Demogorgons chomping and slashing soldiers all over the place. The highlight of this sequence is an absolutely stunning long take that puts you right in the middle of the action. We follow Mike as he tries to guide the kids he's protecting through the carnage, and it is one insane freakin' shot. The final incredible capper to this incredible final battle is Vecna's first true appearance in season five. Yes, we've seen him as Mr. Whatsit and in his Henry Creel form or in flashbacks, but this is a newer, more terrifying version of the character that just wipes the floor with the military. He now has Groot-like powers which he uses to stab a soldier through the face with. The Duffers have said that they took inspiration from the iconic Darth Vader hallway sequence from Rogue One here, and that makes sense, because Vecna just goes ham on the military, and it is so much fun to watch. 3. Robin's Speech to Will Chapter Four: Sorcerer Robin and Will are one of my absolute favorite parts of this season thus far. I have always loved Robin, and her character really brings out the best in Will, because she starts to recognize that he may have feelings for Mike. You can tell that these two trust each other, and that really pays off when Robin dumps this absolutely fantastic speech on Will. Maya Hawke kills it here, with a cathartic, resonant delivery of this incredible monologue about accepting yourself for who you are. The feeling of not belonging or not accepting yourself is such a universal experience, and the way Robin describes her overcoming of that is just beautiful. What makes this speech even better is the way in which it is used as a catalyst for a moment that will come later in this list. 2. The Demogorgon Takes Holly Chapter Two: The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler For months, all of us speculated that the unrevealed person who vanishes in episode two would be Holly Wheeler. And all of us were correct. But the Duffers did not disappoint, giving us a thrilling ten-minute cold open to The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler that shows a vicious, terrifying Demogorgon attack in full. I love that it moves seamlessly from the cliffhanger of The Crawl to the insane cold open of this episode. Holly, who has been doubted by her parents because of her seeming hallucinations of Mr. Whatsit, begs her mother to believe her that there is a monster trying to attack her. Karen does not believe her until she sees that Holly's head is bleeding. From there, we get an edge-of-your-seat masterclass in building and releasing tension. Ted Wheeler notices something strange going on in his house and tries to protect his family, but stands absolutely zero chance against the Demogorgon and is slashed across the chest. After this, Karen and Holly make a mad dash for the door, but Karen slips, allowing the Demogorgon to block them from the exit. Cara Buono harnesses her inner mama bear and protects Holly with all her might, but there's only so much a wine bottle can do against a monster with the power of the Upside Down behind it. The creature mauls the crap out of Karen before taking Holly and adding a personal layer to the already massive stakes. Wow. What a way to immediately kick season five into high gear. 1. Will Unlocks His Powers Chapter Four: Sorcerer The moment that everyone is talking about from Stranger Things 5 comes at the end of the fourth episode, and it is glorious. You know, nothing is ever going to top the perfection that the Running Up That Hill sequence in Dear Billy is...but, man oh man, does this come close. Since the very first episode, Will Byers has been a victim. He had a verbally abusive father who left them when he was a child. Joyce, although a good person and a great mother, was just not always able to provide for them after Lonnie left. All of these difficulties were before he was kidnapped by a monster from an alternate dimension. When he came back, he was changed. Not only was he bullied for being the "zombie boy", but he was once again possessed by a creature from the Upside Down. After that, he has struggled with his identity and self-loathing. Season three sees him not being able to grow up because his childhood was stolen from him. Season four sees him start to struggle with his sexuality and, as he puts it, feeling like a mistake. And, in this season, we see him start to come into his own. Little by little, Will starts to gain his confidence. He starts to stand up to Joyce. His friendship with Robin encourages him to fight back a little more. And, of course, her speech about accepting her identity leads into this incredible flashback where we see the most important moments of Will's life that have previously been described to us in this Super 8 montage. After being taunted by Vecna for being weak, Will is tossed to the ground while the Demogorgons all leap at his friends to strike killing blows. And Will Byers accepts his identity and uses his connection to the hive mind to harness his previously undiscovered superpowers. He then raises the Demogorgons up in the air and kills them by twisting up their limbs in the same way as Vecna. The themes that tie into this character are universally understood by everyone. Accepting your own identity is one of the most important keys to leading a happy life. Will, who has been beaten down by constant trauma and bullying and things not going his way, finally is able to accept himself for who he really is and gets one of the most badass moments I have ever seen in a show as a reward. This is how you cap off the first volume of your epic final season. This sequence, this moment, this episode, this season, this show...it's all just perfect.

Eat your pie. One episode left, guys. I just watched The Turnbow Trap last night and I will be watching Sorcerer tonight. I have (for right now) evaded all spoilers, so I am just out of my mind excited to see this mid-season finale. God. I cannot believe we are nearly halfway through the final season of Stranger Things . I am going to be devastated when this show ends. Also, spoilers ahead for the first three episodes of Stranger Things 5 . The Sweet I think this was probably my favorite of the first three episodes, which was surprising. The way Stranger Things seasons tend to work, it does usually take about three episodes for it to get going. Usually, the first episode is fun because you enjoy being back in this world with these characters. The second episode meanders a bit and you feel the dragging of the setup. The third episode is usually the most frustrating of the bunch, because it still drags with setup while also hinting at where we're actually going. The Turnbow Trap is none of that. Instead, it's just pure, classic Stranger Things at its best. Legendary filmmaker Frank Darabont of The Shawshank Redemption actually came out of retirement to direct a few episodes of this season. This is the first one he directed, and it is just such a complete blast. After Holly's disappearance and Will's realization that Vecna's next target is Derek Turnbow, the group decides to set the titular "Turnbow Trap". And chaos ensues. What makes this episode so much fun is how it does really feel like vintage Stranger Things . The whole idea of the Turnbow trap feels like a classic trope of this show, but not one that's been overused. It's a layered, complex plan that feels built out so you understand exactly the characters's goals and the consequences that will occur if they fail. There's a whole montage of the group setting up Home Alone style traps for the Demogorgon, and when the monster does show up, we get an incredible action sequence that feels exciting and earned. I was just grinning ear to ear during that entire part. God, I love this show. This season is also doing a fantastic job of giving us bits and pieces of its mystery. The big overarching mystery is what Vecna's true intentions are, and every small piece of that is a mystery in and of itself. We know that Will is connected to his ultimate plan, but we don't really know how or why. I expect that Holly and these other kidnappings are also a part of it. There's a gigantic wall in the Upside Down that seems significant. Everything seems interconnected, and you can feel this all building to something. I also loved that this episode felt a little bit lighter than the first two. This season is dark. It's probably going to get darker. The outlook is bleak. All hope seems kind of lost, but The Turnbow Trap really relies on its fun character dynamics and humor to make this feel, again, like a classic, great Stranger Things episode. Murray's appearance is really hilarious and well done. Hopper and Eleven have some cute interactions. Erica returns and is the frickin' highlight of the episode . And Mr. Clarke is back!!! Like, oh my God, there was just so much to love here. I also absolutely adored everything with Holly. Something bad is brewing. You can tell. I said it in my first two reviews of The Crawl and The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler , but there is just this impending sense of doom lurking in the shadows of this season. And all of that is felt with Holly's little side quest here. She's in this eerily safe version of the Creel House with an uncomfortably friendly Henry who does ominously warn her not to go in the woods. Of course, halfway through the episode, she receives a letter that tells her to go through the woods and meet up with someone she thinks to be Henry. As soon as I saw that frickin' letter, I knew exactly where this was going. And I was so excited. Max Mayfield has made her glorious return to Stranger Things , and I could not be more happy. I have theorized for a while that Holly would encounter Max if she is indeed the one who vanishes, and alas, I was correct. Not to say that this was predictable in any way shape or form: I still have zero clue where they are or why Max is there. I assume it's some sort of mind prison that Vecna has created, but I don't know. And I cannot wait to find out. I am also loving what they are doing with Will. This poor guy has been sidelined since season two, and the Duffers have promised that he will be front and center this season. So far, they have lived up to that promise. He is actively a part of what's going on and really feels like he has his own arc. I love his pairing with Robin. I raved about that in my review of episode two. There's a conversation he has here with Joyce about why she's so overprotective of him that I found to be really poignant and touching. It feels so real, which is what Stranger Things has always been so good at. Blending this insane supernatural story about monsters and alternate dimensions with characters who have such real, rich emotions is what makes this show so incredible. I feel like there's a million more things I could say that I loved, because I just adored this episode. I thought basically every scene was a banger. I will close out my positives with this: I am very, very curious to see who is behind that door that Eleven saw in the soldier's mind. El said it was Vecna. I do not think it was. I think they are hiding Kali Prasad, ladies and gentleman. I think 008 will be making her return to the show imminently. You heard it here first (hopefully). And, if she does somehow return in episode four, I am writing this before I've watched it. So I promise (even though there's no real way to prove it) that I am not cheating here. The Sour Honestly, I barely have any negatives here. My only slight negative is the Hopper-Eleven stuff. I love these two characters. They are both in my top five as far as Stranger Things characters go. And I think they are great in this season so far. I'm just not as invested in their little adventure in the Upside Down as I am in the other stuff going on. I feel like they've been separated from the main group, and I really want to see everyone back together. I also think I was spoiled by season four, but I honestly wouldn't mind these episodes being a little bit longer. There's so much plot and action and excitement going on that it feels like we don't have a chance to breathe. I want more moments like the Will-Joyce conversation in this episode or the Mike-Holly conversation in the first episode. I love these characters. I want to savor every last minute with them. But I acknowledge that I am a Stranger Things mega-fan and I could watch eight four-hour episodes and not get tired of it, so that's probably just me. Final Thoughts and Score The Turnbow Trap continues the rampant build of season five's tension and excitement. I cannot wait to watch Sorcerer .. and then have to experience the inevitably excruciating wait that will be between now and volume two. I am, of course, going Sweet here. Age range is 12+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "The Turnbow Trap" "Stranger Things 5" Fun Factor: 10/10 Acting: 9/10 Story: 9.5/10 Characters: 10/10 Quality: 9.5/10 Directed by Frank Darabont Rated TV-MA for moderate violence, frightening themes and images, language, thematic elements Premiered on November 26, 2025 1 hour and 6 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Jane Hopper / Eleven Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler Jake Connelly as Derek Turnbow Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Sherman Augustus as Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan Caroline Elle Abrams as Tina Turnbow Gray Hawks as Ken Turnbow Alex Breaux as Lt. Akers Kelly Collins Lintz as Mrs. Turnbow Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield

Can you see them, William? Stranger Things 5 released its first volume this past week (as everyone and their mother knows), so I am continuing my extensive coverage. We only got four episodes, which I found to be great, because I want to savor this final season. All four of these episodes were pretty great, with some of them giving us some newly iconic moments. I am so excited for volume two. It's been literally two days since I finished volume one and the wait for volume two has already been painful. Anyways, here's my ranking of the volume one episodes. 4. Chapter Two: The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler A terrifying cold open leads to an emotional second episode The mysterious second episode ended up being The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler , which pretty much everyone expected. And the vanishing itself did not disappoint. The Demogorgon's attack on the Wheelers was a thrilling, unnerving sequence that culminated in a great but tragic moment for Karen Wheeler. Once Holly does vanish, things kick into high gear. The stakes, which felt epic immediately, now have a personal side to them. After the cold open, however, it does feel like this episode slows down a bit. I love Will and Robin's pairing and I think the characters get some great moments, but this episode has the least memorable moments throughout. And, although I was excited about it initially, the reveal of Vecna being Mr. Whatsit is a little bit underwhelming. Like, it was the most obvious person for it to be. But it's fine. This is still a great episode. 3. Chapter One: The Crawl The newly quarantined Hawkins is a fun yet sad place to reintroduce our characters Is this episode exposition heavy? Sure. Does it feel a little clunky in it's execution? Maybe. Is it a fantastic reintroduction to this broken season five world? Absolutely. Seeing where the whole cast is at at this point in the show feels more emotional than ever, because they all lost. Everyone wants to find Vecna and kill him, so it gives you this feeling of desperation and urgency when they are talking about the crawls and how badly they want to end all of this. Likewise, some of the characters who have been sidelined in previous seasons, like Mike and Will, are put front and center and given some actual likable or important characterization. It also feels refreshing for all of the characters to be in Hawkins and trying to achieve the same goal. There's just so much to love in this first episode. It opened season five in a really powerful and fun way. 2. Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap A classic Stranger Things mix of great character moments, stunning action, and fantastic surprises The Duffers said The Turnbow Trap was the most classic-feeling episode of Stranger Things in volume one, and they could not have been more correct. This episode feels like everything you want in a Stranger Things adventure. It's got incredibly fun character dynamics and moments. We finally get to meet Erica's best friend (now nemesis), Tina who she's talked about a ton before. The episode's third act is a visual feast, with this epic Home Alone -style action sequence where the party tries to pin a tracker on a Demogorgon. The final little reveal of the episode is the return of Max Mayfield, who is one of my personal favorite characters on the show. This episode just encapsulates everything I love about this show. It was so much fun. 1. Chapter Four: Sorcerer A jaw-dropping mid-season finale with massive payoffs for the whole series The mid-season finale of Stranger Things 5 did not disappoint. In fact, it was honestly surprising with how insane it was. Before the ending, we get some fantastic, iconic sequences. Eleven and Hopper's little invasion of the lab in the Upside Down is great. It's so much fun to actually see the two of them together, and I cannot wait to see more. Max's story of being stuck in Camazotz is devastating, with Sadie Sink delivering an incredible performance as always. But the thing that makes this episode as amazing as it is is the final action sequence. It is non-stop Demogorgon/military action for, like, twenty minutes...and then it is capped off with Vecna's epic return. He massacres the soldiers before taunting Will and just leaving. The Demogorgons look like they are about to take out Mike, Robin, and Lucas...before Will unveils his powers and twists up the Demogorgons like he's Vecna. What an episode. What a sequence. And what a frickin' ending.

One last adventure. Stranger Things is a 2016-2025 television series created by Matt and Ross Duffer, produced by 21 Laps Entertainment and Monkey Massacre Productions, and distributed by Netflix. The fifth and final season stars Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp. "At long last, we can begin." - Vecna Plot A year and a half after Vecna tore through downtown Hawkins, the military has taken over. While they proceed on a manhunt for Eleven, the party gathers together to find and kill Vecna and end this nightmare once and for all. There will be spoilers ahead. I'm not going into deep detail , but if you haven't seen the episodes, I recommend you do not read. The Sweet We are so back, baby. The first half of Stranger Things 5 was released this past Wednesday, and, although I did a review of each individual episode, I wanted to sum up my thoughts in a whole review. If you want to read more specifics, check out my episode reviews, because this will be very general. Right off the bat, the thing I loved about season five was finally having all of the characters together in Hawkins. We haven't had this since season one. Season two split up all of the main characters and had Eleven on her own journey the whole time. Season three had the characters even more split up. And, of course, season four had the characters split across three different states and two different continents. So it feels like a breath of fresh air to have all of the characters stuck in the hellhole that Hawkins has become. Because of this, we get plenty of awesome new dynamics. The best of the bunch is, by far, Will Byers and Robin Buckley. The Duffers smartly paired up the two gay characters in the show, and it allows both of them to really thrive. Robin, who is leading a successful, albeit secret, love life with Vickie is discovered by a closeted Will. This, however, allows them to actually connect, and Robin can sense that Will might be gay also. She then encourages him to accept himself and his identity, leading to the enormous, incredible ending of Sorcerer (which we will get to). Beyond that, Robin's chatty awkwardness actually meshes very well with Will's quiet, more reserved personality. They bounce off each other really well, but not in the way you'd expect. A lot of that is due to the great performances of Noah Schnapp and Maya Hawke. Schnapp is able to do a lot subtly with Will, while Hawke is able to do a lot loudly with Robin. It's a really fun dynamic that has honestly been one of my favorite aspects of the season. I also love that this season blends the insanely huge production value of season four with the personal emotions of season one. The Duffers have said that season five is a combination of those two seasons specifically, and you feel that in the way this production is put on. It has the epic scope and size of season four, but on a much more personal level, which feels akin to season one. It is blending the best of Stranger Things , and I love that. I also genuinely do not think there is a bad plot line thus far in the season. Every season of Stranger Things , maybe with the exception of season one, has a few weaker storylines. Whether it's the Kali subplot in season two, the Russia stuff in season three, or the California crew in season four, each season has a weakest link. Season five does not. All of the plot lines feel interesting and integral to the overall narrative. When it cuts away from one plot line to another, there's a jolt of excitement every single time. Likewise, the season really puts the pedal to the metal immediately. Most of the seasons take a second to get going: season five is full throttle right off the bat. You get to the end of episode one / beginning of episode two, and there is a full-on inciting incident with huge implications. We are thrust into the action immediately, and I absolutely love it. Speaking of action, this season has, by far, the best action sequences we have ever seen in this show. The reported budget of the season was $40 million per episode, and that money seems to have been well spent, because these action sequences feel cinematic. Every single episode has some crazy exciting set piece. Episode one has the titular crawl. Episode two's cold open is an incredibly tense thrill ride. Episode three's titular Turnbow trap is one of the most fun sequences of the season. And episode four, Sorcerer , gives us this massive battle between the Demogorgons and the military that culminates in an epic Vecna return and a jaw-dropping plot twist that will make you want to leap off your couch and cheer. I am a student at University of Michigan, so I unfortunately went to the Michigan-OSU game today, and Will revealing his powers was the most I've felt like cheering this entire weekend. That is a huge compliment to Stranger Things and a huge knock on Sherrone Moore. And yet, in the biggest and boldest season yet, Stranger Things never loses sight of what made it special in the first place. These characters are so relatable and real, despite all of the fantastical things occurring around them. Will's struggle with his identity feels so relevant and powerful in today's day and age. Dustin's anger and pain in Eddie being hated manifests in this rebellious, sadder version of the character that is a natural progression of that arc. Joyce and Hopper's juxtaposed overprotectiveness of their respective children is so naturally human. The Duffers just know how to tap into that soft, touching side of the human experience in the midst of all of this insanity. That's what Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are best at, and Stranger Things is a mix of both of them. I am also very intrigued as to what the final reveals of this show are going to be. We know they are coming. There are so many questions, but it feels like they are all going to tie together. Somehow, the truth about the Upside Down and the reasoning behind Vecna kidnapping all of these kids will come out, and I cannot wait. They are doing a great job of getting you invested in this mystery and letting you ride out this wave of theorizing before finally giving us answers at the end of December. So, yeah. So far, Stranger Things 5 is off to about as good of a start as I could've hoped. It's got everything I wanted: an epic scale, huge stakes that feel both cataclysmic and personal, emotional moments, incredible action, and series-long payoffs that are bound to make you want to cheer in your living room. The Sour I don't have much here, guys. There's a few things I could point out, but honestly, nothing really detracts from any of these episodes. They are all great. They all feel like they are trending towards a slam-bang finale. So any minor negatives I have are really just nitpicks. The one thing that does worry me slightly (although not really) is the final lore reveals. I don't want this show getting bogged down by some epic mythology and have that be the focus instead of wrapping up these characters. The reason everyone loves this show is because of it's characters, so as much as I care about learning more about the Upside Down and Vecna's true plan, I want them to focus first on giving these characters a satisfying ending. I also do wish Vecna was in a bit more of this first batch of episodes. He does show up in his normal form as well as in his Henry Creel / Mr. Whatsit form, but he's really not in that much of it. He's much more of a looming presence, and I wish we got more direct screen time with him. I want him to threaten our protagonists, which he does at the end of Sorcerer , but then just dips back out to the Upside Down. I love that the party is being proactive in hunting down Vecna, but I want to see that retaliated by Vecna also being proactive and trying to take down the party. I expect to see him more in volume two, though, so this really isn't that big of a deal. Final Thoughts and Score I pretty much got exactly what I wanted from Stranger Things 5 . It's exciting, heartfelt, and delivers some iconic moments for the show. I cannot wait a month for the final half of this season. It's going to be excruciating. I am, of course, going Sweet here. Age range is 14+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Stranger Things 5" Fun Factor: 10/10 Acting: 9/10 Story: 9.5/10 Characters: 10/10 Quality: 9.5/10 Created by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and images, language, thematic elements Premiered on November 26, 2025 Episode runtime: 60 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Jane Hopper / Eleven Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel / Vecna Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler Jake Connelly as Derek Turnbow Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Sherman Augustus as Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan Alex Breaux as Lt. Akers Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay Linnea Berthelsen as Kali Prasad / Eight Amybeth McNulty as Vickie Dunne Clayton Royal Johnson as Andy

Who could it be? Episode two of Stranger Things 5 has been one of the most speculated about elements of the season...and we were basically all correct about what it was going to be. Spoilers ahead if you have not seen episodes ONE AND TWO of Stranger Things 5 . The Sweet So, yes, this episode kicks off with the vanishing of... Holly Wheeler. To the surprise of absolutely nobody! But that's fine, because that sequence ruled. Ross Duffer teased this episode's cold open a while back, and it lived up to the hype. The tension that had built up during The Crawl was paid off beautifully with this ten-minute long thrill ride as a Demogorgon viciously attacks the Wheeler household. I love the slow, intense build as Karen realizes that Holly is telling the truth while Ted stalks through the house, trying to investigate what all the flickering lights are about. The sequence also has some serious consequences as the Demogorgon just annihilates Ted and Karen (but somehow does not kill either of them) and takes Holly, seemingly to Vecna. One of my best friends actually pointed this out, but in episode three of season one (titled Holly, Jolly ), the Demogorgon actually almost takes Holly when she was just a baby. I have no idea if that is meant to be a full circle moment, but I actually think we will find out. If that is truly a full circle moment, this is some incredibly genius writing by the Duffers. The final moments of this episode are just as dread-inducing as the first moments, albeit for a completely different reason. I said this in my review of The Crawl , but from the first moments of this season, there's this impending sense of doom, and that continues here. You really feel the dread and danger in the final moments as it is revealed that Holly's unsettling imaginary friend is actually Henry Creel. I don't know the implications of this. I don't know what it means. But I am incredibly, incredibly intrigued. This episode also continues to give each of our characters some great moments and interactions. We knew Will was going to be a focus of this season, but I really love the arc that they're setting him on. Joyce does not want him putting himself in danger, but he does not want to sit around and do nothing while Holly is stuck in the Upside Down. That's a great way to utilize his character, and I hope they continue to put him in the forefront of this season. Speaking of Will, pairing him up with Robin was a stroke of genius that I did not expect. Stranger Things loves its unexpected duos, and Robin and Will might be the newest one on that list. Robin's cooky-ness allows for her to help Will escape from Joyce's demands that he stay put and stay safe, and that just creates this fun, engaging friendship that I really enjoyed. They are also the two gay characters on the show, so I am curious to see how they approach that element. Will is closeted to seemingly everyone, so maybe he'll open up to Robin later down the line. Natalia Dyer was also a standout in this episode. The acting in Stranger Things has always been great, and there are even some highlights that I didn't mention in The Crawl . Gaten Matarazzo has been bringing a real emotion to Dustin through these first two episodes. Nell Fisher is fantastic as the new version of Holly Wheeler. Millie Bobby Brown is giving us the best version of Eleven since season one. But the best performance thus far is absolutely Natalia Dyer, who really hits the emotions in a more subtle way than you'd expect. There's a scene at the beginning of this episode where she is washing Karen's blood off her hands, and you see her slowly break down. It is heartbreaking to watch, and all of it is due to Dyer's fantastic performance. I also think this episode is doing a really good job of building out the mystery of this season that may tie back to the mysteries of the whole show. Why was Will kidnapped? Why was Holly now kidnapped? What is the Upside Down? What is Vecna's endgame? All of these questions are kind of raised by the characters in this episode. The Duffers have said that this season was going to be a combination of seasons one and four, and that's what it feels like so far. It has the massive scope and epic feel of season four with the small-town, eerie mystery of season one. I am curious if that will stay throughout. The Sour This episode was also great, but there were a few more problems here than there were with episode one. First off, I was not a huge fan of Hopper and Eleven's interactions. Not because they weren't good. I actually thought the dialogue was pretty solid and Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour are both fantastic. It just felt like it was rehashing beats from the past. As great as Hopper's backstory is, we've seen it. We know that Sarah died. We know that he's afraid of losing El like he did Sarah. So him telling her that does not really have the emotional weight it should, because we've already felt that before. Secondly, I was a little bit frustrated that both Karen and Ted survived. Now, I haven't watched episodes three and four yet. I have no idea if anyone else dies. I have no idea if Karen and Ted even make it through volume one. But as of right now, it still feels like the Duffers don't have the balls to truly kill anyone major off. And Karen and Ted aren't even major characters, but if they had died, it would've really left a mark on the beginning of the season. I understand that we at least need Karen alive for the reveal of Vecna being Holly's imaginary friend, but they could've found another way to do that if Karen had died. I don't know. It just feels like somebody has got to go at some point. Finally, I do think the questions that this season are raising scare me. I have all the faith in the world in the Duffers and the rest of the creative time behind this show. It's Stranger Things . The entire show is fantastic and has always been really good about giving satisfying answers to mysteries in the past. But these mysteries are so complex and so consequential to the entire plot of the show that it makes me really nervous. So who knows? This is a concern I will address more as we inch closer to the final major reveals. Final Thoughts and Score The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler was a slight step down from The Crawl , but it delivered a thrilling cold open, a very unsettling plot development, and continued great character work. Sure, there are some repetitive beats, but the good just far outweighs the bad. I am still going Sweet here. Age range is 15+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler" "Stranger Things 5" Fun Factor: 9/10 Acting: 9.5/10 Story: 8.5/10 Characters: 8.5/10 Quality: 9/10 Directed by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and imagery, language, thematic elements Premiered on November 26, 2025 57 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Jane Hopper / Eleven Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Sherman Augustus as Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel

Burn commencing in five..four... So I do plan on releasing a full volume one review once I've watched the whole thing (that will probably come out Friday night or Saturday morning), but for now, I'm posting my quick thoughts on each individual episodes. I am savoring the final season of this incredible show, so I am not binging the whole thing at once. I did, however, watch the first two episodes tonight. And there will be spoilers, so if you haven't watched it, please click away. The Sweet Look. Before I get into this review, let me say that I am one hundred percent biased. I have been waiting for three and a half very long years to watch this season, and in that time, my expectations have skyrocketed and my love for the series and its characters has grown. So I have a difficult time looking at this with a critical lens, because it's such a blur of excitement and emotion that we've finally reached its release. That said, this premiere was amazing. Was it perfect? No, but it did exactly what I expected it to do. It made it clear that the stakes are the highest they've ever been and the insanity is cranked up to eleven (no pun intended). The thing that I really appreciated about this was finally seeing all of our characters in the same place for the first time in what feels like forever. When was the last time we had a full episode with multiple scenes between Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin? That's refreshing. Everyone being in Hawkins and being in close proximity makes this season feel even tighter and more emotional. Everyone has the same mission: find and kill Vecna. You feel every character's motivation and fears as they scour the Upside Down and Hawkins for any sign of him. This episode also has some unexpected and very welcome stars. It has been a long, long time since Mike Wheeler has been one of the best characters on the show, but he is the standout in this premiere. Him and his two sisters. That's right. Nancy, who is obviously always great, is a standout, but Nell Fisher's Holly Wheeler gets her time to shine, too, and it is amazing. The show also feels both darker and more epic than it ever has. I guess maybe it's just as dark as season four, but there's a sense of impending doom that you have throughout the episode. The tension just keeps on building, because you know that the group is eventually going to find Vecna or find some sign of him, so you are just waiting with baited breath for that to happen. But also, because Vecna is in hiding, it takes us through the whole Upside Down and really lets you feel the scope of this epic final season. I also really loved the military quarantine as a backdrop. The way that the group is operating almost as this underground spy network trying to secretly search for Vecna makes it really, really exciting and intense. The final twenty minutes, where they perform the actual crawl, is just so much fun. Every character has a role in this epic plan, and every role feels important. Stranger Things is always great about having these epic, interconnected sequences, and they show that off immediately in the first episode. Finally, this is the most gorgeous Stranger Things has looked...ever. Between the cinematography, color grading, and absolutely stunning visual effects, this show has never looked better. It's ludicrous $40 million per episode budget looks like it is paying off in full, because almost every shot here is just beautiful. The Sour Again, I am just so excited that this show is finally here that I am not really focusing on my negatives. I don't even really have that many, so I'm just going to touch on them quickly. I was not crazy about Steve and Jonathan in this first episode. We know their love triangle with Nancy is a huge part of this show, but it felt a little bit overdone in this introductory entry. Like, we get it. They're competitive. They want to show off for her. But in the grand scheme of things, with Hawkins being quarantined and Vecna being out there, this love story feels so inconsequential. We don't need it so shoved in our face. I think it'd be better if they added some subtlety to it instead of having them so overtly compete for Nancy's affection. This isn't even really a negative, but there's a lot going on in this first episode, and it can sometimes feel like a lot to keep track of. Holly has a very eerie imaginary (or maybe not so imaginary?) friend. The crawl is happening. Eleven wants to join the crawl but Hopper won't let her. Dustin is being bullied for his support of Eddie and the Hellfire Club. Will is having some weird visions. He also spots Robin kissing Vickie. Dr. Kay and the military are searching for Eleven. And then, in the end, a Demogorgon attacks the military truck during the crawl and then breaks into the Wheeler house. That's a very, very dense first episode. So much to keep track of, and it can sometimes be overwhelming. But honestly, who cares? This was awesome. It was exactly the kick off I hoped for in season five. Final Thoughts and Score The Crawl is an exciting, ambitious premiere for the final season of Stranger Things . It hits basically every beat I wanted it to. I cannot wait to watch the rest of this season. This gets a Sweet. Age range is 14+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Chapter One: The Crawl" "Stranger Things 5" Fun Factor: 9/10 Acting: 9.5/10 Story: 9/10 Characters: 9.5/10 Quality: 9/10 Directed by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-MA for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and imagery, language, thematic elements Premiered on November 26, 2025 1 hour and 11 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Jane Hopper / Eleven Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers David Harbour as Jim Hopper Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay Amybeth McNulty as Vickie Dunne Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield Jake Connelly as Derek Turnbow Clayton Royal Johnson as Andy Sherman Augustus as Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan Jamie Campbell Bower as Henry Creel / Vecna

Every ending has a beginning. Stranger Things is a 2016-present television series created by Matt and Ross Duffer, produced by 21 Laps Entertainment and Monkey Massacre Productions, and distributed by Netflix. The second season stars Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour. It was nominated for twelve Primetime Emmys and did not win any. "What have you done?" - Martin Brenner Plot With Hopper gone and Hawkins still recovering, the party is split up. High school brings new challenges and social problems...but then a familiar evil returns, this time with a plan. Despite being scattered across the world, the members of the party must fight the Upside Down once more...only this time, they are facing something more horrifying than anything come before it. The Sweet Stranger Things 's fourth season feels like it fixes all of the problems that seasons two and three had. This season feels like the show goes back to the tone and feel of the first season. One of the things that this season does not get enough praise for is one of its simplest elements: it's a mystery. Season one is a mystery. We are trying to figure out what took Will and how, but when we move into seasons two and three, there's really no mystery. Season four's mystery is completely centered around Vecna: who is he, how did he get in the Upside Down, and why is he killing? The show understands that these are the questions in the audience's mind, so it continues to tease you through the story, dropping little hints here and there while also keeping you invested in the main plot. One of the best parts of this season, which is new to Stranger Things entirely, is, of course, the main villain. Vecna received universal acclaim upon his first appearance in this season, and it was completely warranted. Just his look makes him a scary, intimidating villain, but really, it's nice to have an actual character rather than just a monster as our main antagonist. Vecna has goals and plans. He threatens and taunts our heroes. The way he kills people is so memorable and terrifying. As I said before, he's the central mystery of the season, and the slow, dawning realization of his true identity and backstory is just so much fun. I love how well the mystery of his connection to the Creels and to Hawkins Lab slowly comes together to show us that he is the son of Victor and 001. It feels like a real, full-circle moment to give us 001 as our big bad of the entire series. The Duffers described season four as their Game of Thrones season, and that comparison feels accurate in terms of scope and size. Stranger Things becomes expansive and epic in its fourth season, with a gigantic budget and this long, dense runtimes. The finale of this season is literally two and a half hours long. And you feel this huge scope across the entire production. We're in multiple different states and realms and even continents, and all of it is just thrilling. I love how well each storyline converges by the time we reach the finale. The Piggyback should not work: finishing up a season of TV by giving us an episode with a runtime longer than a lot of movies feels like it's just too much. And yet, the episode flies by. Everything is set up so well by the story that came before it so by the time you reach this epic, feature-length finale, it's just an explosion of action, excitement, and emotions. This is where I think Stranger Things has really pushed the boundary of what I am calling "cinematic TV". It started with Game of Thrones and has been continued by Stranger Things . TV no longer feels like a separate medium: Stranger Things feels more epic than a lot of film franchises nowadays. And, yet, in all of the epic-ness and expanded lore and locations, season four never loses the heart of the show. What makes Stranger Things special is this Spielberg-esc soul that it has, where it remembers to make it's characters feel like humans we can relate to dealing with extraordinary situations. If anything, season four captures the heart more than two and three do. It has some of the best character work of the entire series. It has some of the most emotional beats. It really does a great job of making sure that the story still has this soulful, touching energy that was so pivotal to what made the other seasons of the show great. One of the things that this season truly does not get a lot of credit for is how well it executes certain returning characters. Now, obviously, Stranger Things has a lot of great characters, but season four really shines the spotlight on some underrated ones. Max has become universally beloved, but that's only because of season four. She's fun in seasons two and three, but season four just gives her this heart-wrenching, emotional story that really shows her character in a different light. Part of what makes her arc so emotional and impactful is her relationship with Lucas, who also gets a massively improved story in this season. Like Max, Lucas has always felt like a fun side character, but here, he gets a ton of actual character growth. We see him try to fit in with the basketball guys, but when he learns they are going after his friends, he abandons them. His romance with Max, which was just kind of a side couple, is given the spotlight here as you see how much they both care about each other but how they are also having trouble reaching the other because of where they are at emotionally. It's easy to forget that before season four, these characters were not top-tier Stranger Things characters, but now, they are. And, of course, how can you not talk about Eddie Munson when talking about Stranger Things season four. Since starring in this season three years ago, Joseph Quinn has absolutely exploded onto the scene. He was in Gladiator II and A Quiet Place: Day One before obviously being cast as Human frickin' Torch in the MCU's Fantastic Four. This all happened because he is so good as this lovable, punk-rock icon of Stranger Things . Eddie's entire arc revolves around the town of Hawkins hating him because they think he is the one behind Vecna's killings, when really, he is just this outcast with a heart of gold. He deals with inner turmoil because he feels he always runs from danger, but in the end, he sacrifices himself by not running and holding off the Demobats a bit longer to save the town that despises him. He is an absolutely tragic character but is one of the most iconic and beloved in the show for a reason. This season also feels like it has some of the highest highs of Stranger Things . The Running Up That Hill sequence in Dear Billy is probably my second-favorite sequence in all of TV (behind the Red Wedding). I have praised Dear Billy ridiculous amounts and, in my final episode ranking, you can see where I have it (spoiler alert: it's pretty high), so I don't want to dedicate an entire section of this review to it, because there are so many incredible moments in this season. Hopper's reunion with Eleven. Master of Puppets . The Vecna twist. Chrissy's entire storyline. Brenner's final moments. Like, it is just chock-full of some of the best stuff we've ever gotten from Stranger Things . I also feel like this season sets the stage for a truly epic final season. Season three was my favorite when it came out (upon rewatch that is no longer the case), but if you watch the end of it, it doesn't really set us up for a finale. Season four, on the other hand, gives you this huge, epic cliffhanger that just leaves you salivating for the fifth season. It has been an oh so long wait, but it is crazy to me that we are finally getting that fifth and final season next week . I think Stranger Things 5 would've been my most anticipated show of the year no matter what, because it's the final season of my favorite TV series, but the perfection of season four just made it all the more exciting and made me all the more antsy for the end of this amazing, beautiful story. The Sour To me, the negatives of this season are so overshadowed by the positives that they don't really bother me, but there are definitely a few problems with this season. First off, like most Stranger Things seasons, it takes a second to get going. We spend probably a little bit too much time watching Eleven get bullied, and it sets her on this arc of trying to figure out if she's a monster...and I just don't enjoy it. I think the monster arc is fine, but I don't think her getting bullied is a good comparison to her possibly murdering children in Hawkins Lab. Like, these girls at school are psychopaths . They are torturing her and taunting her (supposedly) dead father. Angela, the lead bully, deserves to get hit in the face with a skate. I'm glad it's only two episodes, but I kind of wish it wasn't in the season at all. I also find Jason Carver and the Hawkins mob to be a bit too cartoonish for my taste. It feels like the Duffers wanted to make the town of Hawkins feel like an actual character and show what the Upside Down is doing to its citizens, but I think there was a better route to take than a group of high school basketball jocks turning the town on a D&D club that is supposedly a satanic cult. Like, even describing that, it just sounds kind of stupid. I think it gets too cartoonish and I think Jason is just a badly written character, unfortunately. And, finally, as much as I love season four's epic runtime and scope, it's a bit of a jarring change of pace from the first three seasons. This isn't a huge deal, but I do think it feels a bit weird when you go from the relatively self-contained nature of the first three seasons to this epic fourth season where every episode is over an hour long. As someone who obviously adores Stranger Things , I loved every single aspect of that, but if you are a more casual viewer, I can see this extended length and enlarged scope being a bit overwhelming. Final Thoughts and Score Stranger Things 4 is a basically perfect penultimate season of TV. This is neck-and-neck with season one for me, and to even be in competition that good just shows how good of a season this is. I am going Sweet here. Age range is 14+. SWEET N' SOUR SCALE Sweet (Great) Savory (Good) Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible) "Stranger Things 4" Fun Factor: 9.5/10 Acting: 9.5/10 Story: 9/10 Characters: 9.5/10 Quality: 9.5/10 Created by Matt and Ross Duffer Rated TV-14 for strong bloody violence, language, frightening themes and images, thematic elements Premiered on May 27, 2022 Episode runtime: 1 hour and 10 minutes Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven David Harbour as Jim Hopper Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman Eduardo Franco as Argyle Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna Paul Reiser as Sam Owens Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair Tom Wlaschiha as Dmitri Antonov Mason Dye as Jason Carver Grace Van Dien as Chrissy Cunningham Myles Truitt as Patrick McKinney Nikola Ðuričko as Yuri Ismaylov Rob Morgan as Calvin Powell John Reynolds as Phil Callahan Sherman Augustus as Jack Sullivan Gabriella Pizzolo as Suzie Bingham Elodie Grace Orkin as Angela Amybeth McNulty as Vickie Logan Riley Bruner as Fred Benson Robert Englund as Victor Creel Tristan Spohn as Two

We made it. I cannot believe the day is finally here. Stranger Things 5 releases TONIGHT. This wait has felt like ages, but we have made it. I am at a loss for words with how excited I am. Anyways, my final post leading up to Stranger Things 5 is going to be my death predictions. The Duffers have always been bad about killing off main characters, but I bet that will change in season five. I guess we will see at 8 o'clock tonight. Oh my God. I'm so excited. I cannot believe it's here. 15. Holly Wheeler We know she'll be in danger, but killing her would seem cruel Holly is the character everyone expects to vanish this season, so she will definitely be in peril. However, she will likely be the youngest of the main cast, so killing her off just seems mean. I can't say she's entirely safe because she will likely be in danger throughout the season, but it just doesn't seem like it'd be earned. Although Holly has been in every season, she's never been a main character, so her death would just feel unsatisfying in every way. 14. Dustin Henderson If you don't kill Steve, killing Dustin would be just as devastating Of the main kids, Dustin seems like he's in the least danger. Again, killing him would just feel pointless. He's been through a lot with Eddie's death already, and he doesn't seem like the type that would put himself in front of everyone else. Unless they really, really want to break everyone's hearts, Dustin should be safe, but I don't really feel one hundred percent sure about anyone living this season out. But if I were to make a bet about a major character living, Dustin would be the one. 13. Lucas Sinclair Unless he sacrifices himself for Max, Lucas should make it through this season They've heavily marketed Lucas to be in danger, which makes me think he's probably safe. They did the same thing with Steve in season four: they made it seem like he was absolute toast and then he made it. Unlike Dustin, however, Lucas has a reason to die: Max. Maybe he could sacrifice himself to let Max wake up or to save her life. I don't know if that would happen. I don't know if it would be satisfying. But that's the only real reason I could see Lucas dying. 12. Mike Wheeler The Wheelers are in danger this season, so maybe Mike puts himself in harm's way The primary reason that I think Mike is relatively safe is because I don't think enough people would care if he died. Mike was the heart of season one, but since then, he kind of become the worst. Season four made him a bit more likable, but since that first season, he has been a whiny, naive brat that shows none of the kindness and caring that he did when Will went missing. That said...if they wanted to redeem his character and have him go out on a high note, I could see him sacrificing himself for either Will or Eleven. Will did say that Mike was the heart of the party in season four, so maybe he continues down that path and gives himself up to save everyone else. 11. Max Mayfield Maybe she truly does never wake up I also think Max is pretty safe, because she got f**ked up heavily at the end of season four. She did technically die after being attacked by Vecna, which is part of the reason I think she will survive season five. Killing her off would feel cruel, especially after this poor girl already got blinded and had her limbs broken in the last season. On top of that, it'd be derivative. Unless they figure out some cool way to do it, I really think Max is safe because of the fact that she was completely maimed and has already been through enough. 10. Jim Hopper They wouldn't kill him off twice...right? Much like Max, I feel like it would be cruel to kill off Hopper, because he already died. It would probably be lame if the Duffers "killed" Hopper, had him spend a season trying to get back to Joyce and Eleven, has him reunite with them, and then kill him off again. The only thing that makes me feel like it could happen is that he is always the one to thrust himself into danger first. He has no problem risking his life and sacrificing himself if the situation calls for it, so he could hypothetically be unsafe, but I just don't really see it happening. 9. Nancy Wheeler This would be a heart-breaking way to solve the love triangle There is a big gap in danger between Hopper and Nancy. These next seven are my primary candidates to die. Nancy is the unsung hero of Stranger Things . She's nearly as badass as Eleven, but she's kind of also the glue that holds the entire group together. She is a great combination of caring and bold, and that is exactly what makes me terrified for her life. She is, like a lot of the characters, willing to put herself in harm's way to help others, so that could definitely lead to her demise. It would also present an interesting dynamic for both Jonathan and Steve, as they would definitely both grieve Nancy heavily but in different ways. This would rock everyone emotionally if we lose her, so she is definitely a major possibility. 8. Sam Owens Hawkins Lab's nicest doctor seems very killable This is a weird one, because I don't honestly know if Owens is alive. The last we saw of him, he was handcuffed to a pole in the NINA lab. My guess is that he will play a part in the military plot line of season five, and I think he will probably not make it out. Hawkins Lab has always been heavily connected to the Upside Down, so a major way to disconnect the Upside Down from our world is to get rid of the lab. Owens, although a good guy, is the current representative of Hawkins Lab, so I could definitely see him having to go down with his work. He could also go out protecting Eleven from the evil military. Either way, I do not think the friendly doctor is going to live out season five. 7. Joyce Byers Maybe she sacrifices herself for the safety of her children These next two are the hardest two to judge. Joyce is very similar to Hopper, because she will be the first to jump into danger to save others, especially her kids. That will automatically make her a primary candidate for biting the dust. On top of that, she has faced so much trauma and horror due to the Upside Down that she might just try to stop it even if she has to die. The thing that makes me unsure is that she deserves a happy ending. She has been through so much, and if she died, she would not get her ending with Hopper and her kids would essentially be orphans (because there's no way Lonnie is taking care of Will). So I don't know. I'm iffy, but I don't feel comfortable about her safety. 6. Eleven If there's a big final sacrifice, El seems like she might be the one to go To me, Eleven half seems like the most likely candidate to die as well as the least likely. On the one hand, it would make the most sense. She opened the first gate. Her powers are connected to the Upside Down. She has a past with Vecna. All of these signs point to her having to be the major sacrifice that stops the Upside Down entirely. The real only thing that holds me back from putting her in the top spot is that I don't think they would do that to Hopper. It feels horrible to kill off his second daughter after he already lost his first. That really throws a wrench in things, because if that weren't the case, I think it would almost be chalked in that Eleven would not make it through season five. That said, I still think she could make the final sacrifice to destroy Vecna and the Upside Down for good. 5. Jonathan Byers The marketing has me scared for Jonathan's ultimate fate They've got to solve the Nancy-Jonathan-Steve love triangle somehow, and I feel like the most likely way to solve that is with a death. The marketing has subtle hints that Jonathan might be the one to go. Nancy has been very sad throughout all of the trailers, and I think there's a chance that it's because Jonathan is gone. We know Will will be in danger throughout this season, so maybe his older brother sacrifices himself to save him. Normally, I would feel safe about Jonathan because he isn't a beloved character, but this could definitely be his swan song. 4. Will Byers It all started with him so maybe it all ends with him Much like Eleven, Will makes a lot of sense. This whole journey started with his kidnapping. He has had some sort of connection to the Upside Down throughout the show. The Duffers have said that season five will focus heavily on Will. That, paired with the fact that he's been sidelined since season two, really makes me think that he might have to go down to win this final battle. He's been an outcast since he was kidnapped, so that makes me think that he might just embrace it and go out as a hero to stop this evil from destroying Hawkins. That, or Vecna always had a reason for having him kidnapped in the first season that leads to his ultimate demise. I don't know what Will's arc will be in the final season, but I do not see it ending in a happy way for him, unfortunately. 3. Steve Harrington I hate even putting this idea on the list I know, I know. You don't want it to happen. I don't want it to happen. No one wants it to happen. But we have to face the facts: Steve is probably going to die. If the Duffers want to absolutely tear our hearts out, they will kill him off. And it would make a lot of sense. He has always been the babysitter, the mom who protects the younger kids. He is the perfect candidate for a heroic sacrifice. On top of that, there's not really any reason he shouldn't die. There's not some loose thread that has to be resolved with his character arc. It wouldn't be derivative. It would be pure, nearly unbearable heart-break, but it would probably cement him as one of the best TV characters ever. Even thinking about it hurts. No one is prepared for it to happen, but out of our heroes, I think Steve is the one who is probably going to kick the bucket. 2. Karen Wheeler The Wheeler's caring mother is probably toast in the first few episodes I am almost positive Karen is getting popped in the first few episodes. As we've all speculated, the mysterious vanishing in episode two is likely Holly Wheeler, and, in most of the marketing we've seen, Karen is with Holly. Well, if Holly vanishes, Karen might have to die in an attempt to save her. She would stand no chance against a Demogorgon or Vecna. This would also explain Nancy looking so upset throughout all of the marketing. If they want to establish the stakes from the get-go, killing Karen would definitely be a way to do it. She's not a huge character, but her death would absolutely be felt by both the characters and the audience. So prepare to watch her die tonight, honestly. 1. Vecna There's no way the main antagonist survives this season This is maybe a little bit of a cheat because he's not a hero and it's so obvious. There's basically no way in which the show ends well with Vecna surviving. It does not look like he can be stopped. He definitely cannot be redeemed. The Upside Down has been his since the beginning of the show, so to destroy it and turn everything right side up, he has to die. I am truly convinced that if Vecna does not die, this will be a disappointing end to the series. Look at all of the biggest TV shows and movies with great villains: they all die in the end. Thanos, Palpatine (twice!), Voldemort, The Night King, Sauron (kind of)...these are all big bads that are on Vecna's level. He is going to die. And it will be glorious.