Disclaimer: This article will contain spoilers of the fifth season of Stranger Things.
After years of long awaited anticipation, the last season of Stranger Things has finally arrived, bringing chilling new threats, terrifying monsters, and engaging mysteries to finish the most dangerous final chapter of the show.
The Upside Down is no longer a threat lurking in the distance, it is now in the once safe town of Hawkins, creeping through the streets, and no one is safe.
Gia Toms ‘26 has been a long term fan and explained, “The show has been so anticipated because there is such an audience following behind the franchise that people have been waiting. They also left the last season on a cliff hanger, making viewers wonder what will happen next.”
Fans are so excited to see their favorite characters back in action and find out how one of the most popular shows in the world is going to come to an end.
The new season five takes place 18 months after the big events that happened in season four where Vecna ultimately succeeded in opening all the gates in Hawkins even though some of the treasured characters did some damage to him. Now all the characters are back together and ready to face their biggest enemy of the show.
Collette Archambeault ‘26 was thrilled with the new season and expressed, “I was so excited because it’s been so long since the last season. I even watched the previous four seasons to make sure I wasn’t confused for this one.”
There are all sorts of new challenges and shocking scenes in this season and our characters are going to have to navigate between fighting off monsters, the evil government, ending Vecna, and saving their loved ones.
Toms remarked, “It shocked me when Max came on the screen with Holly. I was very shocked to hear that storyline.”
Many fans were devastated to learn Max Mayfield was stuck in a coma at the end of season four and didn’t know what to expect from her in season five. Her appearance in the new season has audiences so content because they can finally see where Max had been while she was still stuck in a coma.
However, learning where Max had been, wasn’t the most shocking scene of the new episodes for viewers. Archambeault stated, “ It shocked me when Will discovered he has powers because I never expected it… he has the best storyline this season because he is finally figuring out who he is as a person. He is discovering that he is connected to Vecna, and this has rewarded him with powers and I think that it’s really cool to see that it was in him the whole time.”
Viewers from all over the world were stunned by the new Will Byers they got to see this season. He is no longer the scared little kid who got stuck in the Upside Down, and instead can draw powers from Vecna and put up a real fight.
Lastly, Toms finished up by saying, “I expect that there will be a lot of shocking twists in the next few episodes and that the conclusion will be worth the wait.”
The next episodes and dramatic finish come out Christmas Day and New Years Eve, and fans should prepare for some shocking answers, emotional scenes, and the last battle. Let one last adventure in Hawkins come to a close.