Ronit J

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 Synopsis:

After the events of the fourth season, in the fall of 1987, the group seeks to find and kill Vecna after the Rifts opened in Hawkins. The mission becomes complicated when the military arrives in Hawkins and begins hunting Eleven. As the anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance approaches, the group must fight one last time against a deadly threat.

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 Review:

I honestly can’t believe we’re here. I remember Stranger Things being the very first Netflix show that I watched in 2016. If it weren’t for this show, I wouldn’t have bothered to make a Netflix account. Not only that, this show’s writing and direction—at least in the first three seasons—was stellar, promising a consistent quality and entertainment. I’ll admit, the fourth season had its dull moments, which I attribute to Netflix’s demands of making second-screen friendly shows. Regardless, I was super hyped for this final season.

The more I think about it, the more I realise that I haven’t really watched a long-running Netflix show that ended well. Meaning, Stranger Things is my first proper Netflix show that I’m seeing ending. With almost a decade in the making, Stranger Things is quite the modern cultural phenomenon. But, would Netflix deliver a powerful finale that was as good as its first two seasons, or would it succumb to its nasty capitalistic needs that are slave to its algorithm and failing revenue model? Well, read and find out!

Hawkins is not the town we first came to know. It is in a virtual lockdown, with military presence to rival Area 51 and the White house (as one character puts it). For some reason, our gang is still going to school as if everything is business as usual. However, they also moonlight as doomsday preppers, preparing for Vecna’s inevitable return. El (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper (David Harbour) have gone underground, constantly training to infiltrate the Upside Down. All this to say that the ending feels like its lurking too close to comfort.

Here’s my honest review of Volume 1, which consists of the first four episodes of the season. Spoilers ahead!

The Beginning of The End

Season 5 Vol 1 played out beautifully, albeit with some odd pacing. I wasn’t a fan of the first episode, but liked each subsequent episode much more. The plot felt a little bloated, but at this point we have a lot of ground to cover (literally). And credit where due, I think the Duffer Brothers did a great job with it. It’s no easy task to juggle all these many characters and plot points, but Stranger Things manages to do an almost-amazing job of it. And with each subsequent episode, we get rising stakes and building tension that only worsens with episode 4’s ending.

I did expect more satisfying reveals, but hey, you can’t get everything you want. Emotionally, I’m no longer as attached to our gang as I was in the first two seasons, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. Some of the arcs—Robin’s (Maya Hawke) relationship with the nurse, Joyce (Winona Ryder) & Will (Noah Schnapp) still having awkwardness in their relationship, the Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo)-Steve(Joe Keery) & Nancy (Natalie Dyer)-Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) conflicts—didn’t really work for me. I can see why they’re included, but is that the best use of their characters for the final season?

Overall, Season 5 did have some flaws, but from an entertainment stand point, it delivered. The scenes in the Upside Down were eerie and exciting. The gang working together to track the Demogorgons and foil Vecna’s plan was classic Stranger Things. And best of all: Vecna’s sinister plans involving the kids of Hawkins… Fans of the show are bound to love what they see. Not as good as Seasons 1-2-3, but still scratches that Stranger Things itch.

And no matter what you say, this show is going to leave you craving the remaining 4 episodes.

The Problem With Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, & Modern Streaming Platforms

Honestly, I don’t see the point of having episodes that last more than an hour. Yes, this show has grown to an epic scale, but episode duration doesn’t define epicosity; the story does. I’ll admit, the first episode did not leave me feeling good. It wasn’t a bad episode, but it did feel quite dull to me. I found myself drifting away because I didn’t really care for these characters the same way. Season 4 didn’t leave as much of an impact on me as the first three did. In fact, apart from Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), I don’t clearly remember season 4 like I do the 3 before it.

Which, if you think about it, is the problem with these streaming platform shows. A lot of them now are being created with the whole ‘second-screen friendly’ aesthetic in mind. Which, for a show like Stranger Things is sad. Because The Duffer Brothers’ auteur voice in the first three seasons made this show special. You can see that same voice dilute in seasons 4 & 5 because there seems to be some fillers and repetition.

Episodes 3 & 4 were absolutely delightful. However, I can’t help but wonder if volume 1 could have delivered the exact same impact with a runtime of less than 4hours 31 minutes. I’m sure it could have. The lengths of the episodes, the often poor CGI quality, the generic Netflix visual treatment, and the almost-brilliant-but-not-quite experience did diminish my watching experience.

Overall, I still love the show. But, despite its popularity, even Stranger Things falls victim to the sub-standardisation of modern content.

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 Ending Explained

El & Hopper manage to break into the laboratory and military base inside the Upside Down. After quite an exciting fight, they even come face-to-face with Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton). After defeating her soldiers, they manage to break into the secret vault, expecting to find Vecna. Instead, they find a captive Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), El’s half sister from season 2.

Meanwhile, Max (Sadie Sink) reveals to Holly how she’s stayed alive in this strange dimension despite her body being comatose. She reveals that the place they are in is a labyrinth of Vecna’s memories. Max almost made it out thanks to Lucas playing her favourite music, but Vecna caught up to her. However, she ran and hid in a cave that Vecna was too afraid to enter. Reasons unknown.

And finally, the rest of the gang back home almost manage to smuggle out captive children from Hawkins Lab. But that’s when Vecna unleashes a horde of Demogorgans on the lab. Vecna slaughters the soldiers and kidnaps the kids, taking them to the Upside Down. What is Vecna’s Plan? He kidnaps the kids because they’re ‘weak of body and mind’. Pumping them with his otherworldly substance, he uses them to make himself more powerful and expand his control from the Upside Down. He meant to use Will too, but Will failed. However, like Mike mentioned earlier in the episode, Will’s brush with the Upside Down might have left him with some abilities.

Those abilities make themselves apparent in a climactic high when Demogorgons attack the gang. Will’s powers awaken, and he stops the Demogorgons using telekinesis, like El. The kids are gone, but our gang has found two potential weapons in their fight against Vecna. Three, if you count Max’s cave.

Is Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 Worth Watching Or Should You Wait And Binge All Episodes When They Drop?

Look, every single episode in Stranger Things Season 5 has clocked in at over 70 minutes. Technically, each episode is a feature length film. It’s really up to you if you can manage it. I personally find it more rewarding to consume episodes one at a time. Just given the sheer length of each episode, I’d say watch Vol 1 now so that you don’t have to watch 4 feature films just to catch up on the remaining episodes.

But know that Vol 1 doesn’t end with closure. As expected from the mid-season finale, it ends on a cliffhanger. However, I’ll admit that I am super stoked to see the second volume and finale. December 25th couldn’t come any faster.

Side Note: I’m not particularly a fan of Will developing powers. I mean, it’s great in theory, but the way it played out felt rushed. Shock value over genuine impact. Either way, I do hope they are able to use it justifiably for the finale.

In Conclusion:

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 does a brilliant—albeit slightly flawed—job of kickstarting the end. After this volume, I’m feeling good about how this show is about to end, and I can’t wait to find out!

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What did you think of Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1? Let me know in the comments below! Any other manga, anime, series, book, or movie you’d like me to review? Let me know your recommendations, and I’ll be sure to check them out.

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Until next time!