Now that the final season of Netflix’s beloved “Stranger Things” has been released, there are many significant moments, character arcs, plot twists and gaps that need to be addressed. Season five was split into three separate volumes – Volume one released on Nov. 26, Volume two released on Dec. 25 and Volume three (also known as the finale) released on Dec. 31.
Volume one:
Episode one – “The Crawl:” Initially, I thought that this episode was slow-paced, but in reality, it provided the perfect amount of build-up needed for the following three episodes in the volume. The plot line made sense with Eleven being in training with Hopper and Joyce for her powers, the main four, including Max, at high school for their junior year, and Robin, Steve, Jonathan and Nancy working. As the episode progressed, the information gaps caused by the time jump were filled. I believe that writers Matt and Ross Duffer did a wonderful job with this, wrapping up any confusion with how the events that occurred within season four tied into the new season.
Episode two – “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler:” This was probably the worst episode of this volume, if I really had to pick, due to the slowness of the plot within the episode. However, I feel like it really shows how the characters had no idea why everything was suddenly starting up again, especially after 18 months at bay with no real contact with Vecna or the mysterious upside-down creatures. Now there’s Demogorgons in Hawkins, and they’re taking kids, just like they did years ago on Nov. 6, 1983 with Will. And to tie it all together, the anniversary is three days away.
Episode three – “The Turnbow Trap:” This episode was really entertaining. It brought the group together and made them use their personal skills to all achieve a common goal. I truly enjoy seeing that in the media; I feel that film producers should bring in that kind of teamwork more, even if it’s not a big deal. Seeing people bond over a common issue, even if they would never talk without the issue occurring, shows how even the unlikeliest of people can find a likeness with each other. I also really liked the addition of a new character, Derek Turnbow. He’s been talked about before, and seen, from Holly’s perspective, so I enjoyed getting to know the character a little better. I also really liked the sub-storyline with Steve, certainly of his faults with characters like Nancy and Dustin and attempts to fix it. I feel that it really fits well with his character arc and I was always excited when it cut to his plotline.
Episode four – “Sorcerer:” Oh. My. Gosh. That’s all I have to say. This is one of the best episodes I have seen in a show to date. The build-up, the suspense and the ever-so-satisfying ending of Will’s new discovery to tie off the finale for volume one. The action and character development in this episode was so entertaining, providing so much depth to the show overall. I cannot lie, I rewatched this episode almost every day whilst waiting for the next volume because of how much I enjoyed it.
Summary: All I can say is, I was not left disappointed. Every single moment left me wanting to watch more. The attention to detail, the graphics and the CGI – it was all so impressive and incredible to finally see after waiting almost three and a half years since the last release. from the last season, season four. I could not bear to wait for the next volume; it was so good and interesting that it was all I could talk about for four weeks. The plot flowed and left viewers with cliffhangers that made the wait to find out what would happen next with our beloved characters seem like forever. Within the fandom of “Stranger Things,” viewers were also now opening doors to different theories and ideas on what could happen and how the next episodes could play out. I really believe that this was one of the best volumes for a show I have seen.
Volume two:
In my opinion, this volume wasn’t as good as it could have been, and hurt me in ways that I can only try to explain. The characters seem to have all changed drastically – acting irrationally and out-of-character — especially Will, Mike and Robin.
Episode five – “Shock jock:” It was a good episode, and one of the last ones that had the same exciting feeling as the volume one episodes did. I also really enjoyed the CGI in this episode, especially the way the Demogorgon appeared while being shocked to life. I also loved the way that the gang is using Will’s new abilities. Although he discovered these powers very late in the season, and even later if you take the whole show into account, it is still so cool to see them in use.
Episode six – “Escape From Camazotz:” All the work that was done by the special effects team truly paid off with this episode. We see Holly and Max in the depths of Henry’s mind, the same spot Max was in season 4, and it looks even better than before with different memories and locations. In Hawkins, the Demodogs make their first appearance in season five, and Max officially wakes up, leaving the episode with a heartwarming moment.
Episode seven – “The Bridge:” I feel like the only thing the Duffer brothers really should have taken a different approach to Will’s coming-out scene. As a queer person myself, this particular scene didn’t hit the way that I felt it was intended, as it felt very rushed, even if his character arc had been building up over the seasons. It was also a bit uncomfortable for me to watch because of the overall weird dialogue and setting. It’s very emotional, I’ll admit that, but it just doesn’t feel as well-written as it could have been. Additionally, the progression with the character Kali and her integrating herself back into the plot was just annoying to me. In my opinion, her character development changed so much from season 2, and not in a good way. Her idea of dying in the upside down with Eleven when they try to destroy the upside down angered me to my core, and every time she was on the screen, I audibly sighed.
Summary: This three hour volume may not have been the best, or what I had been hoping for, but it still was an okay piece of media. It was still not even close to meeting the level of volume one. It was an emotional ride that took me up and down with each storyline progressing. Yet, the dialogue seemed off, the plot lines confused me at times and there were some inconsistencies with the writing.
Volume three (finale):
This finale was an interesting way to end a show that had been running for ten years. With a runtime of two hours and eight minutes, this action-packed episode included a wrap-up to the events of season five and an epilogue where we can see the main kids graduating from high school, tying up the loose ends of their stories in a heartfelt way.
Episode eight – “The Rightside Up:” What a way to end a show. At first, I was pretty upset with the finale. There were so many plot holes that never fully got covered, and left me feeling a bit confused with the way that the show concluded. I really liked the cinematography and the masterpiece of a scene that was Eleven’s “death.” The song choice of “Purple Rain” by Prince for this scene brought tears to my eyes, as it has always been such a somber song for me. During the final graduation scene, it felt surreal to see these kids who were once so young be on the stage earning their diplomas. However, those last ten minutes left me confused and annoyed.
I genuinely hate when shows or movies have open-ended finales for the audience to decide, and “Stranger Things” did just that. An open ending left up for interpretation might work for certain shows and movies, but “Stranger Things” needed a closure that was set in stone due to the complexities of the show. With no additional evidence to support which theory about Eleven’s death may be more accurate, the ending was extremely disposable and did not live up to its potential.
There are some things that I did and did not like with season five, but all in all, it was an alright ending to a show that has been so engraved in my life since it came out almost ten years ago. If you have not seen the final season yet, I cannot help but recommend it. It’s not the best season – it might even be the worst in my opinion – but with the entire story wrapping up, it has some very good scenes, character arcs and plot twists. So maybe for your next watch, set aside some time and dive into the multidimensional universe of “Stranger Things.”
