Stranger Things 5: Fact and Fiction

"Stranger Things ," one of the most successful and emotionally resonant shows of the online television era, is coming to an end after ten years, and this is somewhat overwhelming.

 

Stranger Things 5 ​​– The final episode of the show premiered three and a half years ago, which means recalling what happened while also watching trailers for the new season – which will be released in three installments later this year – feels like a long time.

According to Netflix, the main cast of Stranger Things 5 ​​" share a common goal: to find and kill Vecna ." Meanwhile, the government has placed the town of Hawkins under strict military quarantine and is once again searching for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), who has gone into hiding again.

In this article, let's analyze in detail the facts and fiction of Stranger Things 5.

 

The truth is: The new season of the hit Netflix series will be longer and more cinematic.

Gone are the days of Stranger Things 1 & 2, when all but one episode was less than an hour long.

According to IMDb, the new eight-episode season will feature episodes longer than 90 minutes. Of course, this isn't a new approach. Remember the massive final episode of Season 4, which lasted 2 hours and 19 minutes and set the stage for the final confrontation with Vecna ​​(Jamie Campbell Bower)?

Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators and directors of "Stranger Things," recently shared with The Hollywood Reporter that they designed the final season in " episodes, so they're basically like blockbuster movies ," with each episode leading to its own "climax ."

The final episode of the Stranger Things series will, in fact, be released in theaters on New Year's Eve, as announced by Netflix last month. The peak run will take place in over 350 theaters across the U.S. and Canada, beginning on December 31st at 8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific Time – the same time as its streaming release – and continuing through the following day.

Fiction: No new faces in the final season.

One of the unique and appealing aspects of "Stranger Things" is its cast – each season features new faces who have ultimately been warmly welcomed, notably Priah Ferguson, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, and Joseph Quinn.

 

Stranger Things season 5 will be no different, bringing together one of the most respected and famous actors in the science fiction genre – Linda Hamilton, best known for the 'Terminator' films.

Matt Duffer recently shared with Time magazine that he and his brother were 'very lucky' that all the veteran actors in the industry they approached for 'Stranger Things' – including Winona Ryder, Paul Reiser, Matthew Modine, and Sean Astin, all of whom began their careers in the 80s, the time the show takes place – agreed to participate.

" I like the idea of ​​having more supporting actors appear during that period, people who might not have been paid fairly recently, " he said. " Younger generations watching the film might not know who we can introduce them to ."

Joining Hamilton this season are rising stars Nell Fisher – who will play Holly Wheeler, Mike and Nancy's youngest sister, now a little more grown up – along with Jake Connelly and Alex Breaux.

The truth is: 'Stranger Things' will dominate your holiday season this year, unless you vow to stay away from social media.

Previously, Netflix was the king of the all-in-one streaming format, releasing entire seasons at once. Since then, the situation has somewhat reversed, with Netflix trying to maximize its advantages, recently releasing several hit seasons in smaller installments.

"Stranger Things" seems to be hyped up even more this time, considering that three seasons of this show will be released on or just before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve this year.

Who really suffers the consequences? The audience. Because if you're not prepared for your Hawkins vacation, you risk having the movie's plot revealed.

Fiction: The episode titles are a clear indication of where the story is headed.

Although the show's title might contain some clues, no mystery is going to reveal all its secrets so soon. However, let's take a closer look at the episode titles of Stranger Things season 5.

The second episode of this season, titled " The Disappearance of… ", seems to be a nod to the first episode, "The Disappearance of Will Byers." This makes perfect sense, since final seasons almost always return to the beginning. In the first 5 minutes of Season 5, which has already aired, the episode actually returns to the very beginning, when Will (Noah Schnapp) first disappeared into the Reverse World… only to be confronted by a Vecna.

Other potential clues? Episode 4, " Sorcerer ," may allude to Dungeons & Dragons, and episode 6, titled " Escape from Camazotz ," may allude to Mayan mythology, where " Camazotz " means bat-like spirits or demons. This could be the official name of the "protesters" who killed the brave Eddie (Quinn) in Season 4. "Camazotz" also relates to the literary work of Madeleine L'Engle, author of the groundbreaking novel " A Wrinkle in Time, " which features an evil planet bearing that name.

 

Ultimately, the final episode of the series seems to hint at a happy ending, because " The Rightside Up " is actually the opposite of " The Upside Down ".

But it must be said: With this program, you never know when you might get lost.

The truth is: The Duffer brothers recommend you rewatch four specific episodes beforehand.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the creative team referred to four episodes – Episodes 4 and 6 of Season 2 and Episodes 7 and 9 of Season 4. Season 2 ultimately reveals Will Byers as a spy, unwittingly working for the Upside Down, a shady connection he has to deal with throughout the series.

" Part 2 is where we really start building the mythological storyline and delving into things, and how this series is going to continue. That's when we start planting the seeds for the mythological narrative, and I think that's probably why it's so important ," Matt Duffer shared.

According to Netflix, watching some of the later episodes of Season 4, especially the season finale, makes perfect sense, as they directly set the stage for the new season, which begins in the fall of 1987 (or about a year and a half after Season 4).

The Duffer family's choice of what to watch first seems to suggest there will be more answers than questions by the end of the show – unlike some other famous finales. Because the episodes delve into mythology, it's understandable that we eventually get complete clarity, at least regarding Will's connection to Vecna ​​and the Upside Down, and perhaps why he was "chosen" in the first place.

And if you have more time, Ross Duffer recommends watching both Parts 1 and 2 in their entirety.

Fiction: All main cast members are safe.

While fans clearly want justice served for those who have fallen – primarily Barb (Shannon Purser), Dr. Alexei (Alec Utgoff), and Eddie – what about the survivors so far? Are they safe? "Stranger Things" wouldn't be the suspenseful and compelling thriller it is today if they were safe.

The truth is: Season 5 is not the end of the stories surrounding "Stranger Things".

Although we still have about five weeks to explore the final part of the original series in more detail, this is not the end.

Next year, the animated series " Stranger Things: Tales from '85 " will debut on Netflix, a prequel series that takes place between Season 2 and Season 3. The Duffer brothers have said that the appeal of making an animated show in the world of "Stranger Things" is "truly limitless," and it really opens up possibilities for characters of that age.

"Stranger Things" Season 5, episodes 1 through 4, will be released on Netflix. The eight-episode series will be released in three parts: two parts on November 26 and December 25, 2025, and the final episode on December 31. The season is produced by the creators of the Duffer Brothers, along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.