Stranger Things 5 finally dropped its first volume on Netflix, unleashing another thrilling sci-fi horror adventure. So far, this new season has followed the heroes of a quarantined Hawkins as they hunt for Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in the Upside Down while eluding the U.S. military.
Season 5 packed so many spectacular moments into its first four episodes, and there is surely more excitement to come later this year, with volume 2 set to premiere on December 25. In the meantime, fans won’t want to miss these incredible moments from volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5.
Vecna takes Will
Stranger Things 5 begins with a flashback to 1983, showing how the first Demogorgon chased young Will (Luke Kokotek) through the Upside Down. Will puts up an incredible fight as she shoots the beast in the mouth and jumps from tree to tree.
As we saw in season 1, Will ends up knocked out and hooked up to a tendril. However, we learn that Vecna approached Will and infected the boy himself before Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder) rescued him.
This terrifying, unsettling scene sets the stage for years of torment for Will as a member of the Upside Down’s hive mind. It also kicks off Will’s final emotional journey in the series as he and his friends hunt for Vecna in season 5.
The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler
This scene probably ruined ABBA for a bunch of people. The second episode saw a Demogorgon appearing in the Wheeler home to kidnap Holly (Nell Fisher), who runs to her mother, Karen (Cara Buono), for help. This leads to a suspenseful scene as mother and daughter hide underwater as the beast breaks into the bathroom, with Fernando playing in the background.
After Karen and Ted (Joe Chrest) spent much of the series as an unhappy couple, the show depicts them at their best as they fight the Demogorgon to protect their daughter. Unfortunately, the Demogorgon takes Holly and mauls her parents, leaving the Wheeler children struck with palpable horror.
The Turnbow Trap
After realizing a Demogorgon will try to kidnap Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly) for Vecna, the heroes try to bring Derek and his family to safety and ambush the beast at their house. The plan is perfect enough with Erica (Priah Ferguson) hilariously turning into a slasher villain as she helps drug and kidnap the Turnbows.
The heroes then go Home Alone on the Demogorgon, surprising it with a series of traps in the Turnbow house and shooting it with a tracking device. It’s a thrilling action piece that gets even more exciting as Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) chase the Demogorgon across Hawkins.
Max returns
As Holly explores the world inside Vecna’s mind, nicknamed “Camazotz,” she finds herself chased by a stranger through the forest. We then see that her pursuer is none other than Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), who has also become a prisoner in Camazotz after her “death” in season 4.
It was pretty obvious that Max would return in Stranger Things 5. Nevertheless, that doesn’t make her return any less surprising. This reveal makes for an exciting ending to episode 3 that kicks off her and Holly’s journey to escape from Camazotz.
The Great Escape
Episode 4 sees the military detaining all the children of Hawkins, believing they will be kidnapped next. Hoping to save them all from Vecna, the heroes attempt to free them all with a scheme straight out of The Great Escape, and the help of their new ally, Derek “the Delightful.”
Derek shines throughout this episode as he hilariously leads a cult of children chosen by Mr. Whatsit to salvation through a hole in the bathroom. Mike and Will add an extra layer of humor to everything as they try to fix a leaking sink in the bathroom, making for a silly, surreal, and suspenseful scene.
Eleven reunites with Kali
In Stranger Things 5, Eleven and Hopper try to break into the military base in the Upside Down, thinking Vecna is imprisoned there. However, they discover the mysterious prisoner is Eleven’s “sister” from Hawkins Lab, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), leading to a heartwarming reunion for the two kids.
Many people disliked Eleven’s storyline with Kali in season 2 because it veered from the show’s core narrative. However, Kali’s return after all these years could pay off this plotline, as it looks like she will finally join Eleven in the fight against Vecna in Hawkins. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
The Battle at Hawkins MAC-Z
After the plan to rescue the children of Hawkins from MAC-Z goes wrong, Vecna unleashes a swarm of Demogorgons on everyone, turning the place into an all-out war zone. The show immerses the audience in the chaos with its shaky, continuous camerawork and explosive action. Will pulls us further into the scene as he writhes in agony, feeling the pain of the Demogorgons fighting the military.
At the same time, several more Demogorgons appear and pursue the other heroes through the streets and tunnels of Hawkins. All this alone made for an unforgettable, heart-pounding climax.
However, the show turns the dial up to 11 (pun intended) when Vecna appears from the Gate, blowing things up and impaling people with his claw. After delivering a chilling monologue to Will, Vecna walks back into the Upside Down and takes the children with him, proving once again that he is one of the fearsome villains in television history.
Will the Sorcerer is born
The fourth episode of Stranger Things 5 saw Will reach his true potential thanks to some wise words from Robin (Maya Hawke). As the Battle of Hawkins MAC-Z reaches a terrifying apex, we’re suddenly treated to home movie-style footage of Will (Miles Marthaller) growing up with his family in Hawkins and becoming friends with Mike (Max Rackenberg).
As we watch this heartwarming footage, Will finally learns to accept himself and unlocks his true strength. He then harnesses the full power of Vecna’s hive mind, using telekinesis to stop the Demogorgons, snap their bones, and save his friends. After Will spent so much time struggling with his trauma and feeling out of place in the world, Stranger Things gave him the hero moment that he deserved, ending the first volume of Stranger Things 5 on a high note.
