Since its debut in 2016, Netflix’s “Stranger Things” has been steeped in mystery, but season 5’s initial episodes, released on November 26, have finally unraveled the long-standing question: why was Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) first victim? This revelation introduces a significant twist that is set to reshape the narrative as the show heads into the final four episodes next month.
The latest chapters of the series unfold in Hawkins, Indiana, which is now under a military-enforced quarantine following Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) climactic battle with Vecna that tore the town apart and opened gateways between the physical realm and the Upside Down. With a focus on tracking down Eleven, government agents led by Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) surveil the town, convinced of her threatening potential.
As danger looms, Eleven trains intensively, honing her powers with the assistance of Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder). Meanwhile, her group of friends — including Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Robin (Maya Hawke), and Murray (Brett Gelman) — operate covertly against military forces to track down Vecna, who has vanished since the previous season’s cliffhanger.
In an unsettling twist, Holly Wheeler, Mike and Nancy’s younger sister, is portrayed talking to an imaginary friend, Mr. Whatsit, a character echoed from Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time.” This playful interaction becomes nightmarish when a demogorgon assaults the Wheelers and abducts Holly. It’s revealed that “Mr. Whatsit” is actually Vecna, manipulating Holly within an illusion of his childhood home while warning her against the nearby forest.
In this twisted realm, Holly encounters Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink), who, trapped in a coma after Vecna’s attack, believes she was dead. Max navigates Vecna’s memories, recalling the devastating day Eleven blasted him into the Upside Down, which leads her to devise an escape plan with Holly.
The plot thickens as the Hawkins gang begins to piece together Vecna’s strategy: he preys on children, abducting them to a fortress in the Upside Down. In a race against time, they enlist help from Lucas’s sister Erica (Priah Ferguson) and a reluctant school bully, Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly), to unravel Vecna’s intentions. The momentum escalates when Joyce, Will, Mike, Lucas, Robin, and Murray act decisively to save the children from a military ambush.
Simultaneously, Eleven and Hopper uncover dark secrets in a military lab within the Upside Down. They confront Dr. Kay and discover that Kali Prasad, known as Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), is being held and tested, which hints at a larger, sinister agenda.
Conflict erupts between the military and a swarm of demogorgons, leading to a confrontation that incapacitates Will, still entangled in Vecna’s psychic grip. Throughout the season, Will grapples with his identity, compounded by the realization of his queer sexuality, a journey illuminated by Robin’s encouraging words.
As the season progresses, Will discovers the answer to one of the show’s most persistent mysteries. Vecna reveals his motive for targeting children to reshape them into vessels for his dark ambitions. He admits that Will was chosen due to his fragility, pointing to a shared sense of alienation between them. This pivotal moment catalyzes Will’s growth, leading him to harness his newfound telekinetic abilities in a desperate bid to protect his friends from the monstrous demogorgons.
With these developments, “Stranger Things” not only delves deeper into its characters’ personal struggles but also sets the stage for an explosive culmination, promising viewers a thrilling conclusion to this beloved series. The blend of suspense, emotional depth, and supernatural horror reflects the show’s ability to resonate with fans both young and old, making it a cornerstone of modern television.