Stranger Things fans are buzzing with excitement as the first four episodes of the highly anticipated fifth season have premiered, revealing surprising connections to the prequel theater production, Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Initially, the Duffer Brothers hinted that the stage show would serve as a springboard for the concluding season of their Netflix series, and it seems those hints were more than just teasers.
Central to the unfolding narrative is the fate of Max Mayfield, whose consciousness finds itself ensnared in the mindscape of the menacing Vecna while her physical body lies in a coma back in Hawkins. The episode titled “Sorcerer” delves deep into this unsettling situation, allowing Max to access Vecna’s memories, including flashbacks that link back to the events in The First Shadow. Notably, Max’s prior strategy for survival involved hiding in a cave, a chilling Easter egg that ties to Vecna’s own history, as the location marks the origin of his powers.
In the stage play, we learn about Dr. Brenner’s lineage, tracing back to the infamous Philadelphia Experiment of the 1940s. This experiment aimed to render a naval ship invisible, inadvertently sending it to a different dimension—the same mysterious realm that is pivotal to the Stranger Things lore. The narrative continues to weave in elements such as young Henry Creel’s exploration of a cave in Nevada that ultimately exposes him to the Upside Down and grants him his dark abilities.
As Max navigates through one of Henry’s memories, viewers catch a glimpse of Hawkins High in 1959, where a young Joyce Maldonado, played by British singer-songwriter Birdy, is seen promoting a school production of Oklahoma that eerily involves Henry—adding layers of intrigue and foreshadowing.
Although Louis McCartney, the actor who portrayed young Henry in The First Shadow, will not reprise his role in the series, the Duffer Brothers ensure that the show remains accessible to all audiences, regardless of their familiarity with the theater production. Nonetheless, they acknowledge that eagle-eyed fans of the play will discover Easter eggs in the show’s narrative that enrich the viewing experience.
Moreover, hints of time travel are teased, as the storyline skips further back, bridging connections between the seasons. This layered storytelling elevates season five, offering a rewarding experience for dedicated fans. Notably, episodes 5-7 of Stranger Things season 5 will be available on Netflix on Christmas Day, promising to deepen the complexities and ties brought forth in these initial episodes.
With exciting developments ahead, viewers can look forward to unraveling more mysteries and revisiting beloved characters as the series hurtles towards its conclusion.