Stranger Things has returned for its final season, releasing four new episodes after disappearing for nearly three and a half years. It’s a bittersweet reunion for us loyal fans as we soak in these last moments with the characters. Personally, Stranger Things has grown up with me over the past decade. I still remember crowning Dustin as my favourite back in Season 1 and playing “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush on repeat after Season 4. It’s safe to say Stranger Things raised many of us, and now that we’re reaching the end of this journey, we’re hit with the realisation that we’ll never again get the surprise of watching a new season for the first time or seeing Steve and Robin wind up in yet another job. Anyway, enough of my nostalgia – let’s dive back into the Upside Down and settle some key questions: Did Season 5 live up to expectations? Who will be endgame, Stancy or Jancy? And, more importantly, who do we think might die this season?
The season is set in November 1987, eighteen months after the end of the previous season. What doesn’t sit right with me is how Holly, who was a toddler in Season 4, has somehow morphed into a mature seven-year-old in that short time. Nonetheless, it has been interesting to watch her story unfold. We’ve moved from subtle signs of the Upside Down – blinking lights, Demogorgons reaching through walls, moving trees – to Holly becoming central to the plot. I’m especially interested to see how she copes with returning to Henry Creel’s haunted house now that she’s learned the truth from Max.
The biggest change this season is Dustin. He feels more reckless, irritable, and somewhat careless. What disappointed me most was seeing his relationship with Steve fall apart. Eddie’s death in Season 4 helps explain this shift, yet I can’t help wondering how it will shape the plot. Many of us have fallen into the endless TikTok rabbit hole of theories about who might die this season. And as much as it pains me, Steve’s chances seem slim. His death will be even more heartbreaking if he and Dustin don’t repair their bond.
Another reason I’m preparing for Steve’s possible death is the tension between him, Nancy, and Jonathan. As much as I love Stancy, I doubt the producers would give them a second chance after Season 1, especially considering how much both characters have changed. Even though Jancy isn’t the most exciting pairing, it feels like the most realistic one, especially after that glimpse of Jonathan’s ring. For that relationship to move forward, Steve may need to be out of the picture for good. This makes a heroic, self-sacrificing moment seem likely. Still, it could go the other way — Jonathan might die before he can propose, leaving space for Nancy and Steve to reconnect. And if that happens, maybe I won’t have to sue the Duffer Brothers for killing Steve after all.
Now for the final verdict: Is Stranger Things Chapter 5 actually all that, or are we too invested in the nostalgia of the final season? Some of the supernatural thrills feel recycled, and I was hoping for new threats to keep the characters on edge. A lot of the dialogue felt unnecessary and dragged out the episodes without adding much to the plot.
However, I’ve especially enjoyed the new focus on Holly and the way Max guides her through surviving the Upside Down. The idea of children being used to build that world is heartbreaking yet gripping. The season also gives more personality to side characters like Robin, who breaks the tension in the best way. Watching Robin and Will form a new friendship and understanding has been a highlight.
The flashback montage from Will’s childhood is one of Episode Four’s standout moments. It leads to the season’s most shocking reveal: Will has powers. The scene feels like a deep step into his sense of identity, and I can’t wait to see what role he plays in defeating Vecna.
