We’re back with another breakdown of Stranger Things’ final season. Get ready since this one is a rollercoaster of emotion, action, and everything in between. Spoilers ahead for episodes five to seven of Stranger Things season 5 volume 2.
Mind-Boggling Reveals
Volume 1 served us one of the biggest reveals of the show: Will being able to tap into Vecna’s powers and turn the tides into their favor. For volume 2, we have even bigger reveals—about where Holly is being held, and about what the Upside Down really is. The concept takes inspiration from many cult classics like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Terminator 2, Home Alone, Back to the Future, and the book itself, A Wrinkle In Time. The Duffer Brothers mentioned some of these titles in the interview with TIME, where they listed down the films to watch before the season and the inspirations from each of these are much more apparent compared to volume 1 of the final season.
Acceptance, Shared Grief, and Trauma
L to R: Steve and Dustin in Episode 6; The Party hugging Will in Episode 7 | Photos from Netflix
This deserves its own section because all these kids have been through so much. The horrors of the demogorgons and Vecna’s schemes are all part of a cycle of hurt and pain that none of them asked for, yet have to deal with. The beauty of the series is that, at the end of the day, all that hurt and pain resulted in acceptance and community. Two of the most important scenes in the season are the shift in Steve and Dustin’s relationship, as well as Will having the courage to be true to himself and to his friends and family. You’ll have to watch the series to see how these scenes unfolded, but the core stands: the bonds created with understanding and love are stronger than the self-doubt and isolation caused by others.
Heart-Stopping Action Sequences
L to R: El protecting No. 8 and Hopper in the Upside Down; Lucas, Vicky, Robin, and Max hiding from the Demogorgons | Photos from Netflix
Volume 2 of Stranger Things season 5 features incredibly dire situations, both in the Upside Down and Hawkins. The tension is palpable as viewers wonder whether their favorite characters will make it out alive. From El’s powers on full display, to the demogorgon hiding scene that looked like something straight out of Jurassic Park, the series has continued to give us sequences that have us holding our breaths for the next scene, and pumping our fists in the air when triumph is on the horizon.
L to R: Vecna in his lair; Nancy and Jonathan in the Upside Down | Photos from Netflix
We can’t help but give props to the visual effects team and set designers because of how intricate the details are for each scene. Volume 2 includes a long stay in the Upside Down, which allows viewers to see a variety of amazing effects from skin-melting wax to a literal hive mind. We can’t get enough of how beautifully grotesque the scenes are, and despite being scared to death, we just can’t look away.
Iconic Needledrops
Aside from “Running Up That Hill” being played on repeat as Max’s theme, more ‘80s and ‘90s songs join the fray as this final season comes to a conclusion. Like Max said in Volume 1, “Music has a way of finding you, even in the darkest of places.” Netflix compiled all the songs for each Stranger Things season and you’ll notice how thematic they are. If you listen close enough, they’re clues to the storylines in each season. In volume 2, we’ve had an influx of Kate Bush since Max becomes a central character for the episodes, and we’re excited to see which songs get added to the list when the finale comes around.
Game, Set, Match
El and the gang enter the Upside Down | Photo rom Netflix
The series ends with everyone charging into the Upside Down based on a plan from an unlikely character. Everything comes together—the reveals, the side plots, and the thematic threads—to form a hype-enhancing cliffhanger for the finale of the series. From the way the gang explained their ultimate battle plan to end it all, we wait with bated breath to see if everyone survives the final crawl.
SEA Wave rates Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 with 3.5 out of 5 waves.
Catch the finale of Stranger Things in select cinemas and on Netflix on New Year’s Day. What fan theories do you have for the end of the show? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!