November 1987. It's been nearly three and a half years in our time but only a year has passed in Hawkins, Indiana. Robin (Maya Hawkins) and Steve (Joe Keery) now work at a radio station. This enables Robin to give us an info dump on what's happened since season 4. After the rift opened, the military quarantined the town. They told outsiders it was an earthquake. Our team continues to plan for the final battle with Vecna/ Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower). The miliary has now built a base INSIDE the Upside Down. They make regular supply runs to it. Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce (Wynona Ryder) and the kids use these as opportunities to search for Vecna. But no luck. Vecna is MIA. Could he already be dead? Uh, nope. It couldnt be that easy.
The military continues their search for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). We meet a new baddy-- Dr Kay (played by the always wonderful Linda Hamilton). She wants Eleven at any cost. Kay spends her days inside the Upside Down dissecting weirdo creatures that may be the long lost cousins of the monsters from "Aliens".
Sadly, Max (Sadie Sink) still remains in a coma. Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) regularly visits her at the hospital and plays Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill". Remember Will (Noah Schnapp) was captures by Vecna way back in 1983. That's what started this whole mess. Will is tired of playing the victim. He's also tired of being protected by his well means mother Joyce. Looks like he will have a more prominent role in the finale (since he has some cool newly acquired powers).
Dustin, Lucas and Mike are still in high school. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) continues to mourn the death of Eddie and he is still viciously bullied by the basketball team.
Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy's (Natalie Dryer) little sister Holly (now played by Nell Fisher) is the target of Vecna. There's a great fight scene at their house where her parents, Holly and later the kids battle a demogorgon.
Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy are still together (and Steve is still jealous). Murray (Brett Gelman) plays a bigger role this season in that he's secretly bringing supplies and intel to our crew.
At the end of episode 4 our team pulls off a great escape for the kids being held at the military facility. They dig a tunnel under the military base and extract the kids through a hole in the restroom floor. All is going well... until it doesnt. Then a bunch of demogorgons show up and all hell breaks lose. Great special effects.
So that's the first four episodes in a nutshell. Even though I love the show, I do have a few pet peeves. Obviously, these kids are 10 years older than when this series started (while the show only covers a span of four years). Millie Bobby Brown is married with a child. If "Stranger Things" went on any longer, we might see the actors hit middle age. The episodes are also very long. I know we have a VERY large cast but it seems like a lot of filler at times. We've been battling the same BIG BAD all this time. Vecna has lost a bit of his luster. But having said that, I'm still committed to sticking with this show till the end---no matter what.
Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5).These four episodes are good setup for the final episodes-- 3 at Christmas and the series finale on New Years Eve. Watching the kids I've seen grow up over the past 10 years is always fun. Will the Duffer brothers be able to stick the series finale? I cant' wait to find out.
Photo Credit: https://ovicio.com.br/stranger-things-com-evento-no-brasil-netflix-confirma-datas-para-novidades-da-5a-temporada-e-mais/
TV: Heavy On Sci Fi, Horror & Adventure; Light On Reality
November 29, 2025
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