After an agonising three-year wait, Stranger Things season five part one has finally landed on Netflix, delivering a monumental midseason finale that has left fans reeling. The highly anticipated return picks up directly from the apocalyptic cliffhangers of season four, plunging our heroes into their most desperate battle yet against the sinister Vecna.
Vecna's Sinister Plot and a New Hostage
The Duffer Brothers waste no time in escalating the threat level. Despite being injured by Nancy, Robin, and Steve in the season four finale, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has succeeded in tearing Hawkins apart, creating four massive rifts to the Upside Down. While the core gang mobilises for a final fight, a new target emerges within the Wheeler household.
Mike and Nancy's younger sister, Holly (Nell Fisher), has befriended a mysterious figure she calls Mr Whatsit. Dismissed by her bickering parents as an imaginary friend, a concerned teacher spots Holly talking to this unseen presence. The truth is far more terrifying: Mr Whatsit is revealed to be Henry Creel himself, Vecna in a deceptive new form.
After a demogorgon attacks the Wheeler home and kidnaps Holly, Mike theorises a connection to her 'friend'. Their mother, Karen (Cara Buono), confirms their worst fears, revealing the friend's name is Henry. Holly is now a prisoner in the Upside Down, with Vecna posing as her protector.
Max's Coma and a Glimmer of Hope
The fate of Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) remains a central mystery. Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) maintains a heartbreaking vigil at her hospital bedside, playing her favourite song, Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill', in a futile attempt to rouse her from her coma.
However, in the Upside Down, Holly unexpectedly stumbles upon Max, who is very much alive but trapped within Vecna's memories. Max explains she has been forced to relive her most traumatic moments, including her step-brother Billy's death, as well as Vecna's own past at Hawkins Lab. She has found refuge inside a mysterious rock wall that Vecna fears. With Holly's arrival, Max begins formulating a daring escape plan for them both.
Will Byers' Past Trauma and Awakening Power
The season opens with a crucial flashback to four years ago, showing a young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) being captured by a demogorgon in the Upside Down. Instead of killing him, the creature delivers him to Vecna, who forces a tentacle down Will's throat, pumping an unknown substance into him and promising they would do "beautiful things" together.
In the present, Will's connection to Vecna becomes the key to tracking Holly. He realises he has been seeing through Holly's eyes and later through fellow student Derek's, understanding that Vecna is collecting children to act as his "vessels". Will also discovers he can see through the demogorgons' eyes, a lingering effect of his bond with Vecna.
This leads to a daring rescue mission at a military facility where the children are being held, mistakenly believing Eleven is the threat. The operation descends into chaos when Vecna appears, effortlessly murdering soldiers and allowing his demogorgons to abduct the children. Taunting Will, Vecna boasts that he was "the first" and that breaking him was "easy".
As demogorgons prepare to kill Mike, Lucas, and Robin, something within Will finally unlocks. He stops the creatures in their tracks, revealing that Eleven is no longer the only one with formidable powers. The midseason finale ends with a powerful shot of Will wiping a bloody nose, teasing his vital role in the battle to come.
Other Key Developments
The hunt for Vecna continues on multiple fronts. Hopper and Eleven's search leads them to a military base where they confront Dr Kay (Linda Hamilton), who wrongly believes Eleven is the villain. Inside a vault, they make a shocking discovery: Eight, aka Kali (Millie Bobby-Brown), Eleven's 'sister' from season two, is being held captive and strapped to a machine by the military, her purpose yet to be revealed.
Stranger Things season five part two is scheduled to premiere on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26, on Netflix, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to the beloved series.
