As Stranger Things enters its final chapter, the wait for Season 5 has carried a mix of nostalgia and nervous excitement for fans around the world.
The series that once began as a small-town mystery has grown into one of Netflix’s biggest cultural phenomena.
With the release of Volume 1, viewers are preparing to say goodbye to Hawkins, the kids who became heroes and the monsters that shaped a generation of TV storytelling.
This Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 review breaks down how the beginning of the end sets the stage for a gripping, emotional farewell.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Review:
STORY
Stranger Things returns for its final showdown and Volume 1 wastes no time pulling viewers back into the chaos.
These first four episodes pick up in the fall of 1987, right after Hawkins is torn open by the Upside Down gates.
The town is now under military lockdown, families are displaced and fear hangs in the air.
Eleven is hiding, the government is circling and Vecna’s presence continues to haunt Will with strange visions he cannot shake.
The group is scattered across Hawkins, each dealing with their own fears and guilt.
Eleven struggles to reconnect with her powers, Hopper and Joyce try to protect their patchwork family and the younger crew navigates the growing danger with more maturity than ever.
New characters join the fray, including Linda Hamilton’s intense Dr. Kay, whose motives remain suspicious and unsettling. Volume 1 builds tension through quick pacing, emotional moments and a strong sense that the final battle has already begun.
PROS
Volume 1 shines because it leans heavily on character emotion.
Will’s storyline finally steps into the spotlight, giving him long overdue depth and clarity.
Eleven’s personal journey feels grounded and vulnerable, which adds a relatable human layer to the supernatural stakes.
Hopper and Joyce bring warmth and humor whenever the narrative risks feeling too heavy.
Fans will appreciate the balance between nostalgia and escalation.
There are several nods to early seasons that feel earned, from small callbacks to character bonds that shaped the series.
The action scenes land well and the emotional payoffs hit strongly, making this volume easy to binge and even easier to feel invested in.
CONS
The split-season release creates pacing issues for some viewers. Just when the story begins to hit a rhythm, Volume 1 ends on a huge cliffhanger that may frustrate those who prefer a continuous marathon.
A few side plots, particularly the military storyline, drag slightly and echo some of the slower moments of earlier seasons.
The show also juggles a large ensemble and at times certain characters feel underused or overshadowed by bigger emotional arcs.
Nostalgia is a strength for the series, but a few scenes lean heavily into it and briefly distract from the immediacy of the threat.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Volume 1 delivers some of the strongest visuals the show has ever offered.
The practical creature work adds gritty texture to the Upside Down monsters and the cinematography enhances the eerie atmosphere of a broken Hawkins.
The synth-heavy soundtrack remains iconic and anchors the emotional beats with familiar energy. Production design deserves special mention, with the ruined town and air of panic captured in vivid detail.
VERDICT
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is the beginning of the end the show deserved. It combines heartfelt character work with thrilling sequences and a sense of finality that longtime fans will appreciate.
Despite a few pacing stumbles, it delivers a compelling and emotional lead-up to the final chapters arriving later this year.
This volume earns a solid 9 out of 10 and sets the stage for what could be one of television’s most memorable farewells.
Check Stranger Things 5 trailer here:
Lead Image: Netflix
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