After nearly a decade of playing DND in the Wheeler’s basement and fighting off demogorgons, we have finally reached the beginning of an end to a memorable franchise. “Stranger Things” Season 5, Volume 1 wastes no time reminding fans of the nostalgia of the show and why the series became a cultural phenomenon in the first place. With the collaboration of 8,000 people involved in the making of the series, “Stranger Things” has been a worldwide success.

We left off in Season 4 with Vecna (Jamie Bower) making a tear between the Upside Down and Hawkins, Max (Sadie Sink) being in a coma after Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) tried to save her and now life in Hawkins is more uncertain than ever. In my opinion, there hasn’t been a bad season, but I do feel that the Duffer Brothers stepped up the cinematography side of the series this season. An example of that is the MacZ set (military base) at the end of Episode 4 where they shot a sequence of this scene entirely in one shot following the characters throughout the set as they try to stay clear of the demogorgons. There is an obvious switch in the series this season as there is a larger amount of gore and edge-of-your-seat moments like the new version of Vecna and the reveal of Will’s (Noah Schnapp) powers.

A significant difference between Season 1 and Season 5 is how the Upside Down is depicted. In Season 1, the group fears what this dimension entails and it is still a mystery, while in Season 5 they seem more comfortable, having multiple “crawl” missions. We also see a military base stationed inside the Upside Down. Especially with the cover up of the tear between the Upside Down and Hawkins, it is inevitable that the two worlds would collide. 

A lot of fans have noticed many parallels between “Stranger Things” Season 5 and other big franchises like Harry Potter and a mix of popular horror movies. For example, the comparison between Will and Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and how Will’s goosebumps on his neck represent his connection to the Upside Down, while Harry’s scar shows his connection to Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Will’s character development has been one of the most interesting due to the fact that it is technically his show, but he has had a lot less screen time in the first four seasons. Just in the first volume of Season 5, we have seen a lot more of Will, and Schnapp’s acting has shown his development perfectly, like at the end of Episode 4 when we see the jaw-dropping moment when Will gets his powers.

Additionally, in the first season, characters like Hopper (David Harbor) didn’t care about his job being sheriff, but now he would sacrifice himself in the fate of the end of Hawkins and the group of people he has grown to care for like family. An honorable mention parallel is the similarities between Lucas’ (Caleb McLaughlin) storyline and Steve’s (Joe Keery) storyline, as they both have the want to be popular, but soon come to realize that it isn’t all about the popularity and that it is about being there for the people you care about. Both Lucas and Steve portray this while they show a protectiveness over the ones they love. The Duffer Brothers did an amazing job in the portrayal of all the developments of every character in the series, and it doesn’t go unseen by fans. 

As the last season comes to a close, the group is more connected than ever, working together to find and kill Vecna for good. This really stood out to me because in past seasons, everyone was either split up into different states, different storylines or dealing with their own problems. But in Volume 1 of Season 5, we can tell that the Duffers wanted to bring that sense of the unity back. Fans have seen in this season that there is a stronger sense of teamwork and more trust in one another, and it really shows how they handle the threats from the Upside Down because every character plays a role in the fight. This connectedness brings back the heart of “Stranger Things,” reminding viewers why this friend group mattered from the beginning. With the stakes higher than ever, Volume 1 makes it clearer that if they are going to defeat Vecna, they’re doing it together. 

Being a big fan of the show myself, from starting it with my family when I was only nine years old to now being 18 while it is coming to a close, I almost feel as if I have grown up with these characters, which made my connection to the show deeper. One of the moments that stood out to me the most was Robin’s (Maya Hawke) speech to Will at the end of Episode 4 when she says “… looking at this little version of myself and that little me, I could hardly recognize her, you know. She was so carefree.” Personally, this means to me how we feel so disconnected to our younger selves and sometimes we just need a reminder to not care what others think and to be fearless. This scene reminded me why these characters mean so much to fans: they support each other through everything, even when the world might be falling apart. As the show heads towards its final episodes, scenes like that make the story feel more real and meaningful, proving that “Stranger Things” has always been about the people just as much as the monsters. 

With Vecna’s shadow growing stronger and the group more united than ever, Volume 1 sets the stage for a final showdown that could change everything. If this first half is any sign of what’s coming, the end of “Stranger Things” is going to be a rollercoaster of intensity, emotion and will be unforgettable. I am both excited and terrified to see how it all wraps up. But if we have learned anything, it is that this show is about friendship, the art of growing up and choosing to fight for the people you love. And to me, that’s what makes this season one of the strongest yet.