'Stranger Things' S05 review: Volume 01 is full of surprises!
What's the story
It's been nine years since we first met Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Will (Noah Schnapp), and the Hawkins gang's other members. Now, after what feels like an eternity, Stranger Things has returned with its final season. The Duffer Brothers fire from all fronts; there's no moment to slow down, and Volume One establishes the action-packed road to the finale. Spoilers ahead.
Plot
This time, Vecna targets Holly Wheeler
The first four episodes, which have a combined runtime of over four hours, are titled Chapter One: The Crawl, The Vanishing of..., The Turnbow Trap, and Sorcerer. Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) takes Mike's sister, Holly (Nell Fisher), to the Upside Down, and the Hawkins gang races against time to rescue her. Can they finally defeat Vecna? And, will Max (Sadie Sink) ever wake up?
#1
Mike, Eleven, Will, Nancy once again stand by each other
Friendship has always been the foundation stone of Stranger Things, and this season is no different. Much like the penultimate season, most characters spend these episodes stranded in different places, but the core theme of companionship effortlessly shines through. Characters like Mike, Eleven, and Will, among others, repeatedly put their lives on the line for each other and choose death over defeat.
#2
Pay special attention to episodes 3 and 4
The show peaked last season in its production design (remember the stunning season finale?), and it maintains that consistency here, too. The Upside Down sequences make you sit up straight: they're simply breathtaking, especially in the electrifying third and fourth episodes, which take us inside Vecna's memories. And, you aren't ready for the brief but exciting time-travel twist in the fourth episode!
#3
The makers keep us on our toes
It would be too basic and boring to simply defeat Vecna, so creators Matt and Ross Duffer take us on a long, adventurous, and dramatic journey. They peel the layers episode by episode, as we learn more about Eleven's powers, Vecna's vulnerabilities, and witness the return of a crucial character. The stakes are higher than ever before, and the battle has turned much darker.
#4
Holly's kidnapping is unsurprising, but neatly executed
Holly being Vecna's new victim hardly comes as a surprise, considering she is the youngest and hence, the most impressionable and vulnerable. Her kidnapping sequence is well-executed and a complete nail-biter, and her parents, Karen and Ted's fates hang in the balance as they seemingly sacrifice themselves for their daughter. Do we sense a death coming?
#5
Areas where it could have been better
However, these episodes aren't without glaring problems. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve's (Joe Keery) personalities seem to have changed drastically, and the sass that made them instantly likeable is sorely missing. Previously, despite the world literally ending, the show always found space for light-hearted moments, but that's no longer the case. Robin (Maya Hawke), too, has been poorly written; she's become awkward and irritating.
#6
Feels a little too bloated at times
Since the world-building has already been achieved, and the characters are well-established and familiar, the episodes seem needlessly overlong. The show sometimes begins to move in circles and gets repetitive and predictable. At its best, it can be spectacular and jaw-dropping, but at its worst, it's overwhelming and bloated. Plus, it's never too enjoyable when our heroes' problems are solved within minutes.
Verdict
Get ready for the final fight!
The season takes some time to get into the groove, but it's largely on the right path. Going by these four episodes, we're in for thrilling revelations, several surprises, and heartbreaking deaths. The second volume, comprising three episodes, will premiere on Netflix India on December 26, followed by the finale on January 1. Until then, sit tight! 3.5/5 stars.