Netflix has finally released the first trailer for Stranger Things Season 5, as this long-awaited final chapter in this genre-defining series draws to a conclusion.
There’s a lot of badassery on show in one trailer and whilst this teaser doesn’t give away too much there’s enough packed into its two-minute runtime to draw a few speculations and interpretations.
From Vecna’s terrifying transformation to Eleven’s evolving powers and the fate of Hawkins itself, the footage teases an epic finale that promises to tie up every thread the series has spun since its debut. Let’s break it all down — and explore what it all might mean.
Will’s Story Comes Full Circle
Whilst arguably the series weakest character (sorry) in my opinion, we get confirmation that Will’s character will take more of a central role to the story.
Season 5 will take place in the fall of 1987, around a year after the events of Season 4, a time for characters to process the destruction Vecna unleashed on Hawkins.
The series started with Will’s disappearance and it has been confirmed by The Duffer brothers that this season ‘belongs to Will’ as we’ll finally learn why he was taken to the Upside Down and why his character is so deeply connected to it.
Will’s still heavily connected to the dark dimension and his character’s fate certainly hangs in the balance, could Will perish in Season 5 or will he be a key to ending the nightmare?
Vecna’s Glorious Return
I definitely have issues, I’m the person who 99% of the time roots for the bad guys in a movie and seeing Vecna return and restore after his grave injuries in season 4 is quite exciting to see.
Vecna is fully intertwined with the Upside Down and his character reveal in this trailer is chilling!
Prepare for more duels and battles with Eleven but with his new form that seems to transcend worlds does that mean that his power has grown stronger than ever before?
Eleven’s Powers Evolve
It’s not just Vecna who seems to have had a power upgrade, Eleven has also developed stronger powers as she is seen in the trailer to launch herself over a fence with a psychic blast. A power we haven’t seen her use before.
Leveled up is an understatement but with greater power comes greater responsibility as Season 5 seems to position Eleven as the only person capable of confronting Vecna head-on — but perhaps also as someone who must face what her powers truly are.
Hawkins in All Out War
Once a nice sleepy town is now the front-line of a battlefield as the military has fully taken over and chaos is brought to the suburban streets.
The Upside Down is looking to consume Hawkins in multiple ways of CGI destruction.
Expect large-scale action scenes complimented by a much bigger show budget for this grand finale season.
It’s going to be a bloodbath!
Characters Will Die
With a season finale comes a very brutal realisation that we may lose some characters along the way during this battle.
High in violence also means high in emotional intensity and no character is safe.
Max is in a coma, but we see her being carried out of a hospital being chased by a creature in the teaser.
Hopper scarred from captivity whilst Joyce is exhausted by endless loss and Mike and Eleven struggle to stay connected throughout the ongoing drama.
Every character is carrying scars and each character arc will end with purpose, in death or victory.
Which bonds will break and which characters will perish?
Many Questions Answered
Why was Will targeted in Season 1?
What is the Upside Down?
Who created the Gate?
Can Vecna / the Upside Down be destroyed?
Many questions that should hopefully be answered in this final instalment to give fans closure but to also make rewatching the series all that more potent.
Finding out the answers to these mysteries in the final season may just allow you to watch the entire series again with a fresh perspective and that’s so clever to me.
As it says in the trailer, it’s not just a Dungeons & Dragons game anymore its a story that began in a small town with missing kids that involved into an inter dimensional war about grief, memory, and love.
Bigger, bolder and more emotionally resonant. Get those tissues ready as I have a feeling we’re going to be in for a roller coaster ride.
