Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Review: Finally, after a lot of waiting, “Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1” has been aired on Netflix. As expected, Stranger Things has returned with its biggest, loudest, and most chaotic opening yet. The show takes us to an emotional, ambitious, and visually striking story that stays stuck in your mind. This spoiler-free Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 review breaks down the season with respect to its direction, writing, editing, cinematography, music, VFX, story, and cast.
Details About Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1
| Premiere Date | 26th November, 2025 |
| Premiere Platform | Netflix |
| Creators | Duffer Brothers (Matt Duffer & Ross Duffer) |
| Stars | Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, Jamie Campbell Bower. Joe Chrest and Amybeth McNulty, |
| Episodes & Runtime | Chapter 1: The Crawl – 71 Minutes Chapter 2: The Vanishing of… – 57 Minutes Chapter 3: The Turnbow Trap – 69 Minutes Chapter 4: Sorcerer – 86 Minutes |
| Rating | 3/5 Stars |
Watch Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 All Episodes
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Story
Stranger Things Season 5 picks up right after the devastating end of Season 4. Vecna’s destruction has opened a massive rift through Hawkins, and it has transformed the town into a military-controlled red zone.
The story tries to juggle:
- A war-like invasion of the Upside Down
- New lore connected to past events
- A growing resistance led by Nancy
- The introduction of Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton)
- A deeper emotional arc for Will
- Dynamic shifts in Hawkins due to the portal
- New characters that suddenly matter (like Holly Wheeler)
The strongest story threads are:
- Will’s inner emotional journey. It is very touchy, and it ultimately becomes the heart of the season.
- Robin and Will’s pairing looks very promising; it will keep the viewers engaged throughout.
- Nancy’s leadership of the underground tunnels and resistance feels very natural and smooth.
Though the Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 story has shown a lot of promise, it also suffers because too many characters and subplots compete for space. Some arcs feel like a repeat of old beats.
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Direction: Ambitious but Overloaded
The Duffer Brothers have shown their scale as they have pushed Stranger Things toward cinematic war drama territory.
The direction excels in:
- Emotional moments
- Ensemble sequences
- Horror-heavy set pieces
- Large-scale action
With that being said, Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 struggles with the “everything everywhere all at once” approach. The tone is sometimes confusing as it flips between horror, comedy, and action.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Writing
Season 5 started with an emotional peak, as its writing beautifully captures Robin–Will moments, Nancy’s resistance arc, and the nostalgia-driven callbacks to early seasons. The writing is excellent. The only thing that goes against the show’s writing is the addition of too many characters. Moreover, season 5 also struggles with repetitive arcs.
Editing
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is probably the weakest sequence of the series in terms of editing. Editing looks like a complete mess, as the episodes feel long, untidy, and overstuffed with transitions. Volume 1 feels like it was a 5-hour movie that is chopped into 4 episodes.
However, some cross-cut emotional sequences shine, but it could have been better to tackle the pacing issues.
Cinematography
Visually, Volume 1 is gorgeous. The sequence, including Hawkins, looks very haunting. Some shots, like the underground tunnel shots and upside-down effects, are phenomenal, and they take us to the true essence of the show. The visual language is darker and more mature.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Cast Performances
One of the reasons why Stranger Things Season 5 was so hyped up is because of its promising cast.
Standouts
- Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) was the winner, as he delivered his best performance of the entire series.
- Natalia Dyer (Nancy) was fiery, emotional, and very touchy as she led the resistance with intensity.
- Maya Hawke (Robin) brought that talkative, energetic, and hilarious tone to the show that doesn’t feel forced at all.
- Linda Hamilton (Dr Kay), in the role of the new villain, adds much-needed depth to the show.
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Underused / Side-lined
- Lucas
- Mike
- Dustin
- Hopper & Joyce
- Jonathan & Steve
Opinion
Season 5 Volume 1 is far from perfect. The first volume of season 5 struggles due to its occasionally frustrating scenes. But it also contains:
- Some of the best emotional scenes in Stranger Things history
- One incredibly powerful moment right after the show’s worst decision
- A scale and seriousness that feels final and earned
- A strong setup for Volumes 2 and 3
Stranger Things 5 Vol 1 Ending Explained
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 ends by tying every major storyline back to the show’s origins. Will’s early connection to the Upside Down is revealed as Vecna’s long-term plan. And this makes him the key to the final battle. Hawkins remains under military lockdown, mainly because new tunnels and the widening rift have signalled that the previous gate has delayed the inevitable. The finale of the show made one thing clear: every unanswered mystery now converges toward the series’ final and decisive showdown.
Baap of Movies Verdict
It will suit you if you’re a long-time Stranger Things fan. Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 will move you, surprise you, confuse you, and exhaust you. So, be ready for it.
Watch Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Trailer
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