After years of anticipation, Netflix has finally released the first volume of the final season of Stranger Things. Here is everything we know about the penultimate season of this beloved TV show.
This series finale has been years in the making. With the previous season being released over three years ago, fans have been anxiously awaiting the return of the Hawkins gang.
Season episodes and runtime
Luckily, the wait seems to be well worth it. This final season will comprise eight episodes, with most being over an hour long. The final episode alone was announced to be just over two hours long– essentially the runtime of a feature-length film.
While Netflix hasn’t revealed the exact runtimes for every episode, it has released the titles of each one. Some episode titles that have drawn immense intrigue include episode 2, titled “The Vanishing of …,” and episode 6, titled “Escape from Camazotz.” See the full list of titles and runtimes below:
Chapter 1: “The Crawl” (1 hour, 8 minutes)
Chapter 2: “The Vanishing of …” (54 minutes)
Chapter 3: “The Turnbow Trap” (1 hour, 6 minutes)
Chapter 4: “Sorcerer” (1 hour, 23 minutes)
Chapter 5: “Shock Jock” (~1 hour, 17 minutes)
Chapter 6: “Escape from Camazotz (~58 minutes)
Chapter 7: “The Bridge” (~1 hour, 37 minutes)
Chapter 8: “The Rightside Up” (2 hours, 5 minutes)
Release schedule
For those who don’t keep up with Stranger Things news, the addition of only four new episodes may have come as a surprise. Instead of dropping the entire season at once, Netflix is releasing the series finale in three parts.
This isn’t the first time Netflix has used this method of release. In 2022, Netflix split the fourth season of Stranger Things into two parts. The first part was released in late May and the second in early July.
From a strategic standpoint, this allows the show to build more anticipation and get more viewers to tune in. However, this also benefits viewers. Splitting the show up allows fans to avoid spoilers if they weren’t able to watch several hours of content at once. It also allows time for fan speculation and theories to keep the fan base engaged and build community. The strategy also aligns with the franchise’s aesthetic. The show’s heavy ’80s inspiration makes the split-into-volumes release feel reminiscent of the ’80s comic books that helped shape it.
The producers chose to make these volumes even more special by releasing them around major holidays. Netflix released the first volume the evening before Thanksgiving (November 26), and it plans to release Volume 2 on Christmas Day (December 25) and the season finale on New Year’s Eve (December 31).
What happened in Volume 1
Before the release of Volume 1, the cast and crew had remained tight-lipped on all of the major plot points of the final season. However, the first four episodes have already revealed significant twists to the story.
The season begins in Hawkins, which has now become a secured military zone with the residents under constant surveillance. After about a year and a half following the end of season 4, the group continues their search for Vecna, with Sadie Sink’s character, Max, still being in a coma.
Fans originally theorized that the second episode, titled “The Vanishing of …,” would focus on Mike Wheeler’s younger sister, Holly Wheeler. Once the episode began, the show revealed the full title—“The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler”—and confirmed the speculation.
The first volume centers around Will discovering himself, seemingly coming to terms with his romantic feelings for Mike. With the help of Robin, Will spends the first four episodes learning how to accept himself the way he is.
Major plot twists in Volume 1
These first four episodes had fans twisting and turning in every direction. There were some huge revelations about the main characters as well as the return of some familiar faces.
In the final minutes of the third episode, the show reveals that Max is still alive but trapped inside Henry Creel’s (Vecna’s) mind. She finds Holly Wheeler, and they form a duo that seems to be on track to work together and escape from Henry.
In the final episode of Volume 1, the story delivers two major twists. After Demogorgons surround the group, Vecna returns to confront Will. He leaves Will and his friends for dead, and in the final moments before the Demogorgon’s attack, Will discovers that he has Vecna-like powers. He uses them to kill all of the Demogorgons instantly, saving his loved ones.
Meanwhile, Eleven makes another shocking discovery in the Upside Down. While she searches for what she believes is Vecna, she instead finds her sister, Eight, who hasn’t appeared since Season 2. With these reveals, the group now has three super-powered members who can work together to defeat Vecna.
While there is much still left to be answered, the first volume gave viewers just enough to increase speculation and excitement for the next installment.
Major theories of what’s to come
The Stranger Things fanbase is full of theories. While some might seem outlandish, the first volume has shown that no theory is completely off the table.
One theory that has been especially prevalent is that Will and Mike will end up together. It has become clear that Will has feelings for Mike, but it is unknown if those feelings are reciprocated. Whether or not these two end up in a relationship, it is apparent that their dynamic will be a main focus of the rest of the season.
Now that it has been revealed that Max is still alive, fans believe that she will eventually wake up from her coma and join the fight. Many viewers are speculating that this might happen in Chapter 6: “Escape from Camazots”, with the help of Holly Wheeler.
Because of the stakes of this final season, fans have been making predictions about who might die in the final season. Some major worries among the fanbase are for Hopper, Eleven, Will, and Steve.
There is a dedicated fanbase all across social media, posting theories and reactions to all things Stranger Things. If you find yourself craving more Stranger Things content in between volumes, go support your fellow fans while you await the epic conclusion of one of Netflix’s most successful shows.
