Introduction: Stranger Things Season 5 Review
After years of fans waiting for Stranger Things Season 5 Review to arrive, it has officially been confirmed; not only is Stranger Things Season 5 going to be the final season, but this alone gives the storyline an emotional depth and weight that has not been felt before. The story that began with a boy going missing and scientists experimenting on children has finally lead us to the point in time of the final battle.One of the things that make Stranger Things Season 5 different from previous seasons is that, through the promise of closure, every major storyline, whether it is Eleven’s journey of self-discovery, the mystery of Will’s connection to The Upside Down, Hopper’s leadership abilities, or the relationship between the core group of friends will ultimately reach a mature and fulfilling conclusion.
Tone and Story Expectations
It seems that many fans are looking forward to the new season of Stranger Things and its return to the tone of Season 1. However, the show’s world-building and consequences will be much larger than previously seen. The Duffer Brothers have said regarding Season 5 that it will be:
Darker
More intense
More emotional
Narratively tight
Will Byers will play an important role in this season
The Upside Down no longer stands as an unknown threat from the outside, but instead is now invading Hawkins in full force, and our heroes are fully aware of their participation in this war that they cannot evade.The plot of Season 5 has been kept very close to the vest; however, we know that Season 5 starts immediately following the end of Season 4. We know that at the end of Season 4, Vecna has crossed over and created a significant rift between the two realities. Hawkins has suffered extensive damage, characters are coping with grief, and the fight for survival is about to begin.
Character Arcs: What Season 5 Promises
The characters are one of the best aspects of Stranger Things and season five will allow them to go through the highest of emotional highs as they deal with both their previous fears and unresolved issues, as well as a very uncertain future.
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)
The strongest character arc is expected to be Eleven, who will reach new highs and lows in Season 5. The previous season has already established her as someone fighting to figure out who she is and what it means to be powerful. Therefore, it follows that Season 5 will address:
A. Where her power originally came from.
B. The impact that Vecna will have on Eleven’s ability to leverage that power.
C. The progression from being a young girl who is scared of her own power, to becoming the most confident and decisive leader in all of Hawkins.
Fans should expect to see Eleven grow into a more mature version of herself while at the same time emotionally charged and finally taking charge of her abilities and responsibilities.
Will Byers (Noah Schnapp)
Most sources say that the main emotional foundation for Season 5 is going to be Will Byers. Since Season 1, Will has had a very close relationship to the Upside Down through fear and loss. Now, in the final season, we are able to explore what the connection is and how it affects the characters around him. It has been teased that he is a much more significant character this time compared to the other seasons, and that this provides some long-awaited satisfaction for the development of his character.
Hopper (David Harbour)
After surviving Russia and being reunited with the group, Hopper’s development continues to lean toward the protector role. Season 5 may spotlight his leadership in the Hawkins crisis, while also exploring his father-daughter dynamic with Eleven.
Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and the Core Group
The group that started it all is more grown-up and emotionally layered now. Season 5 is expected to challenge their friendships, push them into dangerous situations, and strengthen the theme that has always defined Stranger Things:
Villain: Vecna’s Final Phase
With the introduction of Vecna in Season 4, this character is now considered to be the most powerful villain in this series and will display his full potential by Season 5. The creators have suggested that the relationship between Vecna and the Upside Down will also develop further and that this final conflict will be based much more on psychological/emotional aspects than just rage.Additionally, they hinted at the development of all the relationships that make up Vecna’s purpose:
1. Brenner’s experiments with Eleven
2. The awakening of Eleven’s powers
3. Henry Creel’s transformation into Vecna
4. The creation of the gate to the Upside Down
Due to his ability to use such a combination of fears and his ability to instill fear, we should expect his return as terrifying, calculating and deeply personal, particularly for Eleven as well as Will.
Visuals & Action: Stranger Things Season 5 Review
High-quality visuals have always been one of the hallmarks of the “Stranger Things Season 5 Review” series; however, Netflix reportedly has invested heavily in the upcoming fifth season and is raising the bar even higher by bringing the show’s visual quality to a level that would be considered “cinematic.” Several aspects of this season have been described as:
- Movie-quality action sequences
- Large-scale sets
- A war-like vision of Hawkins
The intensity that fans will see in the upcoming battles, the artistic aspects of the supernatural, and the deeply emotional moments will all benefit from the higher level of production quality.
Themes: The Heart of the Final Season
This final season will demonstrate all of the important themes associated with this series:
1) The importance of friendship and loyalty. In season 5, character relationships will be tested beyond what they believed to be the limits of friendships. There will be 10 characters, and all will lose trust in one another and need to support each other to endure the challenges they face.
2) The Search for an Identity and Purpose. Eleven, Will and Max will need to figure out who they are as they work together to strategize how to end the “Upside Down”. Will each of these three characters fulfill their purpose and be warriors for the side of good, or will they retreat to other lives where they could be out of sight or in failure?
3) Sacrifice. Both cast and fans will experience very emotional goodbyes in this season. The entire cast and production team of this series expressed that “this last episode will be the hardest to watch, but will have equal meaning”.
4) Growing Up – the young kids we introduced in Season 1 are all in their 20’s. This season will showcase many of these characters growing up.
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