Stranger Things Returns: What You Need to Know Before Binging Season 5

After more than three long years away from Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things fans are finally heading back into the Upside Down and Netflix is making sure the show’s final chapter lands with maximum global impact. With the long hiatus leaving even the most devoted viewers a little foggy on past events, here is a sharp story focused refresher and release guide to bring you fully up to speed.

Netflix dropped the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 in the early hours of Thursday 27 November (06:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time). Because of the global simultaneous release, fans in many regions of the world will get access to the first four episodes on Wednesday, as per their coincidental time zone.

Here is what binge watchers should note:

• There are total 9 episodes this season, with four already out.
• Episodes 5, 6 and 7 arrive just a day after Christmas.
• The series finale titled The Rightside Up premieres on New Year’s Day.

Season 4 ended with a sprawling multi front assault on Vecna. Here is the fast recap:

• Eleven learned that she had accidentally created Vecna by blasting Henry Creel into another dimension during their childhood confrontation.
• Vecna formerly Henry formerly One used Max as his gateway to crack open Hawkins.
• Max died briefly giving Vecna the opening he needed. Eleven revived her but the damage was already done.
• Hawkins began collapsing into the Upside Down with dying fields red lightning and ominous clouds signalling a full scale breach.

And while we are talking about a recap, we cannot leave out Vecna’s storyline entirely. Henry Creel (aka Vecna) has possibly one of he darkest arcs in the whole show. Here’s what we know of the big baddie of Stranger Things:

• A troubled kid who slipped into an alternate dimension for 12 hours and returned with dangerous powers.
• After murdering his family using those powers he became Dr Brenner’s first test subject designated 001.
• With a chip suppressing his abilities he waited until Eleven unknowingly restored his strength.
• Their battle tore open dimensions and turned Henry into the burned twisted Vecna we know today.
• Season 5 will likely continue unraveling Henry’s motives his link to Eleven and his endgame for Hawkins.

Season 5 will answer long standing questions:

• Can Eleven truly defeat the villain she once empowered?
• Will Max wake fully?
• What happens now that Hawkins is merging with the Upside Down?
• And who will make it to the end?

By the time 2026 arrives the world of Stranger Things will have reached its definitive conclusion and fans will finally see whether Hawkins finds salvation or succumbs to the darkness beneath it. As Netflix’s most successful sci fi franchise the final season carries huge emotional and commercial weight.

You can see the first five minutes of Season 5 ‘Chapter One: The Crawl’ here: