The highly anticipated fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things” is on the horizon, and fans have been given a tantalizing first look at what’s to come. Despite the show’s humble beginnings as a nostalgic sci-fi horror series, “Stranger Things” has grown into a global phenomenon, encompassing novels, comic books, video games, and even a developing collection of spinoff series.
Production Delays and New Beginnings
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent actors’ strike, production on season 5 didn’t start until January 2024, just a couple of months after the strike was settled. However, fans have grown accustomed to longer-than-expected breaks between seasons, with season 4 taking three years to come together.
The first official footage from season 5 promises an emotional conclusion to the characters’ journeys as they prepare to take down the nefarious Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down once and for all. With so many story threads to tie up and sub-plots to resolve, the final season will certainly be a challenge for the Duffer Brothers to stick the landing.
Despite the show’s ups and downs over the years, particularly in season 4, “Stranger Things” has consistently maintained its humor and heart, which have kept it marching forward more than any single nostalgic reference or needle drop. The heroes of Hawkins face the end of times in season 5, and the addition of series newcomer Linda Hamilton, promises to be a welcome addition to the cast as they work to make it across the finish line in one piece.
A Bittersweet Farewell
As the “Stranger Things” kids have grown up before our eyes, becoming young adults who can barely pass as teenagers anymore, the final season will undoubtedly be an emotional journey for both the characters and the audience. Fans have invested so much in these characters over the past four seasons, and the Duffer Brothers will have the challenge of delivering a satisfying conclusion that does justice to the series’ legacy.
