It's time to run up that hill again. But since more than three years have passed since then”Stranger Things” aired its fourth season finale, the road may be a little rough for those who haven't binge-watched the Duffer Brothers' hit Netflix series before it debuts the first volume of its fifth and final season on November 26 at 5:00 pm PT.
Since carving out a 2-hour, 21-minute window to re-watch the Stranger Things Season 4 finale before carving a bird on Thanksgiving isn't something everyone can afford, Diversity there's a detailed description of where everyone in Hawkins circa 1986 left off before Season 5. So, take a look below at where Eleven and the gang were at the end of Stranger Things Season 4 before we head back to Upside Down this Thanksgiving.
Eleven
She moved back to Hawkins—everyone is there now, actually. At the end of season five, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), along with Mike, Will, Joyce, Hopper, Nancy and Jonathan, are in a field in Hawkins, watching the Upside Down seep into the Indiana town. Ash-like material darkens the air, emerging from giant cracks in the world that Vecna tore apart, using the lives of four people, including a comatose Max, to open four gates on the Upside Down.
Eleven discovered that Vecna is also Henry Creel and Odin (Dr. Brenner's first subject). Eleven also learned that she was responsible for pushing him into the Upside Down when she rejected his offer to transform the world together, essentially creating Vecna, the evil she and her friends fought against.
She tried to save Max from Vecna through a dream by entering Max's brain, but only managed to bring Max back to life after she had technically been dead long enough for the fourth gate to the Upside Down to open.
Vecna/Henry Creel/Odin
Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) once wanted to join forces with Eleven when he was Odin/Henry Creel to change the world to suit his twisted vision. After being inadvertently thrown into the Upside Down by Eleven and transformed into his current form, Vecna began looking for ways to reach the outside world and control the Hawkins children such as Will and Max.
Although Eleven tried to kill him during her sleepwalk in Max's mind, and Steve, Nancy and Robin shot him with shotguns and set his body on fire in the Upside Down, Will can feel his presence and knows that he is not dead.
Mike Wheeler
Mike (Finn Wolfhard) has returned to Hawkins and is back on good terms with his girlfriend El. With Will's help, Mike supported Eleven in her dream battle with Vecna in Max's mind. However, Mike is unaware that Will has feelings for him and suffers silently over this unrequited love while the Upside Down enters Hawkins.
Will Byers
Will (Noah Schnapp) senses Vecna's presence in the final moments of Stranger Things 4, confirming that he was not killed and that Will's connection to the Upside Down is still intact. Will worked with Mike, Jonathan and Argyle to gain Eleven access to Max's mind through sleep travel so Al could try to save Max and everyone else from Vecna from afar.
Despite his romantic feelings for Mike, Will encouraged Mike to offer his love and support to El to help her try to defeat Vecna. After spending season four living with his brother Jonathan, mom Joyce and Al in California, he and the rest of his family have now returned to Hawkins to help with the fight.
Lucas Sinclair
Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) spent the entire season trying to save Max from Vecna and repair their romantic relationship after she fell into depression following the death of her half-brother Billy. Lucas stayed with her as Vecna entered her mind and tried to win her back with her favorite Kate Bush song, “Running Up That Hill”, but her heart stopped. Max was revived by Eleven through sleep travel, but the damage had already been done and Max is now comatose in the hospital with Lucas remaining by her side.
Dustin Henderson
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) watched Eddie Munson die after they valiantly fought off a mob of Demonbats in the Upside Down to provide cover for Steve, Nancy and Robin as they went to attack Vecna. As a result, everyone else was able to return home safely, and Dustin told Eddie's story of heroism to Eddie's uncle, knowing that the rest of the town still considered Eddie a villain and responsible for several deaths in Hawkins.
Max Mayfield
Currently in a coma in the hospital. All of Max's (Sadie Sink) bones were broken by Vecna and she was dead for a full minute before Eleven brought her back to life through sleep travel. Lucas stays by her side in the hospital, hoping she will recover and wake up, although doctors say she may never wake up from her coma.
Steve Harrington
Steve (Joe Keery) survived the battle against Vecna along with Nancy and Robin at the Kreel House in the Upside Down. He returned with the gang to Hawkins, but they have no idea where Vecna went after they couldn't find the body.
Nancy Wheeler
Nancy (Natalia Dyer) fought Vecna, shooting him along with Steve and Robin, who managed to set him on fire and send him flying through the attic window of the Kreel House in the Upside Down. However, his body went missing before they could confirm his death. At some point during her trance, Nancy went through Vecna's memories and learned his backstory as the troubled Henry Creel.
Jonathan Byers
Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) returned to Hawkins with Will, Mike and Eleven. He spent the time comforting his brother Will, who is clearly heartbroken over his unrequited feelings for Mike. When Jonathan and his girlfriend Nancy reunite, he makes fun of Nancy's ex, Steve, and Nancy refutes it. Before the Upside Down begins to penetrate Hawkins, Jonathan asks Nancy if everything is okay between them in their romantic relationship, and she responds with an unconvincing yes.
Robin Buckley
Robin (Maya Hawke) survived the battle in Vecna with Nancy and Steve in the Upside Down. Returning to the now-destroyed Hawkins, she finds a silver lining: her lover, Vicki, potentially reciprocates her feelings.
Jim Hopper
Hopper (David Harbor) returned from a hostage situation in Soviet Russia and was reunited with Eleven thanks to a rescue mission led by Joyce. While in the USSR, he fought off the Demogorgon in hopes of weakening the overall power of the Upside Down World and helping the children left behind.
Joyce Byers
Joyce (Winona Ryder) brought Hopper back safe and sound to the mess that is Hawkins. They even talked about finally going on a date with Enzo – although it would probably be difficult due to the giant cracks in the world.
Erica Sinclair
Erica (Pria Ferguson) was at the Creel house on the right side when Vecna took control of Max, and she called an ambulance for Lucas to get Max's help after Vecna broke every bone in her body. Erica is in Hawkins with the rest of the team as the Upside Down infiltrates the world.
Willers
The rest of Mike and Nancy's family—mom Karen (Cara Buono), dad Ted (Joe Crest) and little sister Holly (played by Nell Fisher in season five)—were at home when the ground cracked. Young Holly seems to be able to notice what's going on better than her parents and seems to sense the influence of the invisible Vecna on their world.
