Full spoilers follow for Stranger Things: Season 5 Vol. 2, which consists of three of the eight episodes of the fifth season. Volume. 2 premieres on December 25th on Netflix, with the series finale on December 31st. Read our Tom's review. 1 here.
Don't be afraid, Stranger Things viewers who are nervous creators Matt and Ross Duffer can't answer all their unsolved mysteries – Season 5, Vol. 2 is the answer-palooza for many about the mysteries of mythology that haunted the residents of Hawkins back in the first season. There's so much going on in this trio of episodes that it's a little hard to comprehend just how much is revealed about the mythology – and between the characters – in the three and a half hours that this volume spans.
And not to mention, you might want to dig out your Texas Instruments scientific calculators because Mr. Clark (Randy Havens), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Erica (Pria Ferguson) and even Murray (Brett Gelman) will be taking us all to school – in a very interesting way – as we learn the real 411 about Upside Down, Right Side Up and something called exotic the matter that unites it all.
“Chapter Five: Shock-Jock” is the second episode of this season, directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Fog). Witch All Eleven went to the Demogorgons. After his death, Hawkins' heroes take stock of their losses… and realize that all 12 children were kidnapped to the Upside Down by Mr. Whatsit/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). He's hooked them all up to his hive, but they just think they're protected in his pseudo-ideal kreel home. After learning from Holly Wheeler's (Nell Fisher) wanderings, he locked them away for safekeeping until he needed to use his “perfect vessels” for his plan for the finale.
In Rightside Up, Will and company figure out that he can siphon energy from Vecna thanks to their connection. So, unlike Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) powers, Will requires proximity to gain the strength to fight Vecna. And Lucas' (Caleb McLaughlin) theory that November 6th will be the day Vecna's plans are revealed sets off an implied countdown that fuels these episodes, which unwind over the course of a single day. Darabont skillfully keeps “Chapter Five” afloat, switching between a lot of setups, some conceptual chatter about quantum physics, and some much-needed character moments—Hello, Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).
It's all set for a deep dive into the mythology in “Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz,” directed by series executive producer Shawn Levy. Consider this an episode of the whole science class as Dustin uploads his big wormhole theory that links Hawkins and Vecna's “Abyss”. All kudos to writer Kate Trefry for cramming a huge amount of science talk into this piece and distributing it in a way that all the Steve Harringtons in the house can understand. Does it all have to be so multi-layered and complex? Probably not, but it is conveyed between several characters who excitedly share details with each other as if everyone is stupid (including us). They facilitate the action of the exposure medicine.
Also mitigating the weight of these theories are the parallel adventures of Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly, who work together to escape Henry's head (aka Max's cave). If we're awarding an MVP for this volume, Fisher's Holly gets a gold star for being such a charming addition to the lineup so late in the game. She holds her own in every emotional scene with Sink and does the character work necessary to draw the audience's attention to her plight. No easy feat when she could easily have been seen as stealing precious time from more established characters.
“Chapter Seven: The Bridge” is another great coming together of the cast, as all the different factions come together in the WSQK to come up with a plan strong enough to stop Vecna from merging realities and destroying their very existence. Everyone plays a role, including supporting characters who share the hero's energy, such as Robin's friend Vicky (Amybeth McNulty), Mr. Clarke, and another feisty character, Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono).
Another positive is the way Kali/Eight (Linnea Berthelsen) is so nicely woven into these final hours. It's as if the Duffers realized how unfair it was that she became synonymous with the show's most maligned episode, season two's “Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister” – so they mercifully replayed it. The show's reliance on her shared history with Al means Hopper now has competition in the family overprotective realm. Kali and Eleven's sisterly bond is completely unique to their story, and their reunion adds a new layer of complexity when it comes to the decisions Al makes. They've endured immeasurable trauma together at Brenner's lab, so Kali's argument that it's their duty to make sure it doesn't happen again carries a lot of weight, even if it interferes with Al's plans for a “happy ending.”
On the list of things that don't work so well, Linda Hamilton's Dr. K is by far the least developed of the Duffers' 80s-era actors on the show. Don't get me wrong—Hamilton hasn't lost her skills when it comes to dismantling dumb subordinates or barking orders. But as a well-defined character, Dr. Kay is just a pale shadow of Dr. Brenner. There's still no context as to why she's so eager to bring back the numbers program, making it a frustrating one-note. I'd really like to see Hamilton get Paul Reiser-quality material, but that seems unlikely with only two hours left in the series.
It's also not the best season for Winona Ryder's Joyce, as she's been sticking to her mom routine. And while this is important to Will's character and their bond, it limits a character who has grown so much by this point. It is clear that the romance between Hopper and Joyce, which was fueled All from Season 4 – back into best friend mode again. Of course they are together, but where is the love? They don't have to figure it out, but this season robs us of the emotional scenes these two can use to rip our hearts out.
These quibbles aside, Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 2 absolutely consistently moves the needle when it comes to those crucial who, what, where and when questions the audience has been waiting for. Now we're waiting for something big…why? As Max reminds us, Vecna was originally a man, and there's still something left. Will this be the key to his defeat? If they figure out its secrets, can they bring it back to the light and save Hawkins?
