It’d seem like there is no finish in sight via the eyes of Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), however the model new trailer for “Stranger Issues” screams “grand finale,” albeit with a little bit of assist from Queen’s “Who Needs To Stay Without end.” The most recent preview sees Hawkins’ heroes, nonetheless damaged from their earlier bout with Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), going another spherical with the telepathic terror, who may need executed the unthinkable and turned one in every of Eleven’s personal buddies towards her.
However whereas the ’80s sounds have our eyebrows raised, it is the sights of the pulse-pounding preview that will probably be blowing followers’ minds, giving us a fair larger, eye-watering glimpse into what dimension-tearing destruction is coming our approach. Amid the chaos and copious quantities of tears, there’s rather a lot to select aside that has us fearful for some characters relating to the place they’re and what doubtlessly bleak future might await them. In consequence, we have gone body by eerily gloomy body to see what reveals have been given away and we’ve some daring guesses for what’s coming. So roll the cube, activate the Christmas lights, and see what you may’ve missed for the ultimate season of “Stranger Issues.”
5. Dustin is in self-destruct mode
Following the occasions of “Stranger Issues” season 4, it is comprehensible that we will be reunited with the heroes of Hawkins whereas they’re nonetheless licking their wounds from their final encounter with Vecna, which left one in every of their very own within the hospital and the opposite within the floor. The lack of scene-stealing hero Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is clearly nonetheless felt by his good pal, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), who seems to be to be switching to full high-school insurgent and would not care about what others may consider him. Driving to high school alone and receiving some stern glances within the hallways whereas sporting a Hellfire Membership tee and a jacket that “The Breakfast Membership” character Bender would probably admire, it is clear that the group’s light-hearted joker is not laughing anymore, and he might have drifted away from the group because of this.
Whereas we solely get a glimpse of the gang all collectively later within the trailer, I ponder if a rift might have shaped, inflicting Dustin to show his again on the group, who aren’t as upset about Eddie’s loss as he’s. Fortunately, plainly just a few form phrases from Steve (Joe Keery) may be sufficient to fix issues, and it could not come a second too quickly, as Dustin seems to be to be sporting a black eye and a busted lip when the 2 hug it out. Might his defending of Eddie have gotten him in hassle with some Hawkins Excessive College bullies? That may clarify why we see him in tears in what’s going to in all probability be one of many billion occasions we see the forged get emotional. And you already know what? We in all probability will, too.
4. Eleven and Hopper have some father-daughter time
Final season gave us little or no time along with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her surrogate father and former Hawkins Chief of Police, Jim Hopper (David Harbour). That is what you get when one in every of them is trapped in an underground bunker whereas the opposite is considered lifeless however is absolutely in Russia, slicing up Demogorgons with Conan’s sword. It is a good factor, then, that the brand new trailer confirms we will get numerous father-daughter time within the closing season of “Stranger Issues.” The one concern will probably be how a lot time that subplot takes up — and, extra importantly, whether or not it ends with one of many present’s largest intestine punches.
A hefty chunk of the brand new trailer exhibits Hopper and Eleven sneaking right into a fenced-off facility, presumably managed by Dr. Kay (performed by new addition to the present and “Terminator” franchise legend Linda Hamilton). In addition to El going full Jean Gray and floating over fences, one shot within the trailer additionally exhibits Vecna’s primary rival seemingly taking her powers to the restrict whereas Hopper has her again. Might this be hinting on the two heading into what might be a do-or-die mission – one which may see solely one in every of them survive? We hate to say it, however we predict the casualty checklist for the present’s final stretch will probably be surprising, and nothing may go away the viewers’s jaws dropping greater than seeing Hopper go down in a “Logan”-level farewell. Do not say we did not warn you.
3. The gang is saving the world in secret
Again within the day, we have been launched to those world-saving children throughout a recreation of Dungeons and Dragons in Mike Wheeler’s basement. Now, if our theories are right, they are going to be operating their real-life marketing campaign from their very personal secret hideout. On the 30-second mark within the trailer, we see Robin (Maya Hawke), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), and Steve pushing again a faux wall to disclose a hidden hall in an unknown location. Pair that with a scene on the 38-second mark that has Mike rallying the troops collectively round a desk with partitions coated in sketches and maps, and plainly whereas our heroes may be down for the depend, they are not out of the combat but.
It is nothing new for these characters to be working in secret to thwart the efforts of the monster previously often called Henry Creel, but it surely’s spectacular and a testomony to how far they’ve come within the closing season that they seemingly now have their very own Batcave. Setting their spectacular new digs apart, it is also value noting who’s across the desk on the time of Mike’s large speech. Whereas Dustin may be proven going it alone at first of the trailer, it is good to see that he is with the gang right here. One one who remains to be noticeably absent, nevertheless, is Max (Sadie Sink), who may nonetheless be out of motion for the primary quantity of episodes. The second batch of the season drops on Christmas Day, and for Max, what higher Christmas current may there be than waking up from a coma?
2. Are we getting a Nancy vs. Dr. Kay showdown?
After Nancy fought on a stage akin to the likes of Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor in final season’s explosive closing episodes, it is becoming that one of many actors behind these staples of science fiction is definitely going to be making an look within the closing season of “Stranger Issues.” Linda Hamilton will certainly be enjoying the brand new present’s large unhealthy, Dr. Kay, who we predict will assume she has a deal with on issues from the Upside Down till she completely would not. This may more than likely result in what seems to be like a flurry of demogorgons storming the army base and past within the trailer, and Nancy being locked and loaded, able to take a few of them out. What’s value noting, nevertheless, is that Mike’s large sis and the large boss of the brand new top-secret operation seem like in shut proximity to 1 one other, which may result in a heated confrontation between the 2.
For a present that has pulled in legends of ’80s popular culture, together with Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, and Robert Englund, Linda Hamilton is a superb addition and will tee up a superb meta second for the present in its closing push. For the previous two seasons, Nancy has confirmed herself as a locked and loaded character who is not scared to go it alone when obligatory. What higher method to check her mettle than to have her go up towards the lady who portrayed the mom of the human resistance, Sarah Connor? Let battle start.
1. Simply how unhealthy will issues get for Will?
The most important takeaway from this undeniably epic trailer is in its closing moments. As hinted at within the closing of final season, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) nonetheless had a way that Vecna was on the market, and it seems to be like his suspicions get confirmed within the worst approach attainable. Surrounded by destruction and numerous lifeless our bodies, Will will get raised off his ft by El’s previous adversary and advised that he’ll assist Vecna (whether or not he likes it or not) “one final time.”
Whereas it is solely a glimpse into what looks like a pivotal encounter within the present’s closing chapter, this second actually feels prefer it belongs to a cliffhanger scene, doubtlessly within the first quantity of episodes arriving subsequent month. If that’s the case, simply how corrupted may Might be once we return for the second quantity on Christmas Day? Might we see him totally taken over and puppeteered by Vecna, secretly permitting the villain to infiltrate El’s workforce, which is doing its easiest to cease him? If that’s the case, it would put Will liable to being one of many few authentic characters who won’t make it out alive. Let’s face it: We all know some folks aren’t going to outlive this closing battle, and regardless that Will has been via rather a lot, he is undoubtedly nonetheless a candidate to be a casualty. We’ll need to see how issues pan out when “Stranger Issues” season 5 Vol. 1 arrives on Netflix on November 26, 2025.
