Stranger Things 5 review: Volume 2 is all about the build up before the Stranger Things finale!

If Vol 1 jolted us with new theories, Vol 2 gives us answers confirming which of our theories were right and patiently prepares us for the big, impending finale!

At this point, with Volume 1 having been released almost four weeks ago, returning to Stranger Things feels like a ritual we love repeating. We now know the lay of the land as stepping back into Hawkins, and especially the Upside Down, feels familiar enough that being caught off guard feels unlikely at this point. There’s the ever-present dread of who might die next (with prayers that it isn’t Steve), but beyond that, with Demogorgons, the Mind Flayer, and the evil genius Vecna, it feels like there isn’t much left that the show could throw at us to genuinely surprise us.

So, staying true to the show’s structure, Volume 2 is about coming together to finally connect the dots. While Volume 1 was all about separate journeys with people fighting different battles in different places adding new pieces to an ever-expanding puzzle, this chapter brings those paths back together, allowing their discoveries to converge into a final plan of action and make sense of the whole picture. It starts exactly where we left off, with Will emerging as a vessel who can channel Vecna’s powers for good. Hopper and Eleven reunite with Kali, who reveals something deeply troubling about what the military is doing inside the Upside Down. Dustin, Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan go back to the lab in the Upside Down to figure out the mystery of the big wall, only to realise how little they truly understand. Meanwhile, Max and Holly navigate Henry Creel, aka Vecna’s mind, searching for a way out of Camazotz. As Mike, Lucas, Robin, and othersall help!

And just when familiarity begins to validate our expectations, the Duffer Brothers remind us why they still keep us on edge. No matter how confident we are in our theories, they assert their authority as the creators of this universe, proving that no one understands this world better than they do. The show refuses to stagnate, and therein lies the beauty of walking toward its inevitable finale, where the gap between the volumes release makes sense. Vol 1 was a fast, idea-heavy ride that needed time to settle, while Vol 2 is about slowing down, waiting, and preparing for the final war that arrives just five days later with the finale!

We finally get answers to the questions that have consumed us - whether the bridge exists and where it leads, if a traumatic past lies hidden in the cave Vecna cannot enter, whether Max and Holly make it out, what becomes of the twelve children, and whether our calculations around Will, Eleven, and Kali truly add up. We are also forced to confront the most unsettling possibility of all - what if Vecna isn’t the ultimate villain. Waht if Vecna is just like the Thanos of this universe, driven by the belief that the world is irredeemably evil, selfish, and ruthless, and that destruction is the only path to something “better”?

Also Read: Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 1 review: The journey to the end has begun and it couldn’t get any better!

Yet, while this volume is undeniably about long-awaited answers, it is just as much about courage, heart, and learning from past mistakes. It is about opening up and repairing what is broken before the final crawl turns into the last battle, the one that must be fought to end all battles. Whether our theories turn out to be right or wrong, Stranger Things ultimately proves one thing for sure - it keeps hope alive. In a world that has grown increasingly cynical, where logic often blinds us to the magic right in front of us, the show urges us to see with awakened eyes, not just open ones.

And what better way to do that than through storytelling? A story nerdy enough to make us care about science fiction, Dungeons & Dragons, and the theatrics of make-believe often dismissed as child’s play. Yet ifAlice in Wonderland or A Wrinkle in Time are any proof it is that these imaginary worlds often dismissed as absurd by adults remind us that it is an innocent belief that keeps hope alive. Perhaps that is whyStranger Things works so well. In many ways, it is an ode to children’s stories and the need for the Harry Potter's of this world to keep the magic alive. After all, what else could make us care so deeply about a villain than a show that encourages us to search for meaning behind his actions and attempt empathy, something we often fail to extend in the real world. And if I remember correctly, the last time the world collectively cared this much about whether a character would live or die like we do for Steve was for Arya Stark, in Game of Thrones.

Hence, what began as a show meant for a single season stretched across five seasons and a decade, not just to tell a story, but to remind us of the enduring magic of storytelling itself - where belief, humanity, and faith still exist, strong enough to move us, challenge us and leave us in awe!

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol 2 is currently streaming on Netflix with Vol 3 being released on January 1, 2026!

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