Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 ending explained: How major twist sets up Volume 2

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The first part of Stranger Things Season 5 is now available to watch! Here’s a recap of the first four episodes and what they mean for the rest of the season.

After a few temporary technical problems caused Netflix to go down, the first part of the new season of Stranger Things is now available. The first episode was a bit slow, but the following three episodes quickly ramped up the excitement.

Season 5’s soundtrack featured a fun mix of music, including a new song by Mr. Whatsit, a return of a track by 008, and a beloved hit from the 1980s.

Everything leads to a dramatic showdown in the Upside Down, setting Vecna’s final plan in motion in Volumes 2 and 3. Be warned: SPOILERS follow…

Congregating in the Upside Down

The first part of the story focused on getting our heroes into the Upside Down. Hopper went there intentionally on a rescue mission, and Eleven followed, hoping to find Holly Wheeler. Steve, Dustin, Nancy, and Jonathan tried to track a Demogorgon, believing it would lead them to Holly as well. Meanwhile, most of the other characters ended up there through a daring plan, much like the one depicted in The Great Escape.

Holly is unknowingly a prisoner of Vecna, but she’s drawn away by Max, who surprisingly survived and is healing from her traumatic experience within Henry Creel’s memories. Max has found a cave that frightens Creel, and it’s become a safe haven for her.

Amidst everything else happening, the military is making the situation worse by forcibly removing children from their families, transporting them to facilities that function like prisons, and then exploiting them in dangerous situations.

The return of Kali

A crucial moment happens at the close of Episode 4 when Eleven finds out her former friend, Kali—also known as 008—is being held captive by Dr. Kay.

Kali appeared in the second season of the show as another child experimented on at Hawkins Lab. While Eleven had the power of telekinesis (moving objects with her mind), Kali could create illusions – making people believe they were seeing things that weren’t real.

The character appeared briefly in an episode titled ‘The Lost Sister,’ and this caused some negative reactions from viewers at the time.

However, Season 5 seems to be correcting this issue, with Eleven and Kali joining forces after Eleven frees her. Together, they’re expected to play a significant role in defeating Vecna.

Vecna vs the military

Inside Hawkins Lab, something big is happening while Vecna is wreaking havoc in town. He’s incredibly powerful – bullets don’t even faze him, and he’s able to throw trucks around, control fire, and easily kill people.

Vecna lifts Will into the air, bringing them face-to-face, and reveals why he’s been after the children of Hawkins. He then steps back, leaving his followers to complete the attack.

That’s when Will transforms. He recalls Robin’s advice – to embrace who he is and not be afraid – and suddenly gains incredible power.

When Will’s eyes turn white, he uses a hand gesture to seize control of approaching monsters. He halts them just before they can attack, then swiftly breaks their bones, killing them instantly.

Will’s powers explained

The episode concludes with Will injuring his nose, mirroring a similar moment with Eleven earlier in the season, hinting that he may be developing powers like hers. However, the Duffer brothers, creators of Stranger Things, recently explained that it’s more complex than that. According to Ross Duffer in an interview with Variety, Will isn’t developing powers of his own, but is instead able to channel Vecna’s abilities. He essentially acts as a conduit, allowing Vecna to exert his power through him – like a form of puppetry. While Vecna and Eleven’s powers share similarities, Will’s connection is different; he’s not the source of the power, but a channel for it.

Will can now tap into the hive mind’s power and use it as a weapon, but only when the entity is nearby. This new ability, along with Eleven’s telekinesis and Kali’s illusions, gives the heroes of Hawkins a strong advantage as they prepare for the upcoming final battle.

You can now watch Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix! If you’re eager for more from Hawkins, you’ll also find articles about which characters are most at risk in the final season, an explanation of the time jump in Season 5, speculation about Barb’s possible return, and rankings of both the best characters and episodes from the show.

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2025-11-27 19:51