When it premiered on Netflix, the situation looked grim for the Hawkins gang. Will Byers managed to tap into his hidden powers and defeat the demogorgons, but Vecna still succeeded in kidnapping all 12 “vessels” he needs for his world-ending plan.
But hope isn’t lost. Volume 2 sets up new schemes on both sides of the Upside Down and even brings back characters thought to be long gone. Yet for every answer revealed, another question arose. Here’s everything we learned in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 — and what the finale still needs to address.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 Ending Explained
After being split up for most of Volume 2, Episode 7 “The Bridge” brings everyone — except Holly, Derek, and the kidnapped kids — back to the Rightside Up, where they can craft a plan to reach Vecna even though he has everything he needs to conquer the world. The key lies in Dr. Brenner’s lab notes, which Dustin found in the Upside Down version of the lab. (This is also where Nancy and Jonathan discover the Exotic Matter.)
So when Max fears Holly is lost in a place she doesn’t understand, Dustin explains he knows exactly where she is. As he mentioned before, everything they thought about the Upside Down is wrong. It’s not an alternate dimension; it’s actually a wormhole leading to The Abyss, Vecna’s homeworld known as “Camazotz.” That’s why they couldn’t find him in the Upside Down — he was never there to begin with.
What’s Vecna’s plan? He’s using the kidnapped kids to merge the Abyss with the real world. Like Will, these human “vessels” amplify his power.
Thankfully, the gang quickly comes up with a counterplan. Steve realizes there’s a “beanstalk” that could help them reach the Abyss: if they wait until Vecna brings the worlds close enough for the radio tower to pierce a rift, Eleven and Kali can use their mental powers to defeat him. Dustin adds the final piece: bombing the Exotic Matter to collapse the bridge itself.
What Questions Does The Finale Need To Answer?
Even with a clear plan, there are still loose ends. Will the plan go off without a hitch? Stranger Things has always relied on these impulsive schemes, but they often hide a secret ace up the sleeve. Given past seasons, it’s possible not everyone will survive the series.
In fact, two characters are already preparing to sacrifice themselves. Kali tells Eleven the only way to stop Vecna and Dr. Kay from tapping into their powers is to trap themselves in the Upside Down, giving up their lives to ensure no one can use them as weapons. No one else knows this, so the finale will show if they find a way out alive or become casualties in the fight to seal the Upside Down forever.
But the biggest question is whether there’s more story to tell after this. We already know Stranger Things won’t end soon thanks to the upcoming animated spinoff Tales from ‘85, but maybe there’s more in store for these characters even after the Upside Down is (hopefully) gone forever.