Across Season 5 of Stranger Things, there’s been a growing undercurrent of finality. Any plan could be the last, any battle with Vecna might be the one that finally defeats him. Yet in the installment released on November 26, it was clear nothing would conclude—four more episodes remained to fill. So while the story pressed on with our beloved characters, it did little beyond setting up the next chapters.
Unfortunately, Volume 2, now streaming on Netflix, grapples with a similar issue. Though some insights about the Upside Down itself are provided, everything feels like buildup for a battle that won’t arrive until the finale on [date]. This is a natural byproduct of the staggered release structure, though the show still has moments that shine (alongside others that feel outright tedious).
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 picks up right where Volume 1 left off, with the group reeling from the crisis of Will’s powers. Will may have fended off the Demogorgons, but Vecna escaped with all his chosen “vessels” set to join Holly. Dustin, Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan are stranded in the Upside Down; while they uncover tangible clues about the Upside Down’s nature, their progress is bogged down by bickering among Nancy, Jonathan, Steve, and Dustin—rooted in their struggle to communicate their emotions.
Max remains the season’s brightest spot, using her Jumanji-like knowledge of “Camazotz” to craft an escape plan with Holly. But as with every Stranger Things scheme, not all goes according to plan. Their journey is the most surreal yet, often echoing Season 4’s flashbacks, but seeing it through these relatively new characters’ eyes makes it compelling.
Still, it’s hard to overlook the scenes that feel forced—like Will revealing a secret in a lengthy, overwrought monologue “because Vecna could exploit it,” or Jonathan finally addressing what’s been in that cassette case all this time. Emotional beats are central to Stranger Things, but these moments feel more like checklist items, even if they do technically develop characters beyond their initial arcs.
Most of Volume 2’s standout moments are mere preludes to the finale—the formation of the final plan, reunions of key characters, or raising the stakes for the climactic showdown with Vecna. This middle section struggles to feel as complete as the first half, since the final chapter isn’t releasing for a week. It’s like holding in a sneeze: deeply unsatisfying and leaving you feeling off.
While we get straightforward explanations for the Upside Down’s nature, we’re left with lingering questions unlikely to be answered in the finale: What happened to Max’s mom? Why haven’t we seen her at Max’s bedside? Who’s running the radio station while Robin’s off on missions? Is Dustin still with Suzy? With only one episode left, there’s a mountain to wrap up in just two hours.
Maybe the finale will be brilliant, justifying the filler in these three episodes—but no amount of lore-dumping or world-building can change that these episodes do little more than trudge the story forward. Season 5 might end up among the show’s best overall, but this middle chunk doesn’t hold up under close examination.