‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Volume 1 Review: The Shtick Is Tired

It has been over three years since Stranger Things aired its last season, Stranger Things 4. Since then, Stranger Things has become somehow even more relevant in the cultural zeitgeist with further exploration of 80s nostalgia, all while the main cast (or most of it anyway) are moving on with other avenues of their lives. Obviously, this increased attention has left many audiences excited for Stranger Things 5 and how the story will wrap up in Hawkins, Indiana. Read our full review of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 below. 

Stranger Things follows a group of kids who, along with their town, are faced with supernatural forces from the Upside Down dimension. The show features an ensemble consisting of the likes of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Linda Hamilton, and Jamie Campbell Bower.

This season, which is being released in three volumes (Volume 1 on November 26th, Volume 2 on Christmas Day, Volume 3 on New Year’s Day), follows a quarantined Hawkins and sees our courageous ensemble once again fight the evil Vecna (Campbell Bower) and end the evil beneath Hawkins once and for all. This plot feels a little tired, given it’s basically the same thing as last season, and the bad thing is… this season is worse in general.

Acting from a lot of the cast feels like they’ve gotten worse since they were teenagers, with a few of the actors phoning it in completely and others just doing it for the paycheck. It’s sad to see when there are such greats as Winona Ryder in the cast, who is absolutely perfect as Joyce Byers (as per usual). And it’s not just on the actors, but on the script too, which is not only cliched with shitty nostalgia references but really cringe at times, making for a nearly unbearable time, if not for the story and the really interesting atmosphere, which borders on scary but never makes that jump.

I think maybe the most glaring of this season’s issues thus far is the runtime. For the four episodes in the first volume, it amounts to a staggering runtime, and it’s clear that the show does not justify such a runtime or such a release strategy.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 struggles to stay on the level of quality of other seasons, but still manages to provide entertaining event television, solid enough for the whole family to watch.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 is directed by The Duffer Brothers and Frank Darabont and stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Linda Hamilton, and Jamie Campbell Bower.

Watch Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 below:

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