Stranger Things season 5's return is a thrilling adrenaline rush that doesn't disappoint

Stranger Things season five comes out of the gate swinging, marking the show's best debut to date. A tall order, considering the fandom well remember how special and unmatched its initial premiere was, all the way back when season one first launched. The moment a trembling Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) was snatched from his home by the Demogorgon really hooked us in, after he was blinked out of existence with nothing more than demonic gargling and a shadowy figure.

Hold on to that fond memory in your mind for just a moment… now make it bigger, because that's what season five, episode one, 'The Crawl', does. Part of the reason for its brilliance is that it ends up being far punchier.

For obvious reasons, season five doesn't waste time reestablishing that there's an evil that needs to be defeated. No one is resting on their laurels, and any suggestion that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) may be gone is quickly and cleanly batted away – because of course, things couldn't be that easy. This means the pressure is on, instantly.

Just like its cast, the show itself has matured. Season five graduates into darker and heavier storytelling, and this permeates through everything and is evident from the jump.

Putting aside the pre-released first five minutes, Stranger Things feels noticeably tense throughout volume one. It's a tension that never dips, deliciously creeping up to a 'Running Up That Hill'-level of anguish, without much warning.

Season five is pulsing with action, with a soundtrack to match. There's a consistent heart–hammering level of excitement, and performances that truly stun.

Flowers must be tossed at the feet of one supporting character in particular, who unexpectedly stole the show with, what will undoubtedly be, one of the most talked-about moments to come out of the entire series. But no spoilers here.

In that same vein, the final season gives fans the opportunity to see a different side to our beloved Stranger Things characters. There are newly-formed layers birthed from the trauma they've experienced, and this has reshaped them into new versions of themselves that we are now invited to get to learn again.

Gaten Matarazzo's Dustin is one the most obvious (and commendable) examples of this, as is Will's, but the rest have also been altered, even if in ways that are more subtle.

Any wide-eyed innocence is long gone from our Hawkins gang of misfits. However, while the bleakness of their situation is well and truly ingrained in the story, the Duffer Brothers haven't forgotten the importance of the levity that comes from their friendships and bonds.

They also, thankfully, haven't wiped away all sense of humour from their personalities. As such, the dynamic in the Wheeler household is still wholesome and lively, Robin (Maya Hawke) is as quirky and charming as ever and Erica (Priah Ferguson)… well, she remains Erica, which is a treat for all.

Nell Fisher steps into the role of Holly Wheeler, bringing the character more centrally into the story. Given that Holly was three when the saga began, there can be no getting away from the age snafu.

Much imagination is needed to believe that the 14-year-old Fisher is half her age, but if you lean into the suspension of belief you can truly appreciate the doe-eyed wonder and childlike fright that Fisher successfully brings to the character.

All eyes, however, are rightly on the core gang. The D&D-playing, basement-dwelling, outcasts, whose unbreakable bond has been the backbone of the franchise. Weary as they may be, there is still something satisfying about seeing them unite in friendship and love under a common mission.

Similarly, Hopper (David Harbour) and El's (Millie Bobby Brown) relationship continues to give viewers that warm fuzzy feeling, whilst making you dread how vulnerable everything is against this precarious landscape.

Despite our well-deserved praise, Stranger Things' fifth season doesn't get everything right with volume one. The pacing, being one sticking point. Though near-perfect, creators Matt and Ross Duffer hit a stumbling block with episode four, which fails one of the season's most anticipated storylines with the use of some poor exposition.

The visuals also lean into pantomime territory during another highly-anticipated moment, which threatens to take viewers out of the action. But all is forgiven when the direction of the story then takes a powerful turn.

It may be a short episode drop, with four in the first batch, but if these are a prelude of what is to come next, then Stranger Things season 5 is well on the way to becoming the franchise's best yet.

Stranger Things seasons 1-5 volume 1 are available to stream now on Netflix. Volume 2 will debut on 26 December followed by the finale on 1 January 2026.

Janet A Leigh

TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since.  For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing.  She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.