Stranger Things Review & Explained: Will's New Powers, Eleven's Journey, Vecna's Past

[TMC]

Stranger Things has finally opened the gate to its fifth and final season – so what’s the deeper meaning of what we’ve learned from Volume One of Season Five, and what does it tell us about how this entire saga might end? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important symbolism and themes so far, where Eleven, Will, Max, and every other character has ended up, and what it all tells us about where the story might be headed! We're analyzing major story clues, emotional arcs, friendship dynamics, trauma and coming-of-age threads, and what they reveal about identity, sacrifice, love and survival.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:19 Season 5 Volume 1
• 00:44 The time jump
• 01:05 Dustin
• 01:16 Lucas & Max
• 01:32 The military & Dr. Kay
• 01:47 Eleven
• 02:03 Nancy, Robin, Steve & Johnathan
• 02:12 Holly
• 02:33 Will
• 03:08 Changing relationship with the Upside Down
• 03:52 Important symbolism & themes
• 03:58 False protectors
• 06:12 Being forced to hide
• 06:41 The lingering effects of trauma
• 07:09 Vecna/Henry vs Will
• 07:43 Powers as a metaphor
• 08:45 Mysteries for Volume 2
• 09:34 The few things that didn't work so well this season...
• 10:04 The loss of stakes
• 11:06 Waiting for the big conclusion