{"id":2178484,"date":"2025-11-27T04:08:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T04:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2178484"},"modified":"2025-11-27T04:08:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T04:08:20","slug":"stranger-things-5-volume-1-is-a-lot-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/stranger-things-5-volume-1-is-a-lot-review\/","title":{"rendered":"STRANGER THINGS 5, Volume 1 Is A LOT (Review)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you watched and liked <em>Stranger Things<\/em>\u2018 first four seasons, you\u2019re obviously going to watch its last. That won\u2019t change no matter what I say about <em>Stranger Things 5 <\/em>Volume One. So your interest in this spoiler-free <em>Stranger Things <\/em>review is likely about managing your own expectations for a highly anticipated final season. But it\u2019s not a matter of being excited or worried before tuning in. It\u2019s about being prepared, because the start of <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em> is a lot. A lot, a lot. While very little from these four overly long episodes is outright bad on its own (with one major exception), too much story, too many characters, and too many complicated\/convoluted developments keep Volume One from being great.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Fortunately, <em>Stranger Things 5: <\/em>Volume One is still good. Its high points are also among the best in the show\u2019s history. And its strongest storyline not only draws on the entire history of the show, it sets it up the chance to pull off a truly moving finale. Strap in\u2014here\u2019s our <em>Stranger Things 5 <\/em>Volume One review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>\u2018s first batch of episodes features so many characters who matter to the equally massive plot that the seasons feels more like it takes place in Westeros than Indiana. The show already had too many characters, yet <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One adds important new characters, too. For instance, it elevates Holly Wheeler, who didn\u2019t matter much before, into a vital role. It also introduces totally novel ones. That notably includes the newest human villain, an incredible Linda Hamilton as military leader Dr. Kay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The show itself also feels a little different from previous installments after what happened in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nerdist.com\/article\/biggest-stranger-things-questions-before-final-season-netflix-max-vecna-nancy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the closing moments of season four;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the closing moments of season four<\/a>. When Vecna opened up a huge portal right through the city, he fundamentally changed the nature of the series. This is no longer an intimate story where only a few citizens know something is amiss. All of Hawkins is now under military control in <em>Stranger Things 5, <\/em>Volume One. The good news is the show combats its own upscaling by keeping almost everyone except its longtime characters in the dark. Most of Hawkins has no idea what\u2019s really going on. The people secretly fighting the Upside Down are the ones who have always done so.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Predictably, with so many people, some characters feel extra important while others feel shortchanged. Natalie Dyer\u2019s Nancy is crucial to multiple <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One plots as she is essentially the leader of the underground resistance. (Literally underground. Get ready for tunnels.) An amazing Noah Schnapp, the absolute MVP of these episodes, is the heart and soul of everything in the best way. Yet Lucas, Mike, and Dustin don\u2019t feel as central as they should be in <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>. A few characters and relationships also feel like they\u2019re running in place, stuck in the same exact arc or development introduced seasons ago. Looking at you, Hopper and Joyce! And Steve and Dustin\u2026.and Jonathan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">No character who matters is ignored or totally undercut entirely, though, because they\u2019re always in the mix. That\u2019s because this season does something very smart and satisfying. It keep its many characters together as much as possible. They\u2019re all working as a unified team, so even when they characters are physically apart in <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, they have one singular goal. They also are in constant communication via walkie-talkies and even through Robin\u2019s authorized radio show. She uses it speak in code while not violating the military\u2019s rules. Important sequences are also spliced together to emotionally connect the characters and their struggles. The series never forgets these people who care about one another and have a long and meaningful history together. As always, <em>Stranger Things<\/em> is at its best when it leans into that.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Steve holds a chainsaw looking down a big hole with his friends surrounding him\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"541\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/SAq98f2rpJaGiTlbNsI.KQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nerdist_761\/f4595dd045aaadf68bfb8ac1478678de\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That said, if you love Maya Hawke\u2019s Robin, you\u2019re going to love <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One. I didn\u2019t keep official track, but she talks as much as all the other characters combined. That might be slightly exaggerated, but not by much. Hawke is excellent, all energy and charm, but more than anyone, Robin exemplifies both the strengths and weaknesses of <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>\u2018s Volume One. She\u2019s too much yet also part of this batch\u2019s best storyline. This season pairs her with Will, and the payoff is extraordinary, among the most moving in the series\u2019 entire run. It\u2019s also very important, as the Duffers eventually weave together their plot, themes, characters, and past events into one satisfying thread.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As for the action in <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, you guessed it, there\u2019s too much. This season is like <em>Aliens<\/em> crossed with <em>Red Dawn<\/em> and <em>Poltergeist<\/em>. There are lots of action sequences. One is the scariest, most gruesome, most emotional attack the show has ever done. (It\u2019s my second favorite moment from Volume One.) Others feel goofy and tiresome. There\u2019s a whole lot of of absurd, <em>Scooby Doo<\/em>-ass plans and sequences. Sometimes they are fine or even good. Sometimes they frustrating or dumb. And sometimes they are all those things at once.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Stranger things 5 volume 1 review eleven and hopper (1)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"541\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/og8NkYvGv4y78dOmYZj7SQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nerdist_761\/05f061074f372306725cf3ece022373f\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It\u2019s also frustrating that this season, despite being the last, also adds new, dense developments to <em>Stranger Things<\/em>\u2018 lore. They can seem needlessly confusing at first. A few are downright confusing, the more you dive into them. Volume One also brings with it a lot of explaining things that happened before and groundwork for new mysteries the show will deal with in <em>Stranger Things<\/em> Volumes Two and Three. The long gap between seasons also means many viewers won\u2019t remember key plot points from previous installments. It\u2019s frustrating in the moment, for sure. It\u2019s not a deal breaker for enjoying the season, though. Viewers who don\u2019t sweat the details will like these episodes more than those who do. (I have no idea if that\u2019s a compliment or an insult.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em> suffers from an excess\/bloat that stops it from being great, there are also a handful of downright bad elements. Vecna looks awful, like horror movie Groot, but you can see that for yourself in trailers. And I can say that the editing on this season really needs to be tighter, same as in season four. But to even hint at what I hated most would spoil some important stuff from <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One. All I can say is this batch of episodes has the single worst, most laughable moment in show history. Dedicated fans are going to know exactly what I mean when they see it. Non-dedicated fans are also going to hate it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Stranger things 5 volume 1 review will and vecan (1)\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"541\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ue51LVISK9Kz6iCRHJb97g--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/nerdist_761\/3b4ceb05b02dae2bb5fceda6a76ea75b\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Thing is, that awful moment is then followed by one of the show\u2019s absolute best. Because despite having too many characters and too much story, and despite feeling more like a five-hour movie (that needed to be two) rather than an actual TV show made up of episodes, <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One punched me right in the heart. The highs are beautiful, the kind of payoffs you can only get after caring about characters for years. The Duffers get a lot of the big stuff right. And they do so in a way that feels like they always knew where they were going with an important storyline. (That\u2019s a lot less true of some others.) It\u2019s very satisfying. It\u2019s also the biggest reason to be excited by what\u2019s still to come. When episode four ended, I wanted to know what happened next.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When episode four ended, I was also tired. Tired from keeping track of everything and everyone. Tired from episodes that felt like they never ended. But I was also tired because I was emotionally drained in all the ways you\u2019d hope <em>Stranger Things\u2019 <\/em>final season would drain you. So if you turned to this <em>Stranger Things 5<\/em>, Volume One review to manage your own expectations, I suggest instead managing something else. Manage your energy. You\u2019re going to need it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u2b50 (3.5 of 5)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist forever running up that hill. (Or\u2026down that hill?) You can follow him on\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/burgermike.bsky.social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Bluesky at\u00a0@burgermike;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Bluesky at\u00a0@burgermike<\/a>. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nerdist.com\/article\/stranger-things-5-volume-1-review\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:STRANGER THINGS 5, Volume 1 Is A LOT (Review);elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">STRANGER THINGS 5, Volume 1 Is A LOT (Review)<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nerdist.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Nerdist;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Nerdist<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you watched and liked Stranger Things\u2018 first four seasons, you\u2019re obviously going to watch its last. That won\u2019t change no matter what I say about Stranger Things 5 Volume One. So your interest in this spoiler-free Stranger Things review is likely about managing your own expectations for a highly anticipated final season. But it\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2178485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[363742,305890,419374],"class_list":["post-2178484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-characters","tag-stranger-things","tag-volume-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/STRANGER-THINGS-5-Volume-1-Is-A-LOT-Review.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2178484"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2178486,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178484\/revisions\/2178486"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2178485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2178484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2178484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2178484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}