“Stranger Things” Season 5 hits a plateau with the release of Vol. 2

Netflix gave “Stranger Things” fans a gift to remember when they dropped the three episodes of season five on Christmas Day. The first four episodes of the final season dropped in late November, with audiences left more eager than ever to reunite with their favorite Hawkins residents.

“Stranger Things” first premiered in 2016 and follows a group of residents in the small town of Hawkins as they investigate the mysteries of their town. Audiences instantly loved the show, praising the wide cast of characters and the 1980s nostalgia.

Viewers loved the first four episodes of the final season, with audiences rating the episode “The Sorcerer” one of highest of any episode of the show. Fans of the show did not share the same love for the three episodes in volume two, with the seventh episode titled “The Bridge” taking the place of the lowest-rated episode in the series.

Courtesy of Netlix

Sadie Sink and Nell Fisher as Max Mayfield and Holly Wheeler in “Stranger Things” Season 5.

The biggest problem that seems to derive from these three episodes is the loss of momentum. Coming off of the direct high of the first four episodes which included intense moments such as Eleven discovering Eight is alive and Will revealing his psychic powers is hard to beat — many audience members felt as if the show slowed down greatly in the second half.

The show seems to struggle with pacing, at times flying through scenes and then having others drag on. One example is the final moment of the sixth episode, in which Holly Wheeler and Max Mayfield are both moments away from escaping Vecna’s grasp. Instead of running as quickly as they can towards the exit, the two characters see it as a perfect time to discuss the importance of bravery and believing in yourself — leaving many frustrated audience members yelling at their screens to “shut up and run!”

The final moment of the episode, with Max running back to her body, has been widely paralleled with the scene in season four’s “Dear Billy.” The scene from season four, overlaid with Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” made waves as one of the greatest scenes of television of all time. Whereas the scene in season five feels devoid of the emotion and stakes that made the original scene so spectacular.

Courtesy of Netflix

Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton as Nancy Wheeler and Jonathon Byers in “Stranger Things” Season 5.

Another moment that left audiences scratching heads was when Nancy and Jonathon were trapped in a rapidly-filling room in the Upside Down and finally shared their true feelings. The scene, which the Duffer Brothers later confirmed to be a break-up between the two characters, was widely debated by audience members over whether it was truly the end to Nancy and Jonathon’s relationship. 

Debate aside, the scene felt full of tension as the two grappled with the fact they may meet their end, leaving audiences wondering what would happen next. Would the two die in each other’s arms? Would Jonathon sacrifice himself for Nancy in a “Titanic”-esque moment? The growing tension of losing one or either of these characters was instantly squashed as the two were saved just in the nick of time.

Another scene that received lots of debate took place in “The Bridge” in which Will came out as gay to all of his friends. While the performance from Noah Schnapp as Will was strong and emotional, it felt odd to have Will come out to practically almost every character in the show (including Kali and Vickie who he has never interacted with.) It would have been much more impactful to have Will first come out to just his mom or his core group of friends and not what feels like the entirety of Hawkins.

One positive from this set of episodes came in the long-awaited reunion between Max and Lucas, with Max finally waking up after many months trapped in her coma. The scene between Max and Lucas was the most emotional of the season so far, with audience members swooning on how neither of the couple gave up on each other.

Courtesy of Netflix

Sadie Sink and Caleb MacLaughlin in “Stranger Things” Season 5.

The performance from Sadie Sink as Max was a highlight as well. After shocking fans with her return in Vol. 1, Sink delivered a strong performance as she recounted her time trapped in Vecna’s mind and how her memories of Lucas kept her going. The partnership between Max and Holly, played by Nell Fisher, was a highlight of the season with the young actress giving a powerful performance.

Overall, the second half of season five of “Stranger Things” seems to suffer from its pacing, which is only amplified by coming off of the high of the first part of the season. 

Hopefully, the final episode which premieres on Netflix on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. will amp up the stakes of the show to the level fans are familiar with.