I won’t detail my reasons here for why Eddie’s death on Stranger Things didn’t feel meaningful or needed. If you’re interested in reading my full thoughts on that, you can find them in my previous article about it.
The final season of Stranger Things delves into the terrifying world inside Henry/Vecna’s mind, where Max and Holly are trapped alongside him. This mental prison also holds Vecna’s own most painful memories – ones he’s too afraid to confront. Max and Holly realize that the way to escape lies in facing these traumas, including Vecna’s deepest, most personal one. Their search for an exit leads them directly into a pivotal, traumatic moment from Henry/Vecna’s past, centered around a mysterious briefcase. While the show doesn’t reveal what’s inside, the Stranger Things stage play, The First Shadow, does. Here’s what the play reveals about the contents of that briefcase.
As a huge fan of The Next Generation, it’s honestly amazing the show went on to have seven seasons after that rocky start! The first season was apparently a real mess behind the scenes. While the cast was fantastic and it looked great, creator Gene Roddenberry was constantly battling the writers about where the show should go. That led to a lot of changes in the writing team and some unhappy people on set. In fact, Denise Crosby actually left before the season finished, and Gates McFadden was unexpectedly fired after disagreements with the producers. It’s a testament to the show’s potential that it overcame all that drama!
The final episodes of Stranger Things 5 reveal the Party thinks they have a solid plan to beat Vecna, but we at TopMob see a major flaw that the show doesn’t explain. This oversight could cost them the battle – and even their lives. The Upside Down is frozen in time from the night Eleven opened the gate, meaning Dr. Brenner’s tank should still be there, just as it was when she first connected with Vecna. However, there’s a problem: there’s no water in the Upside Down. How can Eleven boost her powers enough to defeat Vecna without it? It looks like the Party’s plan has a serious weakness.
In the first part of Stranger Things 5, Max explained to Holly that she had a plan to escape Henry’s mental control. The plan involved Holly going back to the Creel house and acting like she’d never left, which the brave young girl agreed to. However, at the beginning of the second part, Mr. Whatsit unexpectedly sent her back into the woods. This led to a frightening and dangerous ordeal that ultimately brought both girls back to their bodies. While Max successfully returned to the real world, things didn’t go as well for Holly, and now the entire world is in danger. Here’s a breakdown of what happened to Holly and Max while trapped in Vecna’s mind in the second part of Stranger Things 5.
Now that Will has developed powers, it gives the group a significant advantage in their final battle against Vecna in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2. For the first time, Joyce fully embraces Will’s abilities, suggesting he use them to re-enter Vecna’s mental network and defeat him from within. She assures Will that no one will ever doubt his strength again.
Initially, in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1, it seemed like Dr. Kay was researching the Upside Down to figure out why people were dying in Hawkins. However, we soon learned her main goal was actually to find Eleven, believing she was responsible for the town’s troubles. Dr. Kay made it clear she didn’t care if Eleven was a hero or villain—she simply needed her. We assumed this was because she wanted to stop the Upside Down, regardless of the consequences. But in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2, we discover Dr. Kay’s real plan, and why she kidnapped Kali/Eight and is so desperate to find Eleven… and it’s far more sinister than anyone imagined.
We have sad news for fans of Jonathan and Nancy (known as ‘Jancy’): they break up in the second volume of Stranger Things 5. Their relationship had been struggling for a while, with poor communication throughout seasons 4 and 5. We know this is disappointing for those who hoped they’d stay together, and we share your sadness here at TopMob. It’s unfortunate that this breakup was the biggest loss in the final volume. However, even though it’s sad, Jonathan and Nancy’s split was handled with honesty, love, and maturity, making it a surprisingly beautiful moment.
In the final part of Stranger Things 5, Dustin figures out that the Upside Down isn’t another dimension or Vecna’s home. It’s actually a wormhole Eleven unintentionally opened while searching for Henry Creel under Brenner’s control. Eleven originally sent One/Henry Creel to a place Dustin now calls the Abyss. Vecna lives in the Abyss (also known as Dimension X in the Stranger Things play) and only uses the Upside Down as a way to get to our world. However, Vecna doesn’t just want access to two worlds; he’s planning to use the Upside Down to build an entirely new one.
Max Mayfield is officially back in the final season of Stranger Things. The Duffer Brothers had considered killing her off in season four – she was left with broken bones and nearly blinded, trapped in Vecna’s control. However, throughout the second volume of season five, there’s a moving story showing Max returning to life, finally free from the coma and curse that held her.