One of the most highly anticipated releases of the year is approaching: the final season of “Stranger Things,” season five, is set to premiere on Netflix over the holidays. Episodes one through four will be released on Nov. 26, episodes five through seven on Christmas and the finale episode on New Years’ Eve, which will also be shown in theaters.
According to the trailers and comments from actors during the press tour, this last season will be quite dark and action-packed. Whitney Handwork ’26 hopes for more than just teary-eyed reactions.
“I’m hoping there’s just at least some happy moments,” Handwork said. “I feel like the whole trailer was very scary, not a single happy moment. I’m hoping they get a little bit of happiness.”
On the topic of character deaths, one dread-inducing prediction has exploded across the internet. Many characters are anticipated to not make it to the end of this series, but the one that keeps coming up is fan favorite Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery. Montana Tiffany ’26 sees an unhappy ending in Harrington’s future, as well as others.
“I think Will is going to die in season five because it will be a full circle moment,” Tiffany said. “It started with him, and now it’s going to end with him.”
Tiffany also noted the convenience of the holiday release schedule and how she could “pace herself” with the spread-out premier dates. Jacob Campbell ’29 also appreciates the unique launch.
“I think it’s kind of like a little cliffhanger, so it’s good,” Campbell said. “You’ll be on a little cliffhanger from November to Christmas, then from Christmas to New Years’.”
It has been a long time since the last season premiered on May 27, 2022. It was even noted online that the entirety of the hit show “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” which had three seasons, came out during the filming of season five of “Stranger Things.” Campbell hopes that the finale will be worth the wait.
“I think that they’re just going to make it a lot more thought-behind,” Campbell said. “It’s going to be a lot more well prepared, so hopefully it will be a great season.”
As seniors, for Handwork and Tiffany, the show started before middle school. Now, it is ending as they graduate. Handwork noted the attachment to the show and growing up with the actors. Tiffany shared her sentiment.
“I started rewatching it a couple weeks ago and it’s so fun to see how young they were,” Tiffany said. “I can’t believe I was younger than they were at the time. It’s been really fun to grow up with them.”
