Netflix’s “Stranger Things” fifth and final season begins airing November 26, and the global phenomenon is once again forcing viewers to anticipate what the finale has in store. The new season will be released in three parts: Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4): Nov. 26, Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7): Christmas Day, Volume 3 (Final Episode): Dec. 31.

A Look Back at the Cultural Phenomenon

The series debuted in July 2016 and quickly became Netflix’s biggest show, with the fourth season becoming the most-streamed program in a single week. Since 2020, the series has earned an estimated $1 billion in revenue.

If you’ve never watched the show, it is worth watching, but it’s set in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana. The plot follows a group of four boys who spend their days biking around town and playing Dungeons & Dragons. Everything changes when one of them, Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp), mysteriously disappears. His friends and family begin investigating, leading them to discover a portal to a dark, horrifying world called the Upside Down.

During their search, they meet Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown), a girl with extraordinary psychic abilities. As the series progresses, the group discovers more about the Upside Down and faces terrifying monsters with Eleven’s help.

Anticipation Builds at the Mount

The Mount community is especially eager for the final season, as season four was released over three years ago. The cast recently attended their last season premiere, and social media is buzzing with excitement as “Stranger Things” prepares for its final run.

Because of the show’s massive scale and long production time, seasons are often released years apart. As a result, many fans say they need a refresher before diving into the finale.

“I am really excited for the new season to come out, but I am kind of disappointed in myself because I need a refresher on the last seasons. Since it’s been such a long time, I really hope the ending is worth the wait,” Sarah Deitch ’26 said.

Others reflected on the show’s complexity and how difficult it can be to keep up with the many overlapping storylines.

“I am looking forward to Season 5, but I don’t understand how it could end; it’s so confusing. I’ll have to rewatch the other seasons to understand all the different plots,” art teacher Ms. Hamilton said.

Where Season 4 Left Off

As we head into the fifth season, Vecna, the Upside Down’s most powerful villain, has been defeated but not killed. Multiple gates to the Upside Down have been opened, and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) survived her encounter with Vecna but remains in a coma. Meanwhile, Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers (David Harbour and Winona Ryder) have reunited in Hawkins after Joyce rescued Hopper from Russian soldiers.

Like every season, beloved characters have fallen to the monsters haunting Hawkins. With this being the final chapter, fans are predicting emotional character deaths, including Will Byers and Steve Harrington.

“So I think Max is going to come back. I also think Will is going to die,” Sarah Cuzzo ’27 said.

Fan Theories and Predictions

“Stranger Things” heartthrob Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) is widely rumored to die in the final season. Many fans believe he will sacrifice himself to protect Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), continuing the emotional arc of their relationship.

“Nancy and Steve are endgame. I think Steve will sacrifice himself for Nancy and he’ll die,” Erin Rietzke ’27 said.

Other fans predict shocking twists involving Hawkins’ other core characters.

“I think Max is going to wake up from her coma and Lucas will be dead,” Willa Foley ’26 said.

Mounties are looking at the bigger picture, wondering how the Upside Down will finally be destroyed and what it will take to restore peace to Hawkins.

“I think El is going to die and then the whole Upside Down will be over. I think she’s the one keeping it alive. It’s going to be so sad if she dies,” Cecilia Esbensen ’27 said.

Since Will Byers’ disappearance started the chaos back in season one, some fans believe he’s the key to ending it all.

“I think Will’s gonna die in the end. He has to die for everything to end and for the Upside Down to end,” Amelia Nace ’26 said.

Easter Eggs and Theories Resurface

Many fans have been rewatching earlier seasons and seeing possible Easter eggs that might hint at the ending.

“I saw an interesting theory about when they were playing Dungeons and Dragons in season two, and they were fighting Vecna. Dustin rolled an 11, and it wasn’t enough to beat Vecna. Then when they rolled an 8, it was enough. If you remember back from season 2, El’s sister was number 8. I’m thinking she’s going to come back,” Gracie Meehan ’26 said.

Sneak Peek: The First Five Minutes

To build excitement, “Stranger Things’” official social media accounts released the first five minutes of the fifth season, sparking widespread discussion online.

“I was kind of confused by the first 5 minutes. I just know it’s going to be so powerful and have a huge meaning. I know the ‘‘We are going to do beautiful things together, William’’ line is going to have such a huge meaning for the season,” Cecilia Esbensen ’27 said.

Others pointed out that the footage connects the dots all the way back to season one, revealing Vecna’s presence from the very beginning.

“I feel like it wasn’t giving any spoilers, just some backstory to when Will disappeared. It also showed us that Vecna was there from the beginning,” Amelia Nace ’26 stated.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

As “Stranger Things” comes to an end, fans are mourning the closure of a show that defined their adolescence and connected millions worldwide.

“This is like closing a chapter of my life. Not to sound cringe but I feel like I grew up with them,” Avery McNiven ’27 said.

At the final season premiere, most of the cast wore black outfits, joking that they were attending the “Stranger Things funeral.”

“Seeing the cast all together again was really exciting. They grew up together and it was so sentimental,” Madi McErlean ’26 said.

Finale in Theaters 

The final 3-hour episode is going to be available to see in theatres on December 31, which provides a memorable experience for “Stranger Things” fans to come together and witness the finale in unison.

“I will 100% be there in theaters on New Year’s Eve,” Avery McNiven ’27 said.

For now, we can look forward to the airing of season five. So, gather all your friends and enjoy the final season of “Stranger Things,” a show that has brought so many of us joy, stress, and excitement!