Caution: This article includes spoilers for the initial three episodes of .
After a three-and-a-half-year break, the show has finally returned for its . Only two episodes into the new season, an unexpected reference to the series’ debut appears to be setting up a previously minor character for a crucial role in the concluding narrative.
Following Season 5’s second episode starting with a demogorgon invading Hawkins from the Upside Down to abduct Holly Wheeler (portrayed by Nell Fisher, who replaced twin sisters Anniston and Tinsley Price), after severely injuring both Karen (Kara Buono) and Ted Wheeler (Joe Chrest), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer)’s younger sister was disclosed as central to initiating the season’s plot. Although “Chapter Two” appears in the Netflix lineup with the subtitle “The Vanishing of…,” the end credits disclose its full title as “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler.” This title echoes the series’ inaugural episode, “Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers,” where 12-year-old Will (Noah Schnapp) was seized by a demogorgon and transported to the Upside Down on November 6, 1983.
The fifth season commences on November 3, 1987, merely three days prior to the fourth anniversary of Will’s vanishing. Eighteen months have passed since the Upside Down rifts opened at Season 4’s conclusion, and Hawkins is now under military quarantine while Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton), leading the government initiative, relentlessly searches for Eleven (). Nevertheless, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) remains the true menace, concealed and strategizing within the Upside Down, awaiting the opportune moment to attack.
During the season premiere, Holly confided in Mike that her presumed imaginary companion, whom she calls Mr. Whatsit—a subtle tribute to Mrs. Whatsit, the cosmic protector from the acclaimed 1962 fantasy novel A Wrinkle in Time—had assured her he was shielding her from the creatures in Hawkins. However, as Episode 2’s conclusion uncovers Mr. Whatsit to be Vecna in his human guise as Henry Creel, his motives appear considerably more sinister—particularly since his objective is to abduct other Hawkins children to join Holly in his mind lair, a dimension he fashioned to mirror his consciousness and early dwelling.
Upon Will realizing his visions enable him to perceive through the perspective of whichever entity Vecna is presently targeting through the Upside Down’s hive mind, the team devises a method to affix a tracker to the demogorgon Vecna unleashes on his subsequent target, young Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly), allowing them to pursue the creature to Vecna’s sanctuary and locate Holly.
Regarding Holly’s potential role from Episode 4 onwards, when Mike presented Holly with her Holly the Heroic Dungeons & Dragons figurine in Episode 1, he informed her that Holly the Heroic was a cleric possessing divine capabilities, capable of casting protective spells against malevolent entities and conjuring dimension doors to transport oneself to any imagined location. This exchange might have been intended to hint that Holly, similar to Will, will ultimately develop a link to the Upside Down, thereby activating latent powers within her. Moreover, as Episode 3 concludes with Holly discovering Max (Sadie Sink) has been psychically confined within Vecna’s mindscape since his assault in the Season 4 finale, it appears Holly will now have a seasoned associate who can assist her in fulfilling her complete capabilities.
The initial four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 are currently available for streaming, with Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7) scheduled for release on Netflix on December 25, preceding the extended final episode on December 31.