The beginning of the end

The final season of Stranger Things is characterised by an overreliance on exposition and diminished visual quality

- STORY: TATAT BUNNAG

The long-awaited fifth season of Stranger Things arrived under enormous pressure, serving as both the conclusion to the series and a final reckoning for the increasingly complex narrative of Hawkins.

The first four episodes of "Part 1" demonstrate a mixture of ambition, uneven execution and the familiar structural flaws the show has carried into later seasons. For viewers expecting a smooth start, the season can feel overstuffed and at times frustrating, though it contains glimpses of character-driven moments that made the series popular.

However, this review contains mild spoilers from the first four episodes of the new season. Readers should be fully up to date with the story before continuing.

Set in the autumn of 1987, Season 5 follows the group as they attempt to locate and confront Vecna after the rifts in Hawkins.

Their mission becomes more complicated with the arrival of the military, who pursue Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) due to her abilities. Meanwhile, the anniversary of Will Byers' (Noah Schnapp) disappearance approaches, reminding both the characters and the audience of the personal stakes amid the supernatural chaos.

Right from the beginning, the season struggles under the weight of exposition. Almost every episode contains multiple scenes of characters sitting together to explain a problem, devise a plan and deliver the solution to everyone else. While exposition is necessary in a show dealing with multiple crises, dimensions and timelines, its frequency in these episodes often disrupts pacing and feels forced.

These "plan sessions" replace character dynamics and interactions, which have always been the core of the show's appeal, making much of the early episodes feel mechanical.

When the show does slow down, however, there are moments of character grounding. Hopper (David Harbour) and Eleven share heart-to-heart conversations in the Upside Down, highlighting the strain and bond of their relationship.