Stranger Things Season 5: Key Episodes to Reveal Upside D...

Which Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes Will Answer Key Upside Down Questions After Vecna’s Return Confirmed

Jamie Campbell Bower's Vecna with his hand up while a fire is behind him in Stranger Things season 5

By Rianna de Bono-Smith Published 20 minutes ago Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 6 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5, volume 1Stranger Things season 5, volume 1, released on November 26 and had some key moments which answered fan questions built up over a decade. Now, everyone is left wondering when the true meaning of the Upside Down will be revealed, but the Duffer Brothers have finally confirmed when questions will be answered.

In an interview with Deadline, Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers have revealed which episodes will be key in finding out what the Upside Down is, why Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp) was taken, and how it’s connected to Holly Wheeler (played by Nell Fisher). Matt revealed that:

"Especially as we get into Volume 2, we start to answer more and more why Will was kidnapped and how it ties in with Holly and all of this. Everything sort of comes full circle. That really is a Volume 2 thing, where we really get into the Upside Down, and we explain what it is. Again, this is something that has been planned for 10 years now, and it just now, obviously, is the time to reveal it."

During the final moments of Volume 1, Vecna reveals himself, and Will finally unleashes his true powers, as Will the Wise is officially a sorcerer/wizard able to harness Vecna’s powers due to their undisclosed "connection." Schnapp also spoke to Deadline regarding the big reveal, including how his powers will be looked into more during Volume 2 of Stranger Things:

"It was originally supposed to work in the same way that Eleven’s powers do because, as you read the scripts in Volume 2, it comes in a different way than hers. So making sure that the physicality of that shows, that it works different. For Will, we start to learn the parallels between Will and Vecna, and it almost felt very Harry Potter to me that I had to go back and re-watch the movies, because the Harry Potter-Voldemort relationship felt very close to Will and Vecna. So just kind of exploring those parallels and what that means."

Despite the ongoing mystery surrounding the true meaning of the Upside Down, why Will was taken, and what Vecna’s true plans are, it seems Volume 2 will reveal a lot for fans, leading the way for the epic conclusion to be released on December 31.

Will with nosebleed in Stranger Things season 5Image via Netflix

However, the Duffer Brothers weren’t so open about how or why Holly was lured to the Creel house, but clarified they wanted "to bring [the show] full circle," as it is reminiscent of Will’s kidnapping during season 1, which could hint at Holly potentially holding powers much like Will.

Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays the show’s main antagonist Vecna, also hinted at a major moment for his character involving the character Max Mayfield (played by Sadie Sink), who’s currently trapped in Vecna’s mindscape:

"I can’t say too much about how it frustrates him [that Max is there], because there is a huge moment that happens later on in the story, and she is 100% a catalyst for something. It’s incredibly frustrating for him, considering also, given the fact that, he’s trying to use Holly, and she’s taking Holly away. That’s a vexation for sure. So yes, to have Max doing what she’s doing is … it’s annoying."

It’s unclear what Max could potentially do to warrant Vecna’s undoing, but clearly, her poking around in his mindscape and Episode 6’s title "Escape from Camazotz" could signal Max and Holly’s escape from Vecna.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things season 5 is now available on Netflix. Volume 2 is set to release on December 25, with the series finale coming to Netflix on December 31.

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Stranger Things

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock Will Mike Dustin and Lucas seen from the point of view of a screen in Stranger Things season 2

7 Images

Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1

Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Eleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4

Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025) Max and Eleven standing in front of a bus in Stranger Things.

Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflix

Stranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDB

The Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close

Cast

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Millie Bobby Brown Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
Finn Wolfhard Mike Wheeler

Genres Drama, Mystery, Horror, Science Fiction Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Powered by

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