[Editor’s note: The recap of episodes three and four publishes November 27.]
Raise your hand if you’re a Stranger Things viewer who has complained about how long it’s been since the show last aired. It would be impossible not to, considering the three-and-a-half-year hiatus between seasons four and five, or the series’ overall lengthy run. It premiered in the sweaty summer of 2016, the same year when The Good Place, This Is Us, Westworld, Insecure, Better Things, and Lucifer debuted. Each of those other shows’ multi-season runs are over, but not Stranger Things, which has aired only 34 episodes in almost 10 years (not counting anything in 2025). If that’s not damning evidence of the current streaming era’s issues, what is? Then again, ST launched when our TV landscape was figuring all this out, considering Netflix had blown up with House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, Hulu and Prime Video originals were finding their footing, and platforms like Apple TV, Peacock, and Disney+ didn’t even exist.
In many ways, Stranger Things was once emblematic of the binge-watching norm. I vividly remember completing season one the day it dropped and being enamored by its ’80s nostalgia, terrific young performers, gripping storyline, and Winona Ryder. Of course, I realized I’d have to wait for a while for more, and that has morphed into a defining Stranger Things experience, particularly with how grown-up the kids look. The show is an example of why not to drag something out past its peak. Even this final run—which has good things going for it—is divided into three parts to dull the fun. If they wanted to keep the momentum during the holidays, why not opt for a sensible one-episode-per-week schedule? Netflix (seemingly) would never. So we have less than half a season out, most of which feels like entertaining table-setting for another showdown between our favorite Hawkins residents and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), who apparently went missing after his physical body was set ablaze by Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) in the season-four finale.
“The Crawl” and “The Vanishing Of Holly Wheeler” save his onscreen reappearance till the last minute, when he drops in his human form, Henry Creel, and not as the veiny mouthbreather. That doesn’t mean his evil plans aren’t taking root or that his disgusting demogorgon pets aren’t wreaking bloody havoc—just ask the Wheelers. Those elements remain the driving force of the action, as seen in episode two’s thrilling opening scene at their home. But the co-creators, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, don’t stray from a well-defined routine. It’s classic Stranger Things at this point: The whole group discovers the latest mess they’re in before splitting into teams (either on purpose or by accident) with separate tasks that end in a common goal of saving someone and destroying the enemy. Throw in lighthearted banter, pop-culture references galore, Hopper (David Harbour) losing his patience, Joyce (Ryder) worrying for her kids, at least one friend being distant (this time it’s Dustin, not Max), and Nancy trapped in ridiculous relationship drama. Actually, it’s unforgivable that precious time is still being spent on a battle of the brawn between Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Steve (Joe Keery). Their love triangle remains one of the show’s least interesting parts, especially now that Nancy has emerged as a badass leader. Why is her arc getting bogged down by the dudes? At least Steve’s character development has been commendable, but the writers have had no idea what to do with Jonathan for a long time.
But back to “The Crawl.” Rockin’ Robin catches us up through her radio show, which she uses as a way to send messages to her secret girlfriend, candy striper Vickie (Amybeth McNulty), and her pals. In the 18 months since the Upside Down gates opened up, Hawkins has been under lockdown. That hasn’t stopped our crew from commandeering “crawls.” Specifically, Hop takes trips to the flipside, hiding in the back of government cars that go into the Upside Down because, yes, the military has established an entire base there. Gone are the days when Nancy discovered secret, gooey entrances in trees or when El’s powers were needed to open a portal. Now, Nancy orchestrates the mission, making plans and taking notes. Joyce (Ryder) communicates with everyone through the walkie-talkies; Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) are the spotters; Steve is the driver; Dustin operates the telemetry tracker to keep up with Hop in the Upside Down. They’ve done this 36 times with the hope that Hop will figure out where Vecna is hiding. For her part, El has been obsessively training and strengthening her powers for their upcoming fight.
The 37th crawl, as it plays out in the episode, goes haywire quickly. Dustin is MIA, having been beaten up by bullies at Eddie Munson’s (Joseph Quinn) grave because he won’t stop wearing the Hellfire T-shirt and provoking his seniors to bully him. In his absence, Jonathan takes over the job. But the van Hop jumps into gets run over by demogorgons in the Upside Down, sending him to hide in the woods by himself. In the real Hawkins, Will still gets the “goosies” when Vecna is around. So he knows the entity is close. In fact, his abilities go a step further now, so he can do more than sense a presence. He can literally see through Vecna’s eyes or the demogorgons when they’re bracing to attack. This fits into his evolution; he was in Vecna’s grasp—as seen in the premiere’s cold open—in ways beyond his comprehension. And since he’s been freed, he’s developed heightened abilities. That’s how he knows that a creature is about to tear through the Wheeler house to kidnap sweet, young Holly. Nancy and Mike’s sister is Vecna’s latest target because she’s lonely and vulnerable, much like Will was when he was taken in season one. Vecna has been popping up in her life as her imaginary friend, whom she dubs Mr. Whatsit after Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time.
Holly tells her brother that Mr. Whatsit has been warning her about the monsters living in Hawkins and that they’re coming after her. The scene they share seems essential for many reasons. It reminds us of their bond, sure, but also of the fact that most people in town are unaware of the true danger lurking around the corner. Even now, Mike doesn’t warn his sister. Instead of prepping her, he gives her a D&D figurine, dubbing her Heroic Holly. Everything he says about this character—she has divine powers, can cast spells, can teleport to a dimension door—feels like foreshadowing in the same vein as Will saying in the series premiere that “the demogorgon got me” before getting on his bicycle to go home.
Mike and Nancy are unable to stop a Demogorgon from attacking their family. By the time Will alerts Nancy, and she reaches home with El in tow, it’s too late. In a spectacular fight, Karen finally learns about these “monsters,” going into Joyce Byers mode to protect her young daughter. Unfortunately, I chuckled when the weapon she confidently goes for is her wine bottle, using it to repeatedly injure the demogorgon—all while wearing a soaking wet nightgown. This is the only time I’ll be saying these words: go Karen! The buildup and payoff to this scene in both episodes is exactly why Stranger Things still hits. Karen’s fighting spirit doesn’t help because the demogorgon slashes her throat, so when Nancy walks in, she finds her mother badly hurt on the kitchen floor and her sibling gone. She sends El straight into an Upside Down, where she reunites with her father figure. As frustrated as Hop is that El came out of hiding, the show gives them a significant bonding moment as they follow the demogorgon’s trail. Except they hit a dead end when they come face to face with a giant wall—think Game Of Thrones level—made of the slimy goo found in this realm. We don’t know what’s behind it, but it’s safe to assume that it’s the place where Henry/Vecna takes Holly, a sort of sunny mind palace that resembles his house when he was alive.
For their part, Nancy, Mike, and Lucas conclude that Mr. Whatsit might not be so imaginary and could provide answers—if only they could figure out who he is. So it takes a needlessly complicated scene, in which the Wheeler siblings are forced to dress up as a nurse and patient, for them to see their own recovering mother. (Seriously, some of this stuff could’ve been edited out so the episodes aren’t as long.) Karen spells out the name she’s heard Holly call her “pal,” and…dun, dun, dun. Will also learns that Vecna’s next target is Holly’s classmate Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly). And now, everyone knows Henry Creel has definitely set his sights on a new generation of kids. As I said, it’s more of the same with Stranger Things, but at least our faves now know what they’re up against and will prepare for the impending war accordingly.
Stray observations
- • Who else gets “goosies” of their own when Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” starts playing? Lucas still sits by Max’s hospital bed often, playing her favorite song in the hopes that she’ll come out of her coma.
- • Thanks to Ted Wheeler, I will be using the phrase “heavens to Betsy” anytime I come across a problem.
- • Speaking of Ted, I was a little annoyed by the fact that both he and Karen survived. For everything these people have been through, Stranger Things doesn’t kill off a lot of characters and keeps its stakes low as a result. Maybe more heads will fall as the season progresses.
- •Eleven, to a confused Hop: “Karen must have hurt [the demogorgon]. With her wine.”
- • Linda Hamilton makes her Stranger Things debut as the mysterious Dr. Kay, who works in the government’s Upside Down setup. If you want to see her in another fun sci-fi series, let me point you to Resident Alien.
- • A part of me is glad El and Mike are on good terms, making plans for what to do once they win this battle. He tells her that based on his D&D campaigns, the surviving party moves away from town to start fresh. Is this more foreshadowing? Also, a part of me feels awful for whatever Will, who is so clearly in love with Mike, is experiencing. At least it looks like Robin might become a helpful mentor in his coming-out journey.
- • Joyce and Hopper are very much dating, although they get only a couple of scenes together in “The Crawl” before he goes into the Upside Down. Let’s see if a reunion is on their cards.
- • Dustin and Steve are not getting along, and I am not happy about it. It makes narrative sense considering Dustin is still grieving Eddie, who died in his arms. But I’m going to need them to get their shit together and go get some Scoops Ahoy stat.
