By Calder Costantini – Staff Reporter

“Stranger Things: Season 5 – Volume 1” was released on November 26 comprising the first four episodes of the final season of “Stranger Things.” Volume 2 is scheduled to release on Christmas Day, with the finale episode set to air on New Year’s. Volume 1 follows the group around the militarized Hawkins, Indiana, following Season 4’s finale, where the group defeated Vecna. Volume 1’s main story came from the kids’ intense buildup to the “crawl,” referring to missions to the Upside Down to attempt to find Vecna. 

The tone of this volume is significantly more mature than that of other seasons, with a greater emphasis on exploring characters’ personal lives. A part of this reason is that the characters have grown to realize what they’ve been through. The writing in this volume depends on the characters’ heavy burdens, which they carry throughout the four episodes. 

The writers, Matt and Ross Duffer, believe that the reason “Stranger Things” became such a global phenomenon is that viewers can relate to the characters in the show due to the unbelievable acting job by the cast. Ross Duffer said, “I think a lot of the success of the show is, people can relate to these characters…they see themselves in [the characters] and…watching them overcome it gives them hope.” Duffer believes that the supporting cast in this show is very personable and likable as actors, which leads the audience to relate to and adore the characters.

The supporting cast in this show is jaw-dropping, with actors like Millie Bobbie Brown, Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, and Finn Wolfhard, who is seen in many notable films like It, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Dog Days, and more. This cast has been together on this show for over a decade now, and it’s seen in the show that they are very comfortable with each other’s acting abilities. Millie Bobbie Brown, who is seen as Eleven in the show, says, “I love each and every one of them, and I’ll forever carry the memories and bonds we’ve created together as a family.” Brown says after being asked about how close she and this cast got throughout the decade they worked together. Many fans believe this is one of the best supporting casts in television history.

The main goal of “Season 5: Volume 1” was to pull viewers closer to the characters and show a dramatic effect through deep conversations and a sense of despair. As an opening volume to the season, these four episodes succeed by being thoughtful and emotional. It really sets the stage for something bigger to come in the future of the final season, which leaves viewers eager yet worried about what’s to come. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars