OTT Review: Stranger Things – Season 5 (Volume 2)
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Release Date: December 26, 2025
By anrwriting ✍🏽 [Film critic]
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Jamie Campbell Bower, Finn Wolfhard, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, and others
Creators: The Duffer Brothers
Directors: The Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy
Music: Kyle Dixon, Michael Stein
Cinematography: Caleb Heymann
Editing: Dean Zimmerman, Katherine Naranjo
Producer: Hilary Leavitt
Few global web series have managed to build the kind of anticipation that Stranger Things has over the years. After successfully completing four seasons, the makers have approached the final season with heightened ambition, dividing it into multiple volumes. Season 5 – Volume 2, consisting of three episodes, arrives amid massive expectations, especially as it begins steering the narrative firmly toward the grand finale.
Story:
Picking up directly from the previous episodes, Volume 2 explores the consequences of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) developing extraordinary powers. His friends and family are stunned by this transformation, especially when it becomes evident that Will may be capable of controlling not just the Demogorgons sent by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), but Vecna himself.
Meanwhile, trapped within the Upside Down, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), and their group search for the origin of Vecna’s power and his true base of operations. Parallelly, several children including Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly Wheeler remain imprisoned in Vecna’s realm, raising emotional stakes.
At the same time, the Hawkins authorities conduct secret experiments on Kali, while desperately seeking Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). What is Vecna’s ultimate plan? Can Max truly return? And will the friends and family unite in time to stop Vecna once and for all? These questions form the emotional and narrative spine of the three episodes.
Strengths:
Volume 2 strikes a largely balanced tone, delivering a satisfying experience for long-time fans. As this is the concluding season, the storytelling leans heavily into emotional depth, strengthening the bond between characters and viewers alike.
One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing the fragmented team reunite, reinforcing the show’s core themes of friendship and loyalty. The scientific elements are used effectively to heighten tension, while the Dustin Steve dynamic continues to provide warmth and charm.
The third episode, in particular, stands out for its emotional focus on Will, offering Noah Schnapp some of his strongest material this season. The climactic moments of the first two episodes especially Will confronting and injuring Vecna are undeniably thrilling and fan-pleasing. Subplots involving Max and Holly also remain engaging and emotionally grounded.
Drawbacks:
The increased emphasis on emotional beats slightly diminishes the action and adventure quotient, making some portions feel restrained. A few sequences are unnecessarily stretched, affecting pacing.
Certain dialogue-heavy exchanges between Jonathan and Nancy could have been trimmed. Additionally, the VFX work, while serviceable, does not consistently reach the high standards set by earlier seasons. Given how powerfully Will was established in previous episodes, some viewers may feel his arc doesn’t escalate as dramatically as expected.
The final episode also misses an opportunity to end with a more impactful cliffhanger to intensify anticipation for the ultimate finale.
Technical Aspects:
Since the season was shot as a single unit, the production values remain consistent with earlier volumes. The background score by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein is particularly effective, elevating key emotional and suspenseful moments.
Cinematography is solid throughout, and while the editing by Dean Zimmerman and Katherine Naranjo is generally tight, a few scenes could have benefited from sharper cuts.
The Duffer Brothers, along with Shawn Levy, once again prove their strength in handling emotional storytelling and character-driven drama. While a bit more adrenaline-fueled suspense would have enhanced the experience, their direction remains confident and engaging.
Verdict:
Overall, Stranger Things Season 5: Volume 2 delivers a decent and emotionally rich treat for fans. Strong performances, heartfelt moments, and familiar thematic elements are neatly balanced, even if the action and thrill factor feels slightly muted.
Despite its shortcomings, the volume successfully builds momentum toward the final episode, making it a worthy bridge to what promises to be a grand conclusion.
Final Rating: 3/5
