Stranger Things season 5 volume 2’s big twist could tear the fandom in two

This review contains no major spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2, but there are spoilers from volume 1.

Stranger Things had a lot to live up to when it returned for season 5 volume 2.

Does it match the same level of magnificence that the sci-fi achieved in its previous four episodes? Not quite. Will the new instalment still leave fans in a state of awe? Absolutely.

However, the mind-blowing twist that’s revealed in these new episodes has the potential to split the fandom, almost as severely as Vecna causing the ground in Hawkins to rip open.

Many people might love how the plot unravels… but others might find it infuriating that so much of what they think they know about Stranger Things has been turned upside down.

Split into three parts, the Duffer Brothers are putting their fans through the wringer with the release of the fifth and final season of their Netflix phenomenon.

The second volume was released in the early hours of Boxing Day in the UK, consisting of three more episodes: Chapters Five to Seven, titled Shock Jock, Escape from Camazotz and The Bridge.

Chapter Five kicks off exactly where we ended last time, when the finale delivered one of the most iconic shots in Stranger Things history – Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), wiping blood from his nose after using his newly-found superpowers to kill three Demogorgons.

We arrive at the aftermath of the battle between Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the gang and the military. Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Will’s mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) are staggered by Will’s new powers, with the former hailing his best friend as a real-life ‘sorcerer’.

However, there’s a wave of sadness settling over the group too, as they come to terms with the fact that the children they were trying to protect have all been kidnapped by Vecna. While they did everything in their power to stop them from being taken, it wasn’t enough.

If you thought that Noah stepped up his acting game in the first volume of season five, then you’re going to be even more impressed when you binge these three new episodes.

Aside from the fact that he’s now a superpowered being like his friend Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), he’s also been impacted by the invaluable conversation that he had with Robin (Maya Hawke) after accidentally discovering that she has a girlfriend.

After volume one came out, many people said that season five of Stranger Things made them realise that Eleven isn’t the main character of the show – Will is. And I’m starting to agree with them.

In the new episodes, everyone’s favourite ragtag group of party members increases in size even more as the search for Vecna and the missing Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) intensifies.

One of the most upsetting parts of volume one was the seemingly deteriorating relationship between Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve (Joe Keery), former close friends who were previously inseparable.

The trailer for volume two revealed some resolution for their relationship, with them pledging to each other: ‘You die, I die.’ I’m going to make my own promise to you right now – if you’re a Dustin and Steve superfan, then their reconciliation is going to make you cry buckets.

After watching the first part of season five, I had three actors in my mind for standout performances: Noah, Gaten and Cara Buono, after Karen’s epic fight against the Demogorgon to defend her daughter.

I’m now naming one more person to my MVP list – Caleb McLaughlin. Boy, does he absolutely act his socks off as Lucas in volume two. His talent ripped my heart out of my chest, smashed it into a million shards and then pieced it back together. Bravo.

Back to the twist of all twists, which I won’t go into detail on here. As of right now, I’m unsure how I feel about it. It’s one of those, ‘Everything you thought you knew is wrong’ moments, and I believe that watching the final episode of Stranger Things will give me more clarity.

In a similar vein to the title of Chapter Seven, ‘The Bridge’, volume two does feel more like a bridge between volumes one and three, but that’s not to say that it’s without its merits. I’m really glad that Eleven’s sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) has returned to the fold, as in my opinion, her storyline in season two received unwarranted backlash at the time.

Volume two might not have reached the same level of magnificence that volume one did in my eyes, and the plot twist has the potential to split the fandom right now the middle, but I am optimistically staying firm in my belief that the two-hour episode coming on New Year’s Day will be one of the best TV finales of all time. I just hope I’m right.

Stranger Things season 5 volumes 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix. Volume 3 premieres in the UK on New Year’s Day.

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