After months of waiting Netflix’s Stranger Things has returned with the fifth and final season of the series. Spoiler warning for readers who have not seen part one of the final season.

After the cliffhanger ending of Stranger Things season four where our heroes lost to Vecna played by Jamie Campbell Bower (Witchboard, Emmanuelle) and the town of Hawkins was ripped asunder by Vecna’s power, season five takes place in the aftermath of the attack in 1987. According to Screenrant, after Vecna’s actions the military took it upon themselves to surround the town while our heroes continue to plan on how to find and kill Vecna.

However, the Hawkins crew fell victim to Vecna’s plan despite their planning, where we see Vecna send the Demogorgons to attack Mike and Nancy Wheeler’s parents and kidnap Holly. Both Mike and Nancy Wheeler are played by Finn Wolfhard (Ghostbusters: Afterlife, IT 2017) and Natalia Dyer (All Fun And Games, Based On A True Story). One thing that fans noticed was that Holly seemed different in this season. Screenrant noted that for season one to four of the show Holly wheeler was played by twins Anniston Price (Forever My Girl, Galveston) and Tinsley Price (The Walking Dead, The Divergent Series: Allegiant). 

For this season, Holly Wheeler was played by Nell Fisher (Bookworm, Evil Dead Rise). Screenrant mentions that this change makes sense since we were introduced to the character at a young age. Back in season one, Holly was three years old and as the seasons continued she would be aged up by one year. As for season five, Holly would have to be older since she wouldn’t be a minor character in this season. In this season, Holly is befriended by Vecna who appears to her as an imaginary friend named “Mr. Whatsit” and is an integral part of Vecna’s plan, where he is trying to “reshape the world” by going after the children of Hawkins since he views them as weak of body and mind.

The second part of the final season is set to premiere on December 25, 2025.