Netflix has released the opening five minutes of Stranger Things 5, taking fans back to the night that started it all. The chilling scene, from the first episode titled “The Crawl,” revisits Will Byers’ disappearance in 1983 with a major new revelation. The footage was unveiled during a special virtual watch party, offering a direct look at the final season’s intense start.
The Return to 1983
The final season’s premiere opens not in the present day, but deep within the Upside Down’s forest on November 12, 1983. This is six days after Will Byers first vanished. A digitally de-aged Noah Schnapp reprises his role as the 12-year-old Will, who is shown tired, cold, and hiding in his makeshift fort, Castle Byers.
To comfort himself, Will is quietly humming The Clashโs โShould I Stay Or Should I Go,โ a song with deep emotional significance from the first season. The peaceful moment is shattered by guttural noises, and the original Demogorgon crashes into the fort. Will grabs his hunting rifle, fires at the creature, and flees for his life. The action-packed sequence shows him frantically climbing a tree in a desperate escape attempt before falling to the ground and being dragged away unconscious by the monster.
Vecna’s Shocking Role Revealed
The scene then cuts to the Upside Down’s version of the Hawkins Library, where the Demogorgon presents Will to Vecna. Emerging from the shadows, the gruesome villain reveals his direct involvement in Will’s original kidnapping, a connection long theorized by fans.
Vecna tells the captive Will, “At long last, we can begin. You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William.”
As he speaks, the tentacles lining the library pin Will against a wall. In a particularly disturbing moment, a vine-like tendril forces its way into Willโs mouth, pumping an unknown substance into his body while Vecna looks on. This new information suggests that everything the characters have endured since the beginning was part of Vecna’s larger plan.
A Different Start for the Final Season
The decision to begin the season with a high-action flashback is a deliberate shift from the show’s usual format. The Duffer Brothers explained that the final season hits the ground running.
Ross Duffer stated, “We usually set up their normal life and how theyโre going about school, and then we introduce the supernatural element. But in this case, this season is sprinting from the start.”
Matt Duffer added that the town of Hawkins is now almost unrecognizable. “Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore,” he said. “Their movement is restricted, and there are Big Brother cameras everywhere. So not only are they active โ their everyday, normal lives are anything but.”
Fan Reactions and Theories
The release of the clip sparked immediate and emotional reactions online, with many fans praising the return to the classic tone of the first season. The use of โShould I Stay Or Should I Goโ was a standout moment for longtime viewers, with one fan calling it a direct hit of nostalgia.
The scene also confirmed a popular fan theory about Vecna’s connection to Will’s disappearance. One fan tweeted, “I knew Vecna kidnapped Will. I just couldnโt prove it till now,” a sentiment that was echoed across social media. While some viewers had mixed opinions on the digital de-aging effects, many others focused on the emotional weight and the terrifying confirmation of Vecna’s role.
How to Watch the Final Season
Stranger Things 5 will be released in three volumes on Netflix. Volume 1, containing the first four episodes, premieres on November 26, 2025. Volume 2, with the next three episodes, follows on December 25, 2025. The series finale, the final eighth episode, will be released on December 31, 2025. All new episodes will be available at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.
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Credits: India Today, Netflix Tudum, Deadline
