Reel News: Everything We Noticed In The Stranger Things 5 Teaser
What do you mean my favorite childhood show is ending? After nine years of slaying Demogorgons, walkie-talkie conversations, and beautiful friendships, Stranger Things is coming to an end. Netflix finally dropped the highly anticipated teaser trailer, and it’s three minutes of tears, callbacks, and hints at what lies ahead for our beloved Hawkins crew. Let’s break down everything we caught in the Stranger Things teaser, and some eerie theories that have us playing our “Save Me From Vecna” songs.
Protect Steve Harrington At All Costs
The Duffer Brothers know exactly what they’re doing opening the trailer with Steve “The Hair” Harrington. Arguably, the most beloved character, fans have been petrified at the idea of Joe Keery’s character not making it to the end. Will the Hawkins High golden-boy-turned-supermom make it out alive?
Heaven forbid we lose Steve, but if tragedy strikes, Steve will likely go out saving the kids or Nancy (Natalia Dyer). If we absolutely have to lose him, it will definitely be an epic and heroic ending for everyone’s favorite babysitter.
Hawkins, Do You Copy?
What in the Mystery Machine is this? Steve is turning a wheel in a van that is screaming Scooby-Doo vibes. It seems like he’s increasing a satellite connection. Behind-the-scenes clips showcase this radio station a lot, hinting that this location will play a crucial role in the final chapter.
We then see Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) follow the van on bikes as the rest of the Hawkins crew waits at the radio station to listen to Lucas reporting. Lucas and Mike are seen in camouflage seemingly spying on a burn happening. My guess is they’re secretly watching the military burn gates to the Upside Down. The trailer continuously cuts to shots of the decibels meter increasing, which suggests that this setting is vital in defeating Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Maybe the gang even plans to use the satellite to communicate in the Upside Down. Talk about a major upgrade from the walkie-talkies!
This might be a stretch, but hear me out! Remember how music was instrumental in saving victims from Vecna’s clutches? What if the party uses the satellite to project loud music or sounds to ward off Vecna, Demogorgons, and Demodogs?
Music is such a powerful part of the identity of Stranger Things. Using a strong satellite to protect Hawkins with the power of music sounds right up the Duffer Brothers' alley.
A Whole New Hawkins
After the puzzling ending of Stranger Things season four, the military has put Hawkins in a mandatory quarantine as the Upside Down creeps into the real world. The town was literally ripped apart as a rift between dimensions tore through Hawkins. The trailer reveals that many are still homeless, living in shelters and the Hawkins they once knew is forever changed.
While having an army will definitely help, Mike and his crew have been fighting this battle long before the government ever took this seriously. What I find most exciting about this shot is the kiddos on their bikes again. It’s the perfect splash of nostalgia, transporting fans back to the first season.
The Fallout of Eddie Munson’s Death
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is dealing with the tragic loss of Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) following his heroic efforts in the season four finale. While Dustin knows the real Eddie, Hawkins still sees him as the satanic murderer he was framed to be. This shot shows Dustin at Eddie’s grave, which has been vandalized. Later on, Dustin is seen again with Steve, but his face is now bloodied and bruised. Does Dustin’s undying loyalty to Eddie lead to foul play?
Many fans continue to speculate if Joseph Quinn will reprise his role in season five. Fan theories are all over TikTok on how the beloved rocker could grace our screens again. Still, I’d argue Eddie’s death was monumental to Dustin’s development, and leaving it as is would support the story better than bringing him back.
Familiar Faces and Places
Every location and major monster from each season will come back into play for the final battle. This clip shows the party in the Upside Down at the original Hawkins lab, where all the madness began.
Later on, the Upside Down’s terrifying tunnel system from season two returns, along with the horrific return of the Demogorgons and Demodogs. The caption for the teaser trailer reads “Every battle has led to this.” It’s up to the team to use everything they’ve learned from each season to fight their biggest battle yet.
The Core Four
Before Will’s infamous disappearance, the story was just four innocent little boys playing Dungeons and Dragons in the Wheelers’ basement. The Hawkins crew has grown exponentially since then, with varying team-ups every season. It’s so sweet to see the core four of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will (Noah Schnapp) finally together again.
In this shot, you can see the boys teaming up to finish this game once and for all. Under their hands is a map of Hawkins, and eagle-eyed fans might notice some D&D figurines next to it. This is a beautiful callback to season one when the boys originally made sense of the Upside Down by comparing it to D&D characters.
Netflix, You’re Scaring Me
Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) narrates a portion of the trailer, which is incredibly concerning considering how soft-spoken he usually is. He says, “This thing, it ties us together. Forever.” That sounds an awful lot like a goodbye. Nancy is seen trying not to cry as her longtime boyfriend says this to her.
Jonathan has held so much guilt for Will’s abduction, given that he was supposed to be home that fateful night. He’s a loving, protective big brother not just to Will, but to all the kids. If he’s going out, it will definitely be in some heroic sacrifice for the people he loves. His death would undoubtedly stir up emotions within the gang, motivating them to take Vecna down for good. That being said, it’ll be heartbreaking if we lose him and have to watch Joyce (Winona Ryder), Nancy, Will, and the entire group grieve.
“She’s Our Friend, And She’s Crazy!”
Elle (Millie Bobby Brown) is the superhero Hawkins needs. With the government taking over Hawkins, Eleven has gone into hiding. In the trailer, most of her scenes take place either at the radio station or in the Upside Down with Hopper (David Harbour).
Elle created the Upside Down when she initially fought Henry Creel as a child, so she’ll be instrumental in defeating Vecna. After the brief stint of losing her powers, her abilities are back in full force for this final showdown. There’s even a glimpse of her flying! Also, if you want a cute callback, we noticed that here she’s still wearing the hair tie that belonged to Hopper’s late daughter. We love this father-daughter duo.
Who Is That?
Netflix, I just want to talk. Here, a Demogorgon is hunting one of the kids, but which kid is it? Many fans believe it might be a young Will Byers from the night he was abducted.
Season four introduced the notion that the Upside Down is essentially frozen in time, specifically on the night Will was abducted. Could this be a young Will forced to run forever in the Upside Down? Could this be a flashback? Or could it be one of the kids in the present time fighting for their lives? It’s nearly impossible to tell who it is, but my best guesses are either Will or Mike. Nonetheless, this shot will haunt my dreams until I finally get answers.
Consider Vecna: Terminated
In this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot, The Terminator star Linda Hamilton is seen strutting into battle. She is playing Dr. Kay. That’s all we know about the character so far. Perhaps she’s buddies with Paul Riser’s Dr. Owens?
Having Hamilton for the final season solidifies that the season will be epic. I can’t wait to see her (hopefully) help the party kill Vecna. However, she could be an antagonistic character with complex intentions, like Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine).
Is That? No, It Can’t Be…
As mentioned earlier, everything the crew has endured has led to this final battle. With the return of Demodogs and Demogorgons, is this possibly the Mind Flayer?
Whatever this is, it’s will undoubtedly cause chaos and widespread destruction throughout the town. Looking up at the scene, it seems to be Nancy with either Jonathan or Steve. The original Mind Flayer was terrifying in its own right; a more powerful one would be petrifying.
Robin (Maya Hawke) is barely present in the trailer, but she might be in a scene holding a crucial clue for what lies ahead. Here, Robin appears perplexed as something is interfering with a radio tower. That looks an awful lot like the Mind Flayer’s shadowy form from the second season.
Plus, if it’s targeting radio towers, maybe Vecna is trying to weaken whatever the crew is doing at the radio station. Radio waves have played a massive part in Eleven’s powers since day one. If the monsters are trying to take radio access away, we’re in big trouble.
I’ve Seen This Film Before, And I Didn’t Like The Ending
Demodogs loose in a hospital? What could go wrong? Season two heavily revolved around the dog-like monsters. Perhaps season two’s most terrifying scene was when a bunch of Demodogs hunted the party in the Hawkins laboratory. At the same time, Mike, Hopper, Joyce, and Bob (Sean Astin) tried to carry an unconscious Will out to safety and escape the Demodogs. We all know how that went for poor Bob.
Here, fans see Lucas holding an unconscious Max (Sadie Sink) as he and some hospital employees hide from Demodogs. Too soon, Netflix. Too soon. Will Max wake up from her coma in volume one? Or at all? I just want Max and Lucas to grow old together, please!
Don’t Mess With Joyce Byers
Joyce is the mother of this entire franchise, who refuses to quit fighting for her kids.
In this trailer, she’s seen at the radio station and at a barn with Will, Mike, Erica (Priah Ferguson), and some new faces. She’s armed with an axe, which is an incredible callback to season one when she took an axe to her entire house trying to break into the Upside Down. Based on the final clips of this teaser, it appears that Joyce, Will, and Mike may come face-to-face with Vecna. There’s no doubt in my mind that Joyce will fight to save the kids, but I’m terrified for her fate.
The Wheelers Can’t Catch A Break
Fans have been theorizing that Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) might be abducted just like Will was. If that’s the case, I can’t help but wonder why?
Theories are running rampant online, with many speculating that Mike, Nancy, and Holly’s mother, Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono), might not be who we think she is. Hear us out, there’s a crazy —yet sort of genius— theory that Karen is Alice Creel. We’d need a whole other article to break down that theory, but here’s the TikTok discourse that makes a ton of sense. Plus, this would explain why Henry Creel targets the Wheelers frequently.
Seriously Netflix, You’re Scaring Me
Hopper delivers a rousing speech pushing Eleven to fight one last time. In the speech, he says, “Wherever this blood leads, I need you to fight one last time.” As he mentions the blood, Nancy’s bloodied hands are shown as she’s sobbing in a bathroom.
Did Jonathan die? Whether that’s the case or not, the raw emotion on Nancy’s face suggests that something monumentally tragic has happened. Aside from Jonathan, this could be Nancy in the aftermath of Karen and Holly being attacked. Nancy’s been through so much since season one. Since Barb (Shannon Purser) died, she’s pledged her entire being to protecting her family, the kids, and avenging her best friend. She deserves a happy ending, and I’m hoping she plays a crucial role in killing Vecna.
It All Leads Back To Will
As crucial as Eleven is to defeating Vecna, Will is just as necessary to take him down. Since his abduction, Will’s been connected to the Upside Down. In the second season, he was used as a spy for the Mind Flayer, serving as its eyes in the real world.
Based on the various shots of Will’s eyes in the trailer, this may come back into play. The synopsis of season five reveals that the anniversary of Will’s disappearance is looming over the town, which definitely isn’t a coincidence. The night Will was taken was the catalyst for this entire story and ensured that Hawkins would never be the same.
Since Will’s abduction, he’s been tied to the Upside Down like no other. I hate to say it, but he might have to die to destroy the Upside Down forever. If he’s still cursed to be Vecna’s eyes, as this trailer suggests, he might be one of the only things sustaining Vecna’s strength.
Spoiler alert for Harry Potter! If you’ve read the Harry Potter series, you’ll know Harry was the final horcrux keeping Voldemort alive. Only once Harry died was Voldemort weakened enough to be killed. Will might have to sacrifice himself to save the world. Nearly every clip of Will suggests a dark fate that will undoubtedly break the audience’s hearts.
Time Is Running Out
Following Hopper’s speech, which inspires the team to fight “one last time,” we see a series of brief clips showcasing various moments throughout season five, interlaced with the decibel dial growing to one hundred. The sound of the dial ticking towards its max volume is reminiscent of Vecna’s clock ticking as he hunted his victims.
Once the dial reaches one hundred, you hear a brief flatlining, followed by a blood-chilling “Found you.” delivered by Vecna. The final clips suggest Vecna has figured out how to cross over into the real world and fight the Hawkins team in person.
The final season of Stranger Things promises to be an epic, heartbreaking, and bittersweet goodbye to a story that’s captivated audiences for nearly a decade. Let us know if you noticed any other callbacks, references, and your theories on our Instagram, @reeltalkandreviews. Stay tuned for more Stranger Things coverage as we anxiously await the premiere of part one on November 26.
