Stranger Things' endless wait times and overstuffed episodes are slowly sucking the joy out of what was once a thrilling adventure—could this be the tipping point for binge-watchers everywhere?
[Editor’s note: Look out for our recap of episodes three and four coming on November 27.]
Hey there, fellow Stranger Things fans—how many of you have groaned about the interminable delays between seasons? It's practically unavoidable, right? We're talking a whopping three-and-a-half-year gap between seasons four (which you can check out in our review here: https://www.avclub.com/stranger-things-season-4-volume-1-review-netflix-thrill-1848951428) and five, making the entire series feel like it's dragging on for eternity. Stranger Things kicked off in that scorching summer of 2016, alongside hit shows like The Good Place, This Is Us, Westworld, Insecure, Better Things, and Lucifer. Those series have long since wrapped up their multi-season journeys, while Stranger Things has only delivered a mere 34 episodes over nearly a decade (and we're not counting anything slated for 2025 yet). If this isn't a glaring sign of the streaming world's growing pains, what is? But here's where it gets controversial—did the show jump in at the perfect moment, when the TV industry was still scrambling? Think back: Netflix was exploding with House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black (dive into our deep dive here: https://www.avclub.com/tv-club-10-orange-is-the-new-black), Hulu and Prime Video were testing the waters with their own originals, and platforms like Apple TV, Peacock, and Disney+ were just distant dreams on the horizon.
In a way, Stranger Things epitomized the binge-watching craze that swept the globe. I remember powering through season one the instant it landed, utterly captivated by its '80s throwbacks, incredible young actors, nail-biting plot, and Winona Ryder's stellar performance. Sure, I braced myself for the long wait, but it's become this hallmark of the Stranger Things saga, especially with how much the kids have grown up (as the Duffer Brothers explained in our piece: https://www.avclub.com/duffer-brothers-stranger-things-kids-aging-no-big-deal). The series serves as a prime example of why prolonging a story beyond its prime can backfire. Even this concluding season, packed with some redeeming qualities, gets sliced into three chunks, which only dilutes the excitement. If the goal was to build buzz over the holidays, why not go for a straightforward weekly episode release? Netflix, it seems, isn't having it. Instead, we're left with barely half the season at once, much of it amounting to setup for yet another epic clash between Hawkins' heroes and the menacing Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower), who somehow vanished after Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) torched his physical form in season four's finale.
“The Crawl” and “The Vanishing Of Holly Wheeler” cleverly delay Vecna's big return until the cliffhanger, revealing him in his human guise as Henry Creel, minus the creepy veins and heavy breathing. That said, his sinister schemes are already brewing, with his vile demogorgon minions causing gory chaos—ask the Wheeler family if you need proof. These elements drive the action, as evidenced by the pulse-pounding opener in episode two at their home. Yet, co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer stick rigidly to their formula. It's pure Stranger Things by now: The gang stumbles upon the newest crisis, splits into teams—intentionally or accidentally—with individual missions that converge on rescuing someone and vanquishing the foe. Mix in witty exchanges, loads of pop culture nods, Hopper (David Harbour) blowing his top, Joyce (Ryder) fretting over her children, at least one friend acting aloof (this round, it's Dustin, not Max), and Nancy mired in pointless romantic entanglements. Seriously, it's inexcusable that airtime is wasted on the macho showdown between Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Steve (Joe Keery). Their love triangle ranks among the show's weakest threads, particularly since Nancy has blossomed into a fierce leader. Why derail her growth with these guys? Sure, Steve's arc has shone brightly, but the writers seem clueless about Jonathan's future.
But here's the part most people miss—the true depth of the show's evolution lies in its subtle nods and foreshadowing. Let's dive back into “The Crawl.” Robin (Maya Hawke) fills us in via her radio gig, using it to secretly chat with her girlfriend, Vickie the candy striper (Amybeth McNulty), and rally her friends. Over the 18 months since the Upside Down portals burst open, Hawkins has been on strict lockdown. Still, the crew has mastered these "crawls." Hopper, for instance, sneaks rides in government vehicles crossing into the Upside Down, where the military has set up a full base. Gone are the days of Nancy stumbling upon hidden, gooey tree portals or Eleven needing her powers to pry open gates. Now, Nancy leads the operations, strategizing and jotting notes. Joyce (Ryder) keeps communications flowing with walkie-talkies; Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) scout ahead; Steve handles driving; Dustin mans the tracker to monitor Hopper in the Upside Down. They've repeated this 36 times, hoping Hopper will pinpoint Vecna's lair. Meanwhile, Eleven trains relentlessly, honing her abilities for the battle ahead.
The 37th crawl, depicted in the episode, spirals into mayhem fast. Dustin goes AWOL after bullies rough him up at Eddie Munson’s (Joseph Quinn) grave for refusing to ditch his Hellfire T-shirt. With him out, Jonathan steps in. But the van Hopper leaps into gets ambushed by demogorgons in the Upside Down, forcing him to flee solo into the woods. In the real world, Will still feels those eerie "goosies" when Vecna lurks nearby. His powers have advanced, allowing him to sense more than just a presence—he can now glimpse through Vecna's eyes or the demogorgons' as they prepare to strike. This ties into his growth; he was under Vecna's control in ways he didn't fully grasp, as shown in the premiere's chilling cold open. Freed now, his abilities have amplified. That's how he detects a creature poised to breach the Wheeler house and snatch little Holly. She's Vecna's next prey, isolated and susceptible, just like Will in season one. Vecna appears to her as an imaginary friend she calls Mr. Whatsit, inspired by Madeleine L’Engle's A Wrinkle In Time.
Holly confides in Mike that Mr. Whatsit warns of monsters in Hawkins targeting her. This tender scene underscores their sibling bond and highlights how ordinary townsfolk remain oblivious to the lurking threats. Even Mike doesn't alert her; instead, he gifts her a D&D figurine, naming her Heroic Holly. His descriptions—divine powers, spellcasting, teleporting through dimensions—echo foreshadowing, much like Will's line in the series premiere: "the demogorgon got me" before biking home. To clarify for newcomers, these are subtle hints building suspense, drawing from Dungeons & Dragons lore that fans love, where players battle imaginary foes in epic quests.
Mike and Nancy fail to fend off a demogorgon assault on their family. By the time Will tips off Nancy and she rushes home with Eleven, disaster has struck. In a gripping showdown, Karen Wheeler finally uncovers the "monsters," channeling her inner Joyce Byers to shield her daughter. I couldn't help but laugh when she grabs her wine bottle as a weapon, swinging it soaked in a nightgown—here's a rare moment to say, "Go Karen!" The buildup to this in both episodes is why Stranger Things still packs a punch. But her bravery falters as the demogorgon slashes her throat, leaving Nancy to find her mother bleeding on the kitchen floor and her sister vanished. She dispatches Eleven into the Upside Down, where she reunites with her surrogate dad. Though Hopper's annoyed by her reappearance, the scene delivers heartfelt bonding as they track the demogorgon. They hit a wall—a massive, gooey barrier straight out of Game Of Thrones—blocking their path. Behind it likely hides Henry/Vecna's domain, a bright mind palace mirroring his childhood home, where Holly is taken.
On their end, Nancy, Mike, and Lucas deduce Mr. Whatsit might be real and hold clues. This leads to an overly convoluted bit where the siblings disguise themselves as nurse and patient to visit their recovering mom. (Honestly, trimming some of this could have tightened the episodes' length.) Karen reveals Holly's nickname for her "pal," and...bam, the reveal hits. Will also senses Vecna's eyeing Holly's classmate Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly). Suddenly, it's clear Henry Creel is targeting a fresh wave of kids. As I mentioned, it's the same old Stranger Things formula, but at least the heroes now grasp the stakes and can gear up for the looming confrontation.
Stray observations
• Who doesn't get chills when Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" kicks in? Lucas faithfully plays Max's favorite tune by her bedside, praying she'll wake from her coma.
• Shoutout to Ted Wheeler for introducing "heavens to Betsy" into my vocabulary—I'll be dropping it for every minor hiccup now.
• That said, I was mildly irritated Ted and Karen both make it through unscathed. With all they've endured, Stranger Things rarely kills off characters, keeping the tension surprisingly low. Could more casualties come as the season heats up? And this is the part most people miss—does this reluctance to raise stakes dilute the drama, making the show feel safer but less intense?
• Eleven, puzzled, to Hopper: "Karen must have hurt [the demogorgon]. With her wine."
• Linda Hamilton steps into Stranger Things as the enigmatic Dr. Kay, embedded in the government's Upside Down operation. For another sci-fi gem featuring her, check out Resident Alien—it's a fun, witty ride.
• I'm relieved Eleven and Mike are patching things up, dreaming of post-victory plans. He suggests, based on his D&D games, the survivors relocate for a fresh start. Is this subtle foreshadowing for big changes? At the same time, my heart aches for Will, who's obviously smitten with Mike. At least Robin seems poised to guide him through his coming-out journey.
• Joyce and Hopper are officially an item, though they share scant screen time in “The Crawl” before he ventures into the Upside Down. Fingers crossed for a proper reunion soon.
• Dustin and Steve's rift has me bummed—it's understandable with Dustin mourning Eddie, who died in his arms, but they need to regroup pronto, maybe with a Scoops Ahoy treat to smooth things over.
What do you think, fans? Is the show's extended run a blessing for nostalgia or a curse for losing momentum? Do the bloated episodes turn you off, or does the formula still hook you? And here's a controversial take: Should the Duffers have wrapped it sooner to preserve the magic, or is milking the franchise the smart move in streaming? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I'd love to hear agreements, disagreements, or wild theories!
