After years of speculation and fan theories, the highly anticipated final season of Stranger Things is taking viewers back to where the supernatural mystery began. Netflix has released the opening five minutes of Season 5, providing shocking revelations about the night Will Byers disappeared in 1983 that will change everything fans thought they knew about the series.
The Night That Started It All
The preview sequence, titled The Crawl, transports audiences directly to November 12, 1983 - just six days after Will's initial disappearance. Rather than continuing from Season 4's cliffhanger, the story rewinds to show a de-aged Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp, hiding in Castle Byers within the terrifying Upside Down.
In a heartbreaking scene, the terrified young boy softly sings Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash, the same song his brother Jonathan introduced to him in Season 1. What was originally a symbol of brotherly comfort has now become his survival anthem, exactly as the Duffer Brothers hinted in their earlier script teaser about a child singing a familiar song in the darkness.
Despite his fear, Will demonstrates remarkable courage and resourcefulness when a Demogorgon attacks. He fights back with steady aim and quick movements, leaping between trees in a desperate attempt to survive. However, his efforts prove insufficient against the powerful creature, and he's eventually overpowered and dragged toward a lair illuminated by eerie red lightning.
Vecna's Chilling Master Plan Unveiled
The scene reveals the true architect behind Will's abduction: Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower. Emerging from the shadows, the sinister villain approaches the terrified boy while vines restrain him. In a moment that sends chills down the spine, Vecna presses a tendril to Will's mouth, injecting an unknown substance into his body while whispering, At long last, we can begin. You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William. Such beautiful things.
This disturbing interaction provides crucial answers to questions that have haunted fans since Season 1. Will wasn't simply a random victim - he was specifically chosen for Vecna's grand design. The injection appears to create the biological or psychic connection to the Upside Down that explains the tendril discovered down Will's throat when Joyce and Hopper rescued him in the first season.
The footage also reveals new information about the Demogorgon's behavior, showing the creature bowing to Vecna after dragging Will to the lair. This confirms that these monsters operate under intelligent control rather than acting on primal instinct alone.
Connecting the Dots to Previous Seasons
Series co-creator Ross Duffer has advised fans to rewatch Season 2, Episode 6: The Spy to fully understand the significance of these revelations. In that episode, Will experiences physical pain when a tendril from the Upside Down tunnels is burned, and he later confesses, He made me do it. This suggests Will was acting as a conduit for the Mind Flayer, which itself is an extension of Vecna's power.
The tendril Vecna forces into Will during the 1983 abduction appears to be the origin point of this psychic bond, indicating that Will has been connected to the Upside Down from the very moment he was taken. As Matt Duffer explained, So much of the season was built around the idea of coming full circle, answering many of the questions posed all the way back in Season 1.
The Duffer Brothers have confirmed that the two biggest unanswered questions - what the Upside Down truly is and why Will was taken - will finally be addressed in this final season, with everything about the parallel dimension's rules and purpose having been planned since the series began.
Will Byers: From Victim to Central Hero
This new footage completely transforms the perception of Will Byers as the group's most vulnerable member. The opening sequence showcases a young boy demonstrating grit, resourcefulness, and courage that rivals any other Hawkins kid. His precise aim, quick thinking, and determination make it clear that he's evolved from being merely a victim to becoming central to the story's conclusion.
Noah Schnapp's de-aged performance masterfully balances the innocence of 1983 Will with the lingering trauma that defines his older self in subsequent seasons, finally giving the character the respect he deserves among fans.
The Final Battle for Hawkins
Season 5 is set in autumn 1987, marking the four-year anniversary of Will's disappearance. Hawkins remains scarred by the Rifts that tore through the town, with the government imposing military quarantine measures. Surveillance cameras monitor the streets, and Eleven is forced back into hiding as authorities intensify their search for her.
According to Netflix's official synopsis: Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished, his whereabouts and plans unknown. As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.
Series co-creator Matt Duffer emphasized the heightened stakes: Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore... their movement is restricted, and there are Big Brother cameras everywhere. Ross Duffer added that several major revelations were deliberately saved for this final season, promising that these disclosures will fundamentally shape the narrative.
Release Schedule and Final Goodbye
Netflix will release Stranger Things Season 5 in three distinct parts, marking the first time the series has employed a phased rollout strategy:
- Part 1 (Episodes 1-4): Premieres November 26, 2025, coinciding with Thanksgiving
- Part 2 (Episodes 5-7): Releases Christmas Day, December 25, 2025
- Series Finale (Episode 8): Debuts on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025, both on Netflix and in over 350 cinemas worldwide
Each volume is expected to deepen the emotional and mythological threads leading to the ultimate confrontation between the Hawkins crew and Vecna, bringing an eight-year journey to its dramatic conclusion.
