The fifth season of Stranger Things opens with an intense and nostalgic sequence that immediately returns viewers to the eerie world of Hawkins. These first minutes deliver both fear and beauty, capturing the unsettling balance the series is known for.
The premiere episode, titled The Crawl, starts by leaping back to November 12, 1983 — the day Will Byers first went missing. A digitally de-aged Noah Schnapp appears as 12-year-old Will, lying alone within Castle Byers, softly singing a rock tune familiar from Season 1. The calm soon shatters as a piercing screech fills the air, followed by a powerful crash.
Will bolts into the forest, his flashlight flickering wildly as panic overtakes him. He climbs a tree, trying to hide, only for it to give way beneath him. The fall sends him into a far darker place than anyone expects.
The Demogorgon reemerges, dragging Will into the shadowy version of the Hawkins Library. There, within the darkness of the Upside Down, Vecna awaits, delivering a terrifying promise that sets the tone for the season’s ultimate confrontation.
“Netflix couldn’t have picked a better way to kick off Stranger Things Season 5.”
In just five gripping minutes, the series signals a full return to its horror roots while laying the foundation for its concluding battle.
These opening minutes of Stranger Things Season 5 revive the haunting energy of early Hawkins, promising a powerful and chilling conclusion to the saga.