Stranger Things will finally reveal some major answers in the Netflix series’ final season
Katie Palmer Senior TV Reporter for Screen Time
13:34, 22 Oct 2025
Stranger Things is making a return to Netflix, with the first part of season five landing on November 26.
The series is divided into three volumes, with the initial four episodes released simultaneously, setting the stage in autumn 1987.
As Hawkins bears the scars from the opening of the Rifts, our heroes must unite one final time to locate and defeat Vecna (portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower) following his vanishing act.
Complicating matters further, the town is under military lockdown and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has been compelled to go back into hiding.
As the ultimate showdown approaches, the Duffer Brothers assure that the series will at last unveil the true nature of the Upside Down.
READ MORE: Netflix’s House of Guinness star completely unrecognisable in forgotten roleREAD MORE: Father Ted icon unveiled in Netflix’s first-look at Derry Girls creator’s ‘wild’ new seriesThe hunt is on for Vecna(Image: NETFLIX)
In a chat with Variety, co-creator Ross Duffer revealed: “Every season would be like, ‘Should we talk about it?’ And we’d go, ‘No, let’s wait.’ And then finally, we’re like, ‘Well, we have to now!'”
Matt Duffer chimed in about the final journey: “We knew roughly what the end scene was for years – it wasn’t something we had a strain to come up with.
“There were elements of it that were discussed for weeks, but the core idea of the ending, we had for a really long time.
“Anyway, we’re really happy with the way it ended. It’s nerve-racking to put it out. I’m sure people will have opinions.”
There are numerous fan theories regarding the origins of the Upside Down, with some speculating it was conjured by Vecna in his quest to dominate Hawkins.
Eleven ‘created’ the Upside Down(Image: NETFLIX)
Alternatively, some fans theorise that it was Eleven who created the alternate world as an extension of her subconscious.
Production designer Chris Trujillo has previously suggested that it was El who created the Upside Down, having spoken on the official Stranger Things YouTube channel.
He stated: “The moment that the Upside Down was quote-unquote ‘created’ inadvertently by Eleven, the set dressing and the world of the Upside Down is frozen in that moment.
“So like when we’re in Nancy’s room, we’ll discover in the Upside Down that Nancy’s room is as it was season one when we first were introduced to it.”
Stranger Things season 5 part 1 will be available on Netflix from November 26.
