Five scenes from ‘Stranger Things’ 5, volume 1, that left us spellbound
Stranger Things may have taken its own sweet time to unleash the horrors of the Upside Down for one last time, but the wait was undoubtedly worth it. The first volume of the Netflix series’ fifth season was nothing short of a revelation.
While it surely did raise more questions than we probably started out with, the volume was completely packed with banger scenes and plot twists.
From watching Vecna become the kids’ favourite Mr Whatsit to witnessing character comebacks that only felt possible in fan theories, everything Stranger Things has shown so far in the final season deserves the jaw drops.
But if you’re on the lookout for the top five moments from volume one that left us at a loss for words and screaming at once, here is our list.
Top five Stranger Things scenes from season five, volume one
Karen Wheeler fights a Demogorgon
One of the most heroic moments in season five came rather early in the four-episode volume one when the oblivious Karen Wheeler put herself right between a Demogorgon and her daughter, Holly. Although kids are always told about the monsters under the bed, Stranger Things ensured the ceilings don’t go unchecked either when the Demogorgon ripped the same in Holly’s room.
Struggling, she escaped the Demogorgon’s grasp, rushing to Karen, who was drawing a bubble bath with a glass of wine. While she didn’t really believe her daughter initially, the blood behind Holly’s head finally convinced her. Plus, with a Demogorgon on the loose at her house, that’s how long the disillusion can last.
But coming to her epic scene, which comes in the opening moments of ‘The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,’ Karen breaks the empty bottle of wine and charges towards the Demogorgon, landing some incredible hits with the spiked glass. The Demogorgon ultimately gets the upper hand, slashing her chest before taking Holly to the shadow dimension. However, the scene has since become one of the most-talked-about moments from the ongoing season.
Max Mayfield, meet Holly Wheeler
Holly Wheeler takes the centre stage in Stranger Things season five. Initially, she’s only seen conversing with an invisible figure, whom she endearingly refers to as Mr Whatsit, and soon after, she ends up kidnapped by a Demogorgon from the Wheeler house. Not long after her abduction, it’s revealed that Mr Whatsit is none other than Vecna. But instead of appearing in his monstrous form, he has been visiting Holly, looking like Henry Creel.
In episode three, we see Holly in the 1950s Creel House, where she’s offered her favourite breakfast while Mr Whatsit, AKA Henry, plays her favourite song. The series doesn’t address Holly’s whereabouts right away, but it’s clear as daylight that the place isn’t Hawkins or the Upside Down. However, before leaving the mansion, Henry advises Holly to stay away from the woods near the house.
After a while, however, Holly receives a map instructing her to go into the woods. Although she nearly retracts as she gets spooked in between, Max finally comes out of her hiding, and we cannot help but take a sigh of relief that she’s indeed alive.
Kali returns
Among the many surprises Stranger Things had for viewers in the first volume, the most unexpected and unforgettable one is Kali’s return in the fifth season. Previously, many fan theories speculated about her comeback. But in the fourth episode, when Eleven and Hopper finally manage to infiltrate the Upside Down military base, in a plot twist no one saw coming, they stumble across Kali, tied to wires and IVs.
While it’s not exactly known why Kali is held captive in Dr Kay’s military basement, she does seem to be subjected to her experiments. The motivations? That, however, remains unclear.
Delightful Derek
Stranger Things bullies have a history of becoming the most lovable characters, and season five is no exception. As Holly Wheeler takes the centre stage this season, her foul-mouthed classmate, Derek, also a school bully, ends up stealing the show. Introduced as “Dipshit Derek,” the character wastes no time in proving why he is named so.
But when the Hawkins gang kidnaps his entire family, knowing Derek’s the next target for Mr Whatsit, he’s the first to wake up and cause chaos. What eventually shuts him up is a confrontation with a Demogorgon, and from then on, he becomes one with the gang. However, while scheming with the gang to pull the kids to safety, Joyce sends an iconic reminder to help his temperament. She says, “Remember, you’re not Dipshit Derek. You’re…,” to which he responds, “Delightful Derek.” And it’s safe to say, Derek does win over the fans.
Will, the wise or warrior?
Finally, coming to the plot twist that had the ground beneath us shaking like never before: Will Byers has powers! That’s right. In the mouth gaping final moments of Stranger Things season five, volume one, Will channels the Hive Mind, unexpectedly taking control of the Demogorgons who were overpowering the gang a minute ago.
Outstretching his arms, Will froze the powerful Demogorgons midair, unveiling a superpowered curveball, which evokes part Vecna and part Eleven. While supernatural showdowns were always on the cards of the show, Will singlehandedly defeating multiple Demogorgons? That was probably not a part of our wildest imaginations, even though it was always clear that Stranger Things will end with the one it began.