NetflixNo doubt you’re already rewatching Stranger Things ahead of Season 5, but if you don’t have 35 hours to spare, the Duffer brothers have a cheat sheet for you: four episodes that are essential pre-release viewing.
After a long few years, the wait is nearly over: Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is premiering on November 26, 2025. Netflix is switching up the usual release time slot to ensure everyone can watch it together, with the new episodes dropping at 5pm PT / 8pm ET.
The fifth and final chapter will jump forward by more than a year, taking place in fall 1987, when Hawkins is under quarantine in the search for Eleven. This complicates matters for the gang, whose main goal is to find and kill Vecna.
We know that it will come full circle, meaning you’ll need to be familiar with the Stranger Things story up until this point. Thankfully, creators Matt and Ross Duffer are on hand to reveal exactly how to prepare for the final showdown.
Four Stranger Things episodes to revisit before Season 5
NetflixIn a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, the Duffer brothers revealed the episodes they recommend rewatching ahead of Season 5 Volume 1. They include:
- Season 2 Episode 4 – ’Will the Wise’
- Season 2 Episode 6 – ‘The Spy
- Season 4 Episode 7 – ‘The Massacre at Hawkins Lab’
- Season 4 Episode 9 – ’The Piggyback’
Now, you might be wondering: why didn’t Season 1 make the list? Well, even though it’s essential for establishing the Netflix show’s characters, the deeper mythology really begins in Season 2.
Matt told the outlet, “Season 2 is when we really started to build out the mythology and started to dive into everything, and how this was going to be an ongoing [series].
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“That’s where we started to really plant the seeds for the mythology, and I think probably that’s why that is as relevant as it is. Season 4 is also highly relevant – ‘Massacre at Hawkins Lab’ is a good one.”
Ross added, “That [episode] starts unveiling some of the Upside Down mythology and starts giving some answers, and, of course, all the stuff with Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) continues to resonate throughout Season 5. Those are some good ones to revisit.”
Of course, no one’s stopping you from rewatching the lot, and some of you are – Stranger Things is currently in fourth place on the Netflix top 10 chart and that’s before Season 5 has even landed. But if you’re strapped for time, this is a good way to revisit the key moments.
Why these Stranger Things episodes are important
NetflixAs for why these episodes are important, Season 2’s ‘Will the Wise’ dives into Will’s possession and his connection to the Mind Flayer – a thread that directly feeds into Vecna’s endgame.
‘The Spy’ builds on this, revealing how the Upside Down uses Will as a sleeper agent and establishing how the entity thinks, moves, and controls.
In Season 4, ‘The Massacre at Hawkins Lab’ uncovers Henry Creel’s origins, his transformation into Vecna, and the truth behind Eleven’s powers, all of which set the stage for their final confrontation.
Finally, in ‘The Piggyback’, Eleven’s mind-fight with Vecna and his near-victory lay the groundwork for the war that Season 5 will resolve.
Even though it’s worth keeping these moments in mind, Matt went on to say that he doesn’t “want anyone to overthink” Season 5.
“It’s fun actually when [the fans] have all these theories as to what’s going to happen. It’s fun to read them. The vast majority of them are wrong. Occasionally, someone gets something,” he explained.
“It’s not like I don’t want people going in with certain expectations, because whatever expectations they have, hopefully we live up to them. But I really hope they go in like they would to any other season and enjoy it for what it is.
“I would get some chocolate pudding, some Eggos, some popcorn, whatever you need to help enhance the experience.”
For more Hawkins action, check out the Stranger Things characters most likely to die in the final chapter, how Barb might return, and our favorite Stranger Things episodes ranked.