Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 ending explained: How major twist sets up Volume 2

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is now streaming, so here’s what went down in those first four episodes, plus how that sets up Volume 2.

Following some brief technical issues that managed to crash Netflix, Stranger Things is back with Volume 1, which kicked off via a pedestrian Episode 1, before the ante was upped across the next three instalments.

Fans were introduced to Mr. Whatsit, reintroduced to 008, and treated to a 1980s pop classic through the banging Season 5 soundtrack.

All of which built to a spectacular climax in the Upside Down, which precipitates Vecna’s endgame in Volumes 2 and 3, which we’ll detail below. Meaning SPOILERS ahead…

Congregating in the Upside Down

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Much of Volume 1 was concerned with transporting our Stranger Things’ protagonists to the Upside Down. Hopper heads there on a mission. Eleven follows Holly Wheeler there. Steve, Dustin, Nancy, and Jonathan drive there while tailing a Demogorgon, in the hope that it will also lead them to Holly. While pretty much everyone else ends up in that vicinity via a plan inspired by The Great Escape.

Without realizing it, Holly is being held prisoner by Vecna, though she’s lured away by Max, who is very much alive in the Upside Down, and recovering from being trapped in Henry Creel’s memories. But she’s found shelter in a cave that terrifies Creel, so that has become her sanctuary.

While all that is going on, the military is messing everything up, by taking kids from their homes, bussing them to what’s essentially a prison, then using the children as bait.

The return of Kali

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A key scene occurs at the end of Episode 4, when Eleven discovers her old friend Kali – aka 008 – being held prisoner by Dr. Kay.

Kali was introduced during Season 2 as another child who fell victim to the Hawkins Lab experiments. Though where 011 could perform telekinesis, 008 was able to illusion-cast, meaning she could make people see things that weren’t really there.

The character came and went in a flash, via an episode called ‘The Lost Sister,’ which led to criticism of the show at the time.

But Season 5 looks to be righting that wrong, as once Eleven frees Kali from her shackles, expect them to team up and become a major force in bringing Vecna down.

Vecna vs the military

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That’s going on inside Hawkins Lab, while Vecna is causing chaos on the outside. Bullets bounce off the monster as he tosses trucks, manipulates fire, busts skulls, and kills with the flick of a wrist.

Vecna then levitates Will so they are face-to-face, explains his reasons for targeting the children of Hawkins, then walks away to let his minions finish everyone off.

At which point Will changes. Remembering Robin’s guidance about having all the answers and needing to not fear who he really is, Byers suddenly becomes all-powerful.

As his eyes turn white, Will controls the oncoming monsters with a wave of his hand, stopping them in their tracks before they can kill, then breaking their bones and dropping them stone dead.

Will’s powers explained

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The episode ends with Will wiping blood from underneath his nose, much like Eleven did earlier in the Volume. Which suggests they now possess the same powers. But it isn’t as simple as that, as Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers recently revealed when discussing what’s ahead.

“It’s different in that he’s able to channel Vecna’s powers. But they’re all related,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “Vecna and Eleven, their powers are similar. The powers aren’t within him. He’s able to channel these powers from Vecna and use it, sort of puppeteering.”

Meaning Will is able to utilize the hive mind’s power as a weapon, but only when said entity is close. Though that new ability – combined with Eleven’s telekinesis and Kali’s illusion-casting – means that Hawkins’ heroes are in good shape for that fast-approaching final showdown.

Stranger Things 5 is streaming on Netflix, while for more Hawkins action, check out the Stranger Things characters most likely to die in the final chapter, a breakdown of the Season 5 time jump, details of how Barb might return, plus Dexerto’s favorite Stranger Things characters ranked, and best Stranger Things episodes ranked.