Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: The Netflix Series Struggles With Stagnation and Offers Minimal Payoff

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: The new episodes arrive with the weight of the world on their shoulders. After the high-stakes cliffhanger of Volume 1, in which Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) finally accepted his connection to the Upside Down and used his powers to kill Demogorgons, Volume 2 (Episodes 5–7) promised something bigger. Instead, the Duffer Brothers deliver a bloated, shallow conclusion that prioritises emotional nostalgia over narrative momentum.

Stranger Things 5 Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Joe Keery, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, etc.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: The Plot

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 (Episodes 5–7) picks up immediately with Will saving his friends and family using his newfound powers. Yet Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) succeeds in abducting the kids and taking them to the eerie realm of Camazotz. Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) attempt to navigate the strange dimension and devise an escape, while Kali/008 (Linnea Berthelsen) reunites with Eleven/Jane (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper (David Harbour), bringing with her unsettling revelations about Dr Brenner’s shadowy associate, Dr Kay.

On the other hand, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) are still trapped in the Upside Down version of the Hawkins Lab. They are looking to uncover the key to finally destroying Vecna once and for all.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 Episode 4 ended on an emotionally charged note as we finally see Will channelling his powers and becoming pivotal in defeating Henry/Vecna. So it is natural to expect Volume 2 to build on that momentum, considering it’s the final season and how everyone has been hinting that these three episodes are emotionally weighing and heartbreaking. Sadly, that doesn’t happen.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: Shallow and Safe

Each episode of Volume 2 is over an hour, yet surprisingly little happens. So many scenes drag with conversations circling back and forth on the same topic with very little payoff. All it does is dilute the tension and stall the narrative, leaving you exhausted and restless. The Netflix show becomes oddly repetitive with the similar tropes we have seen in previous seasons and even in Volume 1: characters discuss plans, split up, regroup, and repeat. This approach doesn’t give the story a chance to reveal anything new to the audience. The premise feels like the kids stuck with Henry/Vecna; it’s directionless and frustratingly vague about its stakes, intentions, and consequences.

It just feels weird how everyone has been looking for Vecna since episode 1, and no one has gotten closer to anything substantial throughout. Until the last 30 minutes of episode 7, the show feels like a filler. Max and Holly’s escape attempts in the Camazotz also start to feel directionless until the last few minutes of episode 6. The plot is stretched to the point where each episode only delivers one major moment, which cannot compensate for its overall shallowness. Furthermore, Kali’s addition seems like a hasty decision by the Duffer Brothers, who had no idea how to use her until the very end. Volume 2 seriously tests your patience and throws in science and physics terms (no issues with that) to justify the lengthy runtime.

The problem with Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 lies in the Duffer Brothers’ lack of willingness to take risks. No, I am not expecting a Game of Thrones where pivotal characters are killed for plot twists and impact. However, the show lost the dangers and thrills that shaped the previous seasons, making it a fan-favourite.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: Key Highlights, Performances

Despite the flaws and a mediocre Volume 2, several moments shine through the series: scenes between Dustin and Steve, Nancy and Jonathan, Max and Holly and Will’s monologue in Episode 7. However, these are the only outstanding moments in a rather repetitive and bland series.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2

Volume 2 increasingly feels like a story anchored by Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower. The rest of the characters are either struggling to seek answers or else orbiting their conflict. Noah brings rawness and urgency to Will’s arc, leaving you more intrigued about what’s next with him. On the other hand, Jamie continues to excel as Henry/Vecna, offering an eerie, magnetic presence that reminds you why the villain once revitalised the franchise. The rest of the cast, despite some emotionally high moments, feels sidelined; not due to poor performance, but due to the writing’s lack of direction.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 drags the pacing, making the plot feel stagnant. The makers have taken minimal risk to make it impactful, and the nostalgia also doesn’t drive the narrative much. There is still heart in the series, but the backbone is shaken. It doesn’t feel like we are heading towards the last episode, as the lack of urgency dilutes the severity of the threat Hawkins is dealing with.