'Stranger Things 5' Volume 1 ends with a game-changing twist — here's how it sets up the final battle
Netflix has finally rolled out 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 1, and its ending is a perfect reminder of why the series is so loved. The final episode of Volume 1 delivered an earth-shaking twist, with a major revelation and the surprise appearance of an almost forgotten character. However, it's the cliffhanger ending that is taking center stage, making the wait for 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 2 harder than expected.
One of the biggest twists in Volume 1 is the reveal that Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) can mimic Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) powers. His eyes turn white as he telekinetically kills three Demogorgons across different locations, saving Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin). Although it may seem like Will suddenly awakened hidden powers, his nosebleed afterward, similar to Eleven's (Millie Bobby Brown) when she uses her abilities, suggests he's tapping into Vecna's own power rather than unlocking his own, as per ScreenRant. Before Will reveals his new powers, Vecna explains why he targeted him in Season 1.
Vecna says he chose Will because he was "weak and easily controlled," and even Will admits their connection was never fully broken. Now, Vecna is repeating the same pattern, going after more vulnerable kids in Hawkins as part of his plan to "reshape the world." Using his Henry persona and the alias Mr. Whatsit, Vecna gains children's trust, like he did with Holly, pretending to save them from monsters while actually holding them hostage until he gathers enough victims. However, Vecna's plan isn't airtight, as both El and Will now have powers that can challenge him. Additionally, Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) helping Holly in the mindscape suggests that Vecna's psychological control is starting to fail.
And as many fans had predicted, Eleven's sister Kali, also known as Eight, officially returns in the final episode of Volume 1, where it's revealed that the military was holding her in their Upside Down lab. Last seen in Season 2 when Eleven left her in 1984, Kali's fate had been a mystery. She spent season 2 seeking revenge on those involved with Hawkins Lab, and it's logical that the military, already hunting Eleven, would track down other surviving test subjects like her. With El and Vecna already in Hawkins, the military brought Kali back to where it all started.
Kali now appears to have undergone experimentation, as her head is shaved, suggesting she's been used as a weapon. The military also uses pulsing soundwaves to shut down Eleven's powers, which may be linked to Kali's own abilities. Alongside Eleven and Jim Hopper (David Harbour), another team, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton), enters the Upside Down while tracking a Demogorgon, hoping it will lead them to Holly.
On the other hand, Nancy remains focused on her family as her parents recover in the hospital, pushing her and the group to search for Holly directly within the Upside Down. But navigating a twisted mirror of Hawkins is far from simple. During their search, they encounter a massive 'fleshy wall' forming a circle with Hawkins Lab at its center. Believing Holly might be held where the horror originally began, they decide to target the lab. Even if Holly isn't there, this group is positioned to uncover the wall's purpose and the origins behind it.
