Stranger Things reveals the titles of the episodes of the last season

For Stranger Things, November 6 is a memorable date. It marks the day in 1983 when young Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, vanishes from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. What better day, then, to celebrate Stranger Things Day and drop some teasers for the fifth and final season of Netflix's record-breaking show? Since its debut in 2016, born from the Duffer Brothers’ love of fantasy and a powerful sense of nostalgia, the story of Eleven and her friends reached its fourth season in 2022, racking up over 140.7 million views. For its return, Netflix and the show’s creators are going big, fueling fan anticipation for the final chapter with clues and teasers that only deepen the excitement for the next season.

Titles of the Fifth Season Episodes

On November 6, Netflix officially revealed the titles of the eight episodes of season five, set to arrive in 2025, through a dedicated teaser. The titles are: The Crawl, The Disappearance of (name redacted to avoid spoilers), The Trap, The Magician, The Shock, The Escape from Camazotz, The Bridge, The Real World. Fans have already started speculating and theorizing about titles like The Crawl, which might reference the Metallica song "Master of Puppets," famously featured in a key season four scene performed by Joseph Quinn’s character, Eddie Munson, possibly hinting at his return. But are fans really ready to see one of the series’ favorite characters reduced to a zombie? Others suggest a nod to “dungeon crawl” from Dungeons and Dragons, the role-playing game central to the Stranger Things storyline, where players face monsters and puzzles in labyrinthine dungeons. Meanwhile, a confirmed reveal from the creators is that episodes will be shorter than season four’s nearly 2.5-hour finale.

Will Byers as the Main Focus

What’s certain, according to the Duffer Brothers, is that Will Byers will be central to season five. The group’s story of discovering the terrifying Upside Down concluded season four with the defeat of villain Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. However, Schnapp’s character, Will, still senses the Mind Flayer’s presence. Some set photos from season five filming, which began in January 2024, suggest possible flashbacks with a backdrop resembling the wall Will’s mom Joyce, played by Winona Ryder, used to communicate with her missing son. A focal point will also be Will’s sexuality, a theme long speculated on by fans, with Noah Schnapp coming out himself in 2023.

Hints for Season Five of Stranger Things

Further hints suggest that the Duffers may bring back ideas set aside in season two. Could Eleven’s “lost sister” Kali, played by Linnea Berthelsen, be one of Hawkins’ secret weapons? Kali, also an experiment from the same lab as Eleven, could finally get a continuation to her story, as fans are hoping. A confirmed new cast member is Linda Hamilton from Terminator, a true icon of the 80s—a decade woven into the show’s very DNA. She joins the lineup of 80s icons like Winona Ryder, Robert Englund, Sean Astin, and Matthew Modine, although her character details remain under wraps.

Will Someone Die? Most Likely

It seems the main characters should brace themselves for what’s coming, as Maya Hawke has hinted at multiple character deaths in season five. While the fate of Max (played by Sadie Sink) remains uncertain—she’s left in a coma at the end of season four, with Eleven unable to reach her in the “void”—Hawke, who plays Robin, stated, “It’s the final season, so people will probably die.” She also told Rolling Stone, “I’d love to go out heroically, dying with honor, as any actor would wish.” Hawke is also curious about Robin’s romantic storyline, though she prefers focusing on Robin’s friendship with Joe Keery’s Steve or, potentially, with Natalia Dyer’s Nancy, rumored to be taking on a new nurse role for the final season.

All the Teasers

Netflix has been particularly generous with teasers for Stranger Things fans, who by 2025 will have waited three years for the end of this cultural phenomenon. In recent months, fans have seen a photo of the cast starting filming, a two-minute video recapping the initial weeks on set, and, during Geeked Week 2024, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin took fans on a special tour of iconic locations from the show. They also showcased memorabilia, like the characters’ bikes and Jim Hopper’s letter to Eleven. For even more clues, check the Duffers’ Instagram, where they’re crafting a fan treasure hunt. It’s time to get ready to return to the Upside Down—and this time, we won’t come out unchanged.