‘Stranger Things 5’ Volume 2 Review – Penultimate Episodes Set the Stage for Final Confrontation

Whereas Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 felt like a dizzying, self-contained season on its own, a breakneck reintroduction to a post-lockdown Hawkins facing Vecna’s endgame, Volume 2 begins the series’ final wind down. The onslaught of action and intense battles slows down just enough to start buttoning up all loose ends and unanswered questions.

Volume 2 picks up immediately in the aftermath of Volume 1’s conclusion, with Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) new skillset raising more questions in the fight against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). In true Stranger Things form, though, Will’s ability isn’t the magic fix that instantly evens the playing field. Vecna’s closer than ever to seeing his master plan to fruition, and his power is amplified even more.

Director Frank Darabont launches Volume 2 off to an exciting start with “Shock Jock,” a thrilling episode that bridges the exhilarating thrills of the first installment to the slowed-down second installment. But series creators Matt and Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy make easy work of streamlining dense lore and the series’ long plotlines into easily digestible form in the subsequent episodes.

While the series has always excelled at giving every character their moment to shine, Volume 2 included (Jake Connelly’s Delightful Derek remains delightful), it’s Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) who have the toughest roles as the pair directly in Vecna’s crosshairs. Fisher’s affable curiosity and relatable bravery remain new and refreshing among a seasoned cast of characters hardened by years of fighting against the Upside Down. That’s most notable with Hopper (David Harbour), who’s still very checked out from it all.

The action falls into the more familiar pattern, including no shortage of rogue heroics and last-minute saves from certain death, as the answers start coming and character arcs begin drawing to a close. So much so that even in Volume 2’s biggest action sequence, a siege on the hospital, ends in a predictable fashion. The type that minimizes the stakes, again.

Compared to the dizzying heights of Volume 1, the penultimate episodes feel a bit too tidy with closure. Stranger Things packs quite a lot of answers to long-running questions in three episodes, some that tie back to the first two seasons. Monumental questions regarding the Upside Down itself get answered, and some relationships are mended as the Party continues their valiant bid to stop Vecna.

That they come so fast and furious while the stage is being set for the final confrontation instills curiosity as to how they’ll possibly wrap it all together in one feature film-length final episode. The pressure is on for the series finale.

The latest batch of Stranger Things 5 only reinforces its cyclical nature; everything is circling back around to the beginning. The answers come fast and furious, so much so that it’s tough to absorb them all at once. That it’s doling out information while laying the careful breadcrumbs for the endgame makes Volume 2 feel oddly muted, at least compared to the previous installment.

Still, these three episodes tick all the Stranger Things boxes to carry us through to what should be a fireworks extravaganza of a finale. Euphoric triumphs, heartbreaking setbacks, exciting set pieces, and intense showdowns, with characters we’ve become attached to over five seasons spread across a decade.

Volume 2 is the calm before the storm.

Stranger Things 5 Volume II releases three  on Netflix on December 25, and the series finale on December 31. Each volume releases at 5pm PT/8pm ET.

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