Breaking down the shocking finale of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1, including who lives, who dies, and what it all means.

N etflix is releasing the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" in binge-frustrating segments (the first four episodes drop today, the next three on Christmas Day and the finale on Dec. 31, just in time to crash your New Year's Eve plans).

3 years and 4 months of waiting is officially over, the fifth season of Stranger Things is now available to stream on Netflix! What a return it was, with an incredible climax to Volume 1 that makes the months-long wait for Volume 2 feel unbearable. Here’s our ending explained to Volume 1 and what we can expect to see in Volume 2 in December 2025.

The first four episodes of 'Stranger Things' Season 5 dropped this week, and excited fans will have to wait nearly a month to see the next episodes.