Netflix's ambitious release strategy for Stranger Things' final season was risky as it meant pitting the show against Christmastime, family-time, Christmas programming (which is a big thing in the UK), and basically everything related to the big holiday. But in what probably won't come as a surprise to those who have been watching the show, it has dominated the conversations over the festive season.
Season 5 volume 2 premiered on Christmas night (and Boxing Day in many international regions) and it very quickly sent fans into a meltdown with its emotional moments, jaw-dropping plot developments, and the stunning long-awaited Will Byers moment. It also set the stage for the final ever episode of the show, as the series finale (season 5 episode 8) will premiere on New Year's Eve (and New Year's Day in many other regions).
Needless to say, fans have been asking for a trailer for the finale... and they got it... for all of five minutes.
Stranger Things season 5 episode 8 trailer briefly surfaces before complete removal
The first teaser trailer for the Stranger Things season 5 episode 8 briefly surfaced on social media on December 27, very quickly making its way all across the internet. The short clip teased the upcoming finale, titled "The Rightside Up", and it appeared to originate from Netflix Spain itself, as according to screenshots (and recounts from fans who watched it), it featured the platform's official logo in the corner - as well as "Stranger Things: Temporada 5" in the other corner.
the took down the finale trailer… oh it’s getting messyyyyy
— llᴉʍɅɐllᴉuɐʌ | st5 spoilers (@andaegu) December 28, 2025
According to fans, the teaser was also in Spanish, featuring a brief round-up of clips as the crew venture into the Upside Down and see some truly frightening sights. We won't break it down here as Netflix has obviously decided to withhold the trailer for a little longer (although it will probably be officially released within the next few days), but we will say that it is refreshing to see that so much of it will actually take place in the Upside Down.
The final season has seen Vecna establish The Abyss as his new base of operations and with fans predicting that this might be where the final battle takes place, there was concern that the dimension that has been a part of Stranger Things since the beginning might not get much of a look-in before it all ends.
The emotional clip has left fans on edge and worried about their favorites, particularly as some of them don't actually appear in it. Does that mean they will meet their end when they come face-to-face with Vecna (and potentially The Mind Flayer) one more time? Or is this simply a diversion to throw us off the scent and surprise us in all the right ways come the finale? It is after all just a short teaser of a two-hour finale!
We'll have to wait and see, but the plot has certainly thickened... and this is before the finale itself has even aired!
The Stranger Things series finale arrives on Netflix on December 31, 2026.