Within minutes of its return, Stranger Things had reeled in countless fans all over the world with its alluring presence and edge-of-seat drama. The show has been off screens for three years, so to say that the premiere of its fifth and final season was a moment fans couldn't wait to experience would be quite a major understatement.
The fans came out in force, flooding social media with their commentary on the shocking developments that take place within the first four episodes. It's the shortest drop of episodes from Stranger Things yet, and there's a good reason for that. Frustrating? Yes, but good nonetheless - with the best part being that there are more episodes on the way. And with that, here's what you need to know.
Stranger Things season 5 has eight episodes in total (and its split into three acts)
If you have completed the four episodes of Stranger Things season 5 released thus far and are somewhat frustrated by the short episode count, don't worry: You're not alone! Netflix has decided to split the season up into separate parts - or Volumes - meaning that there are more episodes on the way. That's right, the season consists of eight episodes in total, so you still have four more left to go!
With that in mind, here are all of the episodes, along with their premiere dates, just so you can keep track of the season and when to watch the next episodes too!
Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 - four episodes
The first four episodes of Stranger Things season 5 premiered on Netflix on November 26 at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET. It marked the first time that the series had released new episodes during primetime in the US and, as a result, led to a multitude of different release times across the world.
As we mentioned above, Volume 1 consisted of four episodes. Here are the names of the episodes:
- Episode 1 - Chapter One: The Crawl
- Episode 2 - Chapter Two: The Vanishing Of...
- Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap
- Episode 4 - Chapter Four: Sorcerer
Stranger Things 5, Volume 2 - three episodes
Stranger Things season 5 part 2 will be released on December 25 at the same time as its predecessor, with episodes releasing at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET. Yes, that's Christmas Day, which means we're going to go back to Hawkins and the Upside Down right at the heart of the festive season.
Volume 2 will consist of three episodes, with the titles being:
- Episode 5 - Chapter Five: Shock Jock
- Episode 6 - Chapter Six: Escape From Camazotz
- Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Bridge
Stranger Things 5: The Finale
That brings us to the final ever episode of Stranger Things, which arrives on Netflix on December 31. It's so big that it will be released on its own, along with a one-night-only theatrical release for fans in the US, and it too will premiere at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET.
We've spent years watching the adventures of Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Nancy, Max, Jonathan, Steve, Robin, Joyce, Hopper and of course Eleven in the Upside Down, but it looks like the real world will be the battlefield for the series finale. Why? Oh, just the title:
- Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up
Eight cinematic episodes stand between Stranger Things fans and the end of the beloved show. If you're one of the most devoted of those fans, you've likely already watched half of them. Now, you get to spend your Christmas and New Year's Eve watching the other four. What a great way to end the year!