The fifth and final season of Stranger Things has been a long time coming. The veteran fan-favorite show is one of the last of a guard of television that truly felt like water-cooler TV - and the release of its fourth season in 2022 was the perfect indicator that it has maintained that reputation in this digital and streaming age. When new episodes of this show come out, the people are watching!
That's certainly the case with season 5 too as fans are ready to see how it all ends for one of the most pivotal shows of the past decade. The first release on Netflix isn't going to have those answers - as it has released the first four episodes (known as Volume 1) first - but it will set the stage for the grand finale. And again, considering that it has been three years since audiences have had new episodes of their beloved show to enjoy, they will undoubtedly be consuming them very, very quickly.
If you are about to do that, you will understandably want to know whether the fifth season has any post-credits scenes. We can thank Marvel Studios for that trend, but it's one that TV shows and movies continue to employ in today's day and age. The answer: It's complicated.
Stranger Things season 5 episode 4 has a pre-credits scene
In what is starting to become something of a new trend these days, Stranger Things season 5 part 1 doesn't have an after credits scene as it has a pre-credits scene instead. What do we mean by that? Well, there is a moment in the midseason finale (episode 4) in which the show cuts to black. It looks like the credits might roll immediately after that, but they don't. Instead, the show returns to our screens with another scene - one that is extremely important for season 5 part 2 (episode 5 onwards). And with that, it's important that you don't miss it.
Pre-credits scene are a unique way of ensuring audiences stick around for a tease of things to come without forcing them to remain for the entirety of the credits. It's like having the post-credits tag but showing it early instead. In today's day and age of everyone holding scenes until the very end of the credits, it's a refreshing new spin - one that we also saw recently in Predator: Badlands.
If you'd like us to explain, read on - but be warned: There are SPOILERS ahead!
After Vecna leaves a frightened Will Byers behind, he turns and exits our dimension back to the Upside Down, giving his Demogorgons the go-ahead to kill all of Will's friends. In that moment, Will looks ahead to the screen, implying he might do something as the screen cuts to black. It looks as if we have reached the end of the episode and that the credits might roll. But they don't.
Instead, the episode continues with a brand new scene - one that features a beautiful montage of a young Will Byers years before he was taken by the Demogorgon. He's playing with his best friend, Mike Wheeler, he's building Castle Byers, and he's sharing sweet moments with Joyce and Jonathan. Over the sequence, we hear Robin's beautiful words from earlier in the season about finding her true self, accepting her true self, loving her true self - right as we see Will's true self. And with those words comes self-acceptance.
We cut back to where we left off and Will has now prevented the Demogorgon from attacking Mike; not through any kind of brute force, but with his mind. He feels the others aim for Lucas and Robin and he is able to telepathically stop them too, raising them all into the sky and breaking the bones in their bodies. And with that, Will has now developed powers - perhaps powers that are stronger than Eleven's, perhaps even as strong as Vecna's.
When the dust settles and Will's super-charged eyes return to normal, then - and only then - do we cut to the credits. No need for a post-credits scene after that one.
Unfortunately, there is no post-credits teaser trailer either
Fans were hoping that a trailer for Stranger Things season 5 Volume 2 might be awaiting them at the end of the credits too, but that is sadly not the case. Whenever you watch season 5 episode 4 - along with its pre-credits scene - the episode simply cuts to black and the credits begin. As with all Netflix shows, the credits are quite long. But at the end of them, there is no trailer.
While that is undoubtedly sad for audiences hoping for a teaser of more to come from Part 2, the trailer will come down the line. And if we're being honest, it will be sooner rather than later. After all, Part 2 currently has a release date of Christmas Day so that's just under a month away. You can rest assured that Netflix won't waste much time in reminding fans that more episodes await them in the not-too-distant future.
And honestly, after that midseason finale, we need some time to let our brains fully comprehend what we just saw. It was something else, that's for sure!
Stranger Things season 5 part 1 is now streaming on Netflix.