As hard as it might be to believe, Stranger Things is back. The global phenomenon has finally returned to us in order to kick off its fifth and final season - a season that has been, quite literally, three years in the making. And it goes without saying that fans are ready for everything that it has to offer.
The beloved show first premiered on-screens back in 2016 when Netflix's little-show-that-could became a sleeper hit, turning into a juggernaut overnight and launching the careers of Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, and the vast majority of its cast (while also giving veterans like Winona Ryder a real showcase of their talents). It's wild to think that it's been a decade, but here we are: The beginning of the end of Stranger Things.
If you would like to know how to watch it, here's what you need to know.
How to watch Stranger Things season 5 episodes 1 - 4 online
Stranger Things is a Netflix Original series and therefore it is exclusive to that platform itself. You won't find it on any other streaming service or platform. With that in mind, you can only watch season 5 online by visiting Netflix itself and obtaining a subscription.
Here is all of the information you need to know, both about when it arrives on the platform and how to subscribe to Netflix, including all of the available plans.
Date: Wednesday, November 26
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
Season: 5
Episodes: 1-4
Live stream: Netflix
Netflix currently has a range of subscriptions available to people, with three plans that range between $7.99 to $24.99 per month. Those three subscription plans are Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium. Let's break down what each one of them entail.
Standard with ads - $7.99 per month (£5.99 for UK viewers)
Essentially the same as Netflix's standard plan, this one includes the addition of ad breaks throughout each episode. That said, subscribers still get access to the vast majority of the streamer's library of movies and TV shows (with occasional exceptions here and there), which they can watch or download whenever they like. This plan includes support for two devices, which consists of a smart TV, laptop, smartphone, tablet or a streaming device.
Standard - $17.99 per month (£12.99 for UK viewers)
Generally the same as the plan above with the exception that there are no ads this time around. It also supports two devices at a time, including all of the aforementioned ones.
Premium - $24.99 per month (£18.99 for UK viewers)
For the best viewing experience and best quality, Netflix's Premium plan offers unlimited ad-free experience with the option of watching the streaming service's library on four devices (with the ability to download content across six devices). It also allows you to watch the streamer's shows and movies in 4K Ultra HD, making it look better than ever.
As reported by The Express, Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription alongside its Black Friday deals, so if you happen to live in the UK and are already a Sky subscriber, you might be able to tune into Stranger Things too with this deal.
Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 marks the beginning of the end of this story
With the premiere of Stranger Things season 5's first four episodes, the beginning of the end of the Upside Down's story is upon us. This haunting tale first made its presence felt on Netflix when the first season premiered back in summer 2016. The show became a sleeper hit and ended up taking the world by storm, making a second season not just inevitable - but necessary!
Nearly ten years on and Stranger Things remains one of the biggest TV shows of all time. And with that, there is a sense of sadness about the fact that the series' final chapter has already commenced. After all, fans have fallen head over heels for this show over the years. Even with the multiple delays it has faced in the second half of the decade, its devoted fanbase never faltered.
The first four episodes of season 5 will pick up sometime after the previous season left off, showcasing what our favorite characters have been up to since Venca's Curse shook Hawkins to its core - literally! - tearing a fissure straight through it. Now, they hope to end his hellish schemes once and for all, with Eleven more determined to stop him than ever. But considering he has a fancy new look that appears to consist of vine-like body armor, that will undoubtedly be easier said than done. No more Sarah Connor-esque gunshots from Nancy, it seems!
Speaking of Sarah Connor, this season will also see the addition of Terminator legend Linda Hamilton, who portrays the mysterious Dr. Kay. Although much of the character's motivations remain unclear at this point, something tells us she won't be there to play a heroic role. From the looks of the trailer, she is associated with the military, and in this show the military hasn't been particularly friendly to the Stranger Things squad.
But Eleven and her allies have plenty of friends as it is, with their extended family now including the likes of Steve Harrington, Joyce Byers, Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Murray Bauman, and of course, Jim Hopper. Whoever dares to go up against them simply doesn't stand a chance.
Stranger Things season 5 is streaming on Netflix now!