‘Stranger Things 5’: First Look at Final Season
Netflix released the opening five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5, generating excitement and controversy before the show’s concluding chapter. Contrary to fan expectations, the season begins not where the previous left off, but on November 12, 1983, six days after Will Byers disappeared, taking viewers back to the eerie Hawkins Library in the Upside Down.
The new season is set 18 months after Season 4 but uses this opening to connect emotionally and narratively to events from Season 1, when Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) first found Will (Noah Schnapp).
Controversy Amid Press Tour
The series’ press tour has faced challenges following allegations against David Harbour. A viral report by The Daily Mail claimed that Millie Bobby Brown accused Harbour of bullying on set.
According to the report, Brown, 21, filed a harassment complaint before filming began, leading Netflix to investigate "for months."
The report clarifies no sexual misconduct was mentioned and that Brown was accompanied by a personal representative throughout the production, which concluded in December. Netflix and the representatives for both Brown and Harbour have yet to issue official statements.
Summary
The early release of Stranger Things 5 sets a reflective tone for the final season while off-screen controversies add tension to the show’s conclusion.