Highlights
- Fans anxiously await Stranger Things season 5, with debate on whether it should be released in two parts to build excitement.
- Releasing episodes weekly might enhance the viewing experience by allowing fans to savor each episode and discuss it, like old event television.
- The decision to split Stranger Things season 4 into two parts was due to the amount of character development needed for a satisfying storyline.
While it might feel like the wait for Stranger Things season 5 is neverending, the final season is coming to Netflix in 2025, and fans are definitely going to be ready. Since even the Stranger Things season 4 poster was amazing, it was clear that the nine episodes would be, too. Viewers weren't disappointed and were treated to nine episodes full of villains like the creepy and horrifying Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and heartwarming stories featuring Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour), along with the other fan-favorite characters. The season also stands out because Stranger Things season 4 was released in two parts.
Fans are naturally curious about the release schedule for Stranger Things season 5 and there is a debate about whether Stranger Things season 5 should be released all at once or in two sections.
Stranger Things Season 5 Will Make A Season 4 Problem Even Worse
When season 5 of the popular Netflix series Stranger Things returns, there's an issue that has to be fixed.
Do Fans Want Stranger Things Season 5 To Be Told In Two Parts?
Some Stranger Things fans think that releasing Stranger Things season 5 in two parts will create excitement. Redditor @Scottpilgrim5 started a thread on Reddit and wrote:
"I personally loved the decision to release Season 4 in two parts although it was due to technical reasons. It kept the hype up for a long time."
If Stranger Things season 5 has a '90s setting, then telling the story in two parts would be another interesting storytelling choice. Fans would get the chance to think about the first part of season 5 and make predictions for the last half and the series finale based on what happened. But it's also hard not to wish that all the episodes could come out at once since it's already been a long wait since the Stranger Things season 4 finale.
Other fans think that Stranger Things season 5's episodes should be released once weekly. Many feel that while binge-watching TV has become the typical model since the popularity of streaming, they like looking forward to each new episode and having time to digest and discuss it. This is a great point and it would definitely make the last season even more enjoyable. One Redditor wrote:
"Not sure if it would be a good choice. The weekly release might be the best option. Also, the volume thing didn't do anything good for S4 either. Not only the audience had to wait for almost a month but also it was bad for the Emmy nominations."
Since fans wonder if the last episode will be as good as anticipated, a weekly schedule would make the final season feel like the old days of event television. Redditor @ipanemma thinks that putting out weekly episodes would be the best choice for Stranger Things season 5. The fan wrote:
"It makes watching something as a collective so much more fun. I miss looking forward to an episode instead of feeling the urge to binge through them all at once. The Last of Us and Better Call Saul’ s weekly release schedule kept up the hype for so long and reminded me that mass release isn’t as fun anymore."
As long as there are enough answers in each episode of Stranger Things season 5, especially since fans are wondering if Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) will survive, then a weekly release schedule would definitely make sense. But if that doesn't happen, it seems that the next best thing would be to release Stranger Things season 5 all in one go. If the Duffer Brothers want to create some anticipation for the series finale, then the Stranger Things season 5 finale could be released a little while after the other episodes. This would be a good compromise.
Why Was Stranger Things Season 4 Divided Into Two Parts?
Stranger Things season 4 was divided into two parts because it was so long. Before the well-done Stranger Things season 4 finale, fans watched eight supersized episodes and had to wait a few months in between, which was definitely tough given all the big questions and cliffhangers.
In February 2022, Variety reported that fans could expect to see half of the episodes in May 2022 and the other half in July 2022. The Duffer Brothers wrote, “Given the unprecedented length, and to get it to you as soon as possible, Season 4 will be released in two volumes."
In an interview with Netflix.com/tudum, the Duffer Brothers shared that they had to make Stranger Things season 4 so long because they had so much character development to get across. Matt Duffer said:
"in order to get across the story that we wanted to but also not lose sight of the characters, to give each character their moment [and] each character relationship the kind of emotional depth it wanted or craved, we just needed the length.”
The Duffer Brothers added that the episodes are so long and “It’s basically two seasons. It’s almost two seasons’ worth of material." Just like fans are discussing a Stranger Things season 5 time jump, they wonder how the episodes are going to be released. As long as the series finale is as good as fans anticipate, any release schedule will work.
Stranger Things Season 5: What Do Jamie Campbell Bower's Comments Reveal About The Final Episodes?
Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays the scary villain Vecna, talked about Stranger Things season 5 in a great interview.
