Stranger Things: The Final Season
Stranger Things: Season 5 (2025)
The much-anticipated Stranger Things returned with a fifth and final season, after a long, long break from Season 4. It’s been so long since Season 4 (three years ago), I actually forgotten what happened and the beginning of Season 5 with DJ Rocking Robin (Maya Hawke) catches us up with the current state of Hawkins, Indiana.
The weird planning about Season 5, is that Netflix is not dropping all the episodes at once. Right now, we only got the first four episodes (each episode is about 1 hour each), so it’s just as you thought: this only sets up the final season. They’re introducing some new characters, like Dr Kay and her military goon squad, and we’re missing some characters from last season.
Like Season 4, the kids from the first season have really all grown up (well past elementary school at least!) Season 5, my god, everyone is in their mid-20s, some already hitting 30. I laughed so hard when Winona Ryder said, “my 11 year old boy”, when the kid is maybe 11 years too late. I don’t really know the timeline, but to me, the kids are growing up faster than the Duffer Brothers can produce their television show.
If you watched the first four episodes of Season 5, it’s setting up supernatural powers for one of the characters, and a return of someone in Season 2 (or 3?)… so Eleven is not the only character with powers now. I don’t really like this, because you might as well give everyone super powers if you’re going down this path. But it makes sense because the villain from Season 4, Vecna is all-powerful, so I’m not even sure how they can defeat him without other super powered characters.
Like I said, the first four episodes is just the setup. The next four episodes (set to drop on Christmas Day) is the second act of the season. The finale will be in theaters and on the small screen on December 31st. They’re going to make people wait a week before the final episode.
I’m trying to brace myself for disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, I want it to be good. I want a satisfying ending… but as with Lost, Battlestar Galactica (2009), Game of Thrones, and Dexter (both of them!), it’s hard to stick the landing.
Many of the young actors on Stranger Things will go on with acting or as musicians. I’ve compiled a list:
The Crux by Djo (2025)
When not acting Joe Keery, aka Djo, is in the psychedelic rock band Post Animal. After leaving the band in 2018, due to acting commitments. Nowadays, he invites his former band to open for him whenever he decides to headline his own tour (selling out all his appearances!)
Djo at Palace Theatre (Apr 26, 2025)
We caught Djo in Apr 2025 and wrote, “Djo left Post Animal on amicable terms for his side gig demanded more of his time. He also took his musical career in a solo direction, already supporting his third solo album, The Crux. Djo took the stage with a full band, some of the members like Toledo and Reyes had played the set before. He also played the role as band member instead of a rock star by covering up his famous hair and filling the first few songs with strobe lights to give the concert photographers a challenge. All was fun as his vibe was laid-back and West coast cool, at times speaking into the mic with songs like “Basic Being Basic” and “Delete Ya”. Everyone in the crowd knew all the lines and sang along to them as well as “Charlie’s Garden” and “Lonesome Is a State of Mind.””
Chaos Angel by Maya Hawke (2024)
The daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, naturally led Hawke to becoming a model and actor…. But it’s clear that music is her passion.
She’s released three albums, with the latest Chaos Angel released in May 2024. She’s into folky music and influenced by Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, and Joni Mitchell.
Perhaps Maya will focus more on music, so we can see her on tour more often. She previously opened for Bright Eyes on May 11, 2023 and headlined (and sold out) Fine Line on March 19, 2023… but had to cancel her March 2025 at the Palace Theatre, probably due to filming.
Happy Birthday by Finn Wolfhard (2025)
The most rock-star name of them all, Finn Wolfhard recently released his debut solo album Happy Birthday in June 2025 on AWAL Records.
Wolfhard (who plays Mike Wheeler on Stranger Things) is no stranger to music, he was previously the lead singer and guitarist for Calpurnia… and moved onto being half of the duo The Aubreys. Personally speaking, the name ‘Wolfhard’ is so freaking cool, he should just bill under that name.
Brief Notes
Prior to his film career, Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers on Stranger Things) played in several London-based bands. Last year, he’s spotted as the drummer to the garage punk band Luxury Apartments on the song “Room Next Door”, from their self-titled album.
Prior to his film career, Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers on Stranger Things) played in several London-based bands. Last year, he’s spotted as the drummer to the garage punk band Luxury Apartments on the song “Room Next Door”, from their self-titled album.
English actor and singer Jamie Campbell Bower (who plays the Stranger Things’ villain Vecna) was previously the frontman for Counterfeit., before leaving the band due to his acting commitment. Whenever he has time, he’ll release music under his own name as a solo artist or as BloodMagic (with Kyle Adams).
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