As Stranger Things Season 5 Premieres, The Original Cast Of Kids Opened Up About ‘Good Chemistry,’ The ‘Slow Burn,’ And More

by

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is now available on Netflix! Volume 1, consisting of four episodes, has been released. Picking up after the events of Season 4 – which left Hawkins in ruins and the characters reeling from a major loss, with Max in a coma – the new season jumps forward 18 months.

If you haven’t finished all four episodes, don’t worry – this won’t spoil anything! The original child actors talked about what happens next, sharing some fond memories of the early seasons. Though they haven’t filmed many scenes together recently, they were the show’s core group from the beginning.

(Quotes from pre-Season 5 press conferences with the cast are edited for clarity.)

Gaten Matarazzo Hypes The Stranger Things Slow Burn

Gaten Matarazzo rose to fame playing Dustin in “Stranger Things,” quickly becoming a fan favorite for his comedic timing when the show debuted in 2016. However, the upcoming fifth season may be much different for his character. With the loss of Eddie (played by Joe Quinn, who won’t be returning) and the continued chaos in Hawkins following Vecna’s attack, Matarazzo anticipates fewer lighthearted moments. He shared this during a recent press event with the rest of the young cast, stating:

There’s usually a feeling of hope at the end of a season, especially when the team has won a lot of games. A bit of uncertainty and potential for growth remains, allowing them to build momentum slowly into the next season. However, the last season ended with a clear loss, and the team is now starting fresh without an immediate advantage.

Looking back, that joyful Snow Ball scene from the end of Stranger Things Season 2 feels like ages ago. It’s amazing to think the groundwork for Vecna actually started way back in Season 3 – even though we didn’t fully see him until Season 4. It was all about building that slow burn, especially after Eleven inadvertently gave him a power boost. As Gaten Matarazzo pointed out…

It’s definitely intimidating to be starting over completely. But what’s great is that, like in past seasons of Stranger Things, we’re tackling this new challenge with the same energy, passion, and determination as always. That’s a good foundation to build from, even though it’s tough to watch the characters face difficulties.

The new trailer for Stranger Things features the whole cast, but it’s easy to remember these characters are still teenagers who’ve been dealing with supernatural dangers since they were kids. Many fans will probably find it tough to watch them face these ongoing challenges.

Finn Wolfhard Gets To Play A Leader Again

In the first season of the show, Finn Wolfhard played Mike Wheeler, who was the natural leader of the group of kids. They uncovered many secrets about the Upside Down long before the adults even realized anything was happening. (And it was also clear Mike had a crush on Eleven, the young girl with telekinetic powers that he was secretly hiding.) When asked about stepping back into his leadership role, the actor, known for his role in IT, explained:

It was great revisiting that role and playing the character again after all these years, especially getting to explore his childhood. What’s really neat about the show is watching the characters grow and change, just like real people do as they get older. Since they started so young, we get to see them go through all the different stages of life.

Finn Wolfhard has described the upcoming finale of Stranger Things as potentially having “one of the greatest last episodes of any show.” However, viewers won’t be able to judge for themselves until New Year’s Eve in 2025. He shared this during a recent press conference and continued speaking about the show.

Ultimately, we always return to what we fundamentally believe is right. There are many paths you can take and experiences you can have, but it always comes down to what truly matters. I think Season 5 was a great way to revisit those core beliefs that Mike holds so strongly.

As the season continues with two more releases, viewers might start thinking about the bigger questions and what really matters in the story. After the first four episodes, fans will likely be pondering details about the final battle and hoping their favorite characters make it through.

Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas Blames Himself

In the fourth season finale of Stranger Things, Caleb McLaughlin delivered a particularly moving performance as Lucas desperately tried to save Max. He described the scene as deeply traumatic for his character, explaining that Lucas felt responsible for what happened. McLaughlin has hinted that these feelings will continue to affect Lucas in Season 5.

He was supposed to protect her, but he wasn’t able to, and now he’s facing the consequences with quiet strength. He’s learned from his experiences and is prepared to move forward, accepting what happened without dwelling on the past or making excuses. He’s leaning on his friends and the lessons he’s learned to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

Let’s hope this support helps Max recover, likely with Eleven’s assistance. It will be fascinating to see how his calm approach to dealing with Max’s situation differs from Dustin’s struggle after Eddie’s death.

Millie Bobby Brown Sees The Group As “Outcasts”

Eleven wasn’t initially included when the group first started playing Dungeons & Dragons, but she quickly became a core member by the end of the first season – a point Mike emphasized throughout the second season. The boys protected her (though Lucas was hesitant at first) while she used her abilities to assist them, and she soon became a vital part of the team and a beloved pop culture figure. Millie Bobby Brown discussed the strong connection between the Stranger Things cast, noting that they all, in their own way, felt like outsiders.

What really resonates with the cast – and with us as actors – is the show’s focus on relatable characters. It’s this shared humanity that I think defines the show and makes it so compelling. Audiences connect with these flawed, yet familiar people – they see a bit of themselves in characters like Robin, Eleven, Hopper, or Joyce, and that creates a powerful connection. On set, there’s a real sense of freedom because no one feels the need to be perfect. We can all be completely vulnerable and authentic, and that’s incredibly exciting.

Millie Bobby Brown shared that playing Eleven was incredibly challenging, even to the point of feeling overwhelmed, especially with some of the character’s more intense scenes. She praised the entire cast, specifically highlighting the strong relationships between her character and Robin, Hopper, and Joyce. In Season 2, Eleven and Hopper developed a father-daughter bond, leading to many scenes featuring the two of them. It’s still uncertain if that close dynamic will return in the upcoming fifth season.

Noah Schnapp Thinks Chemistry Is Crucial

Although Will didn’t appear in much of the first season and Noah Schnapp wasn’t a main cast member at first, he was with the rest of the group (except Eleven) at both the start and finish of the season. He’s now a series regular with a significant storyline planned for Season 5, and he has his own perspective on the dynamic between the actors.

Having strong chemistry between the actors is incredibly important, and we really focused on that during casting for the first season. We did a lot of ‘chemistry reads’ to make sure everyone worked well together, and it definitely shows on screen – not just in the scripted lines, but also in the spontaneous moments and improvisation. Because we genuinely like and trust each other, those natural moments really stand out. I’m so thankful we all get along so well; it makes everything much easier and more enjoyable.

While the strong chemistry between the actors likely helped Noah Schnapp, early glimpses of Season 5 suggest Will’s storyline will be incredibly challenging. His struggles will be much deeper than just feeling scared – that five-minute flashback to his past in the Upside Down was particularly disturbing!

You can now stream the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 on Netflix, revealing what’s next for the original group of kids. The next three episodes (Volume 2) will be released on Christmas Day, and the very last episode of the series will premiere on New Year’s Eve.

Read More

2025-11-27 04:11