The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is coming soon, and it looks like the Upside Down will play a major role – even though it doesn’t quite fit with how the last season ended. The new season will be released in three parts, starting November 26th on Netflix. With the battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in Season 4, the stakes are incredibly high. While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends managed to temporarily defeat the villain, a worrying conversation between Will (Noah Schnapp) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) hints that he’ll be back.
In the closing scenes, the barrier between Hawkins, Indiana and the terrifying Upside Down completely breaks down, causing widespread devastation and loss. This dramatic shift at the end of Stranger Things Season 4 will have major repercussions in Season 5. We’ve now learned how the government plans to react, and their approach – while interesting – seems to contradict previous actions.
Stranger Things Season 5 Will Introduce A Quarantine Zone For The Upside Down
A recent report from Time about Stranger Things Season 5 suggests the new episodes will follow a familiar pattern: the characters will be fighting on several fronts at once. They’ll not only have to defeat Vecna, but also contend with a military quarantine. This quarantine is a result of the portal that has opened between the Upside Down and Earth, which, given everything we’ve seen in the series, isn’t entirely surprising.
Throughout the first four seasons of Stranger Things, the military often gets in the way of Eleven and her friends, usually by trying to cover up the existence of the Upside Down. They initially force Eleven to go into hiding and work hard to keep the public from finding out what’s really going on – which, logically, makes sense given the dangerous situation. However, the final moments of Season 4 suggest that containing the Upside Down is no longer possible, undermining the military’s earlier efforts.
Why This Upside Down Reveal Makes No Sense After Season 4’s Ending
The idea that Season 5 of Stranger Things begins with a quarantine makes sense given the military’s involvement in previous seasons. However, it feels inconsistent with how Season 4 ended. The finale showed the Upside Down tearing apart Hawkins, suggesting a massive invasion. We saw the sky darken, ash falling, and plants dying as the alternate dimension spread – and almost all the main characters witnessed this, no matter where they were. This widespread destruction implies a much larger problem than a simple quarantine would address.
Because so many people in Hawkins saw what happened, it seems like the damage is widespread, making a quarantine impossible. The destruction is massive and very visible as it unfolds, and while this could be a way to build anticipation for the final episodes, it also makes you wonder how the military could possibly control it. It’s a little underwhelming, honestly, considering we were expecting an even larger threat throughout the season.
Season 5’s Quarantine Zone Solves One Stranger Things Problem Before It Ends
The quarantine in Stranger Things Season 5 feels a bit odd considering the widespread destruction shown at the end of Season 4, but it addresses a recurring issue with the show. After a fantastic first season, Stranger Things began to broaden its setting, constantly moving the characters—and the audience—away from Hawkins. We even saw Hopper and Joyce travel all the way to Russia, which was a significant departure from the small-town horror that made the show so popular initially.
The creators of Stranger Things recently told The Guardian that Season 5 will be much bigger and bolder than the first season. Because of this, it’s smart to refocus on the original, small-town story that made the show so popular. With only one season left, it wouldn’t be realistic for the characters to save the whole world. Showing the widespread effects of the Upside Down would also take away valuable time from the main storylines that need to be wrapped up.
Although the quarantine storyline seems unexpected after the way Season 4 ended, it might actually be a good choice for the show. It keeps the characters connected to their roots, nicely completes the story, and prevents things from becoming overly complicated.
What are your thoughts on the new Stranger Things story? Share your opinions in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-11-06 20:40