Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 ending explained: What actually IS the Upside Down?

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Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Stranger Things season 5 volume 2.

With the release of the final part of Stranger Things season 5, it’s clear Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is becoming more powerful, putting our heroes in greater danger than ever. And after everything they’ve been through, the Wheeler family truly deserves some happiness.

The latest episodes – 5, 6, and 7 – of the popular Netflix sci-fi series are now available. With only one episode remaining, the creators, the Duffer Brothers, have revealed answers to many questions and set the stage for the final showdown in Hawkins.

The latest episodes bring Max (Sadie Sink) back after she escapes Vecna’s mental prison. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) face a near-death experience in the Upside Down, while Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) unexpectedly discovers the true nature of the Upside Down – something fans have wondered about for years. Will (Noah Schnapp) also gets a crucial spotlight moment, and Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono) once again proves to be a hero.

Each character is important to the story going forward, but before the final episodes arrive, here’s a recap of everything that happened in the second part of season 5.

Stranger Things season 5 volume 2 ending explained: What actually IS the Upside Down?

Here’s the deal, thanks to Dustin: The Upside Down is like a shaky connection between our world and another, called the Abyss. It’s basically a tear in space and time, held together by some strange, powerful stuff, that links Hawkins to this alternate dimension.

Dustin believes all the monsters and dangers they’ve encountered in the Upside Down – like the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer – actually come from a place he calls the Abyss.

Okay, so remember when Eleven sent Henry – who we now know as Vecna – away? Well, Dr. Brenner messed things up by making her connect with him again in that creepy sensory deprivation tank. That connection created a pathway, and Vecna’s been using it ever since to sneak back into Hawkins with his… helpers. It’s a major problem, and honestly, a pretty terrifying one.

I’ve been thinking about everything, and it’s become clear that the Upside Down isn’t a separate dimension like we thought. It’s something far more dangerous, a sort of…void. That means simply closing the gate isn’t enough. We need to completely obliterate the source of it all, the Abyss, if we really want to solve this.

What’s Vecna’s plan and why does he need the kids?

Vecna wants to merge the Abyss and Hawkins, but he needs the children to amplify his abilities.

He plans to use the twelve children he’s taken hostage – including Holly and Derek – to boost his abilities. He thinks they’re vulnerable and easily manipulated, making them perfect as conduits for his power.

While he was gone, Vecna was creating tears in reality and intentionally destabilizing the Abyss, similar to what he did to Hawkins. His plan is for these two dimensions to merge into a single one.

As Mike explains, their plan to defeat Vecna has become much more difficult. The group now needs to reach an altitude of 2,000 feet, enter the Abyss, rescue Holly and the kids, and then finally defeat Vecna.

Oh, and Dustin’s little addition – set off a bomb in the Abyss to destroy it forever. Easy!

How did Max escape and what happened to Holly?

Max managed to break free from Vecna’s mental prison by confronting his most painful childhood memory. Her connection to Lucas in the real world helped her fight her way back.

As Vecna pursues them, Will briefly takes control of his own body, creating a distraction and urging Max and Holly to escape.

Despite their efforts, Holly couldn’t break free from Vecna’s control and was pulled back into his mental prison. Vecna then tricked the other children into thinking Max was dangerous.

When Max and Holly explored Henry’s most painful memory – a cave from his childhood – they witnessed a young Henry unexpectedly find a scientist. The scientist, holding a briefcase, seemed convinced Henry was there to harm him.

Things got really intense when the scientist shot Henry in the hand! Henry, desperate to defend himself, grabbed a rock and fought back, tragically ending the scientist’s life. Meanwhile, Max was trying to get Holly to safety, but their little sister actually saw Henry open the briefcase. We don’t know what was inside yet, but that moment felt huge – I’m really curious to find out what he found!

Max and Holly escape the cave, discovering the exit around a corner. Max spots Lucas waiting on the other side, but encourages Holly to find her own way. He reminds her of her strength, and helps her focus by having her touch her ‘Holly the Heroic’ pendant, which connects her to the outside world. With renewed confidence, Holly successfully finds her way out as well.

Max thinks Holly might end up in the Upside Down and assures her he’ll search for her there, specifically at the Upside Down’s version of the Wheeler house. They then part ways.

Dustin figures out that Holly isn’t trapped in the Upside Down, but in a much deeper, darker place called the Abyss. When she wakes up, she and the other children are tangled in vines – similar to what happened to Will. She manages to break free and tries to escape, but Vecna is right behind her.

Holly unexpectedly stumbled and discovered a glowing patch of ground – a gateway to the Upside Down. Bravely, she stepped through and plunged thousands of feet into the dark world below. Nancy, having just barely escaped danger after firing at the strange material there, heard Holly’s cries and rushed to help. But she arrived just in time to see her sister suspended in mid-air, being dragged back into the terrifying depths by Vecna.

Vecna pulls Holly back into his mental world, tricking the other children into believing Max is a monster who’s been controlling Holly. Despite her efforts to break free, Holly can’t escape, and the episode culminates with Henry putting the children under his spell and beginning the last stage of his plan.

What was in the briefcase in Henry’s memory?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Throughout the series, there have been hints about Henry’s past, but the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow shows he spent his childhood near caves in Nevada. While exploring these caves, he encountered a scientist and discovered technology that allowed him to travel to Dimension X.

It was during this time that he first met the Mind Flayer, an encounter that changed him forever and ultimately made him the villain we despise.

No doubt, the cave is going to play more of a role in the finale episode.

What’s going on with Eleven and Kali?

In the second volume, Kali shares her terrifying experiences in Dr. Kay’s lab before being saved by Eleven and Hopper. She remembers seeing many pregnant women who Dr. Kay used in an effort to revive Brenner’s research, injecting them with Kali’s blood.

This realization hits Eleven: Kay will relentlessly pursue her and Kali, and they’ll never truly be safe. Mike tries to reassure Eleven they can either defeat Kay or run far away, but Kali argues that Kay will track them down, harm everyone Eleven cares about, and use her blood to create more suffering – more children and even entire worlds plagued by the same fate.

At the end of episode 7, Kali proposes a drastic solution to break the cycle of violence: a suicide pact with Eleven. Her idea is that once they succeed in defeating Vecna and destroying the Upside Down, they should remain on the bridge and disappear along with it.

Eleven faces a crucial decision, and her choice will have lasting, world-altering consequences.

Stranger Things season 5’s finale will be released on New Year’s Day.

Don’t miss out on Stranger Things! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and the latest features.

Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro, and she holds a degree in English Literature.

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2025-12-26 08:36