Spoiler Alert / Mature Content: This review may include plot details and adult themes. Reader discretion is advised. This site discusses horror films (and horror television), which may not be suitable for all ages.

The wait between seasons of Stranger Things has always bordered on unreasonable, and yet every time a new season dropped, the time we spent looking forward to the new season ended up being worth it. The Duffer Brothers have never delivered a season that didn’t push the story forward or hit the right emotional beats. Since season one, Stranger Things has been my favorite show. I’ve loved the writing and imagery, the story and the horror elements, and the nods which were sometimes subtle and sometimes not, to the work of Stephen King. After watching Volume 1, nothing about that has changed.

The first four episodes of the fifth and final season truly have a little bit of everything. The story picks up several months after the events of season four, and we waste no time getting back into things. We reconnect with the characters we’ve grown to love, and they’re given moments to make us laugh, moments that showcase how much they’ve grown, and moments of actual, effective horror. Some scenes in this first volume are honestly the scariest that the series has ever put on screen. Everyone shines (it is the end, after all), and everyone gets their cake.

The first episode ( The Crawl ) is a bit exposition-heavy. This isn’t really a criticism—there was simply a lot the show needed to explain. From Robin’s (Maya Hawke) opening radio broadcast filling us in on what’s happened since the end of season four (a brilliant scene, and Hawke’s performance throughout is incredible) to Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) rallying cry at the picnic table, there’s plenty of necessary setup. I’ve seen people call this a flaw; I think it was required to move forward with context.

Speaking of Mike, Wolfhard is turning in one of his best performances, and it’s refreshing to see his character doing something other than chasing after Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). So far this season, Mike has been responsible for most of the group’s planning, stepping back into the role he filled in the first two seasons: hype-man and key strategist. The Dungeon Master is in charge of the campaign, and it’s nice to see him fulfilling that again.

Each of the characters has grown alongside their actors, and at this point they could probably play them in their sleep. Still, a few deserve special mention. Hopper (David Harbour) is a man on a mission who only wants to protect his adopted daughter. His performance is powerful, and as a father I can understand his choices. Millie Bobby Brown continues to shine as Eleven, and seeing her and Hopper bickering again was surprisingly fun and something we didn’t see much of in seasons three or four. It was truly a wise dynamic to return to for the end.

And lastly, though every cast member deserves praise, I want to highlight Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). His character has gone through so much since season one: from bullies to watching the first person who truly believed in him die in his arms (long live Eddie, the rock king). Matarazzo has been channeling his best Eddie energy while trying to stay true to Hellfire Club values, all while wrestling with new bullies and old grief. But he isn’t helpless anymore; the confidence he gained in season four has stayed with him. Dustin is a fighter.

Everything up to this point has led to what’s happening now. We learn that since season one, Vecna’s entire goal in taking Will was to remake everything in his own image. He wasn’t kidnapping kids just to kill them (well, not all of them), but to turn them into something he could control through the hive mind in order to take over the world, starting with Hawkins. By the end of Volume 1, episode four, we see just how powerful he truly is. He feels almost unstoppable. The scene of him fighting the military is basically him showing off: an obscene display of power. Then comes the biggest revelation in the series so far (and something I called back in season one). Spoilers ahead.

We finally learn why Vecna is taking children. In episode four, the group hatches a plan to stop him from taking more, but it fails spectacularly. Demogorgons show up in force and tear through the soldiers as Vecna walks through a wall and finishes the rest. After monologuing at Will, he saunters off, leaving his “dogs” to obliterate the group. With Mike, Lucas, and Robin about to be eaten, Will remembers Robin’s words about how if he accepts who he truly is, he can fly. Suddenly the Demogorgons freeze, held in place by Will, now in control of the hive mind. He kills them with ease and steps fully into his role in the final battle. It’s an incredible moment.

I’ve said since season one that Will’s connection would be crucial to how everything ends. While I knew this was coming, I also hoped Noah Schnapp would finally step up after often feeling like the weakest link in the cast. If I have one major gripe so far, it’s that his performance is fine, but next to everyone else’s work, he can seem wooden. However, the good news is that now that he’s in a hero role, he may finally break out of that. The scene above was the first time that I truly felt he showed real acting chops.

Volume 1 ends on a surprisingly hopeful note. The team is coming together, and although many of them are battered, separated in the Upside Down, or terrified, the Duffers seem to be setting us up for an exciting and ultimately satisfying conclusion.

I felt that the first four seasons of this show were so perfect that I would have accepted any ending, good or bad. I don’t feel that way anymore. Now I can see how much care everyone has put into the finale. With that in mind, I’m expecting something genuinely special. This might just be a great way to set myself up for heartbreak at the start of the new year, but honestly, I don’t see that happening. The Duffer Brothers have crafted a remarkable five-season story, and phoning it in now would be ridiculous. We may not get the ending we want, but I’m confident we’ll get the ending the series deserves.

The first four episodes were amazing. It felt like a slow start until you consider how much they actually accomplished in those four and a half hours. So much story has already unfolded. So many questions have been answered, even as new ones emerge. Who exactly is Dr. K (Linda Hamilton, who is fantastic), and what does she want with Eleven? Why does she have a base in the Upside Down? Can the kids get out of this alive? I doubt it, but I hope. Eleven found her sister. How will she factor into all of this? There are so many new questions, but plenty of time for answers.

Volume 1 of the fifth season of Stranger Things is about as close to a perfect half-season of television as you can get. The writing is thoughtful and sharp. The cinematography is consistently gorgeous. The music is excellent, with several important needle-drops. The acting from the kids, adults, and almost-adults alike is fantastic. Plus the story is emotionally rich and engaging. I have many theories about what’s coming next (I’m usually right), but I’ll keep them to myself. What I do know is that no matter what happens, I’ll be along for the ride, and I’ll enjoy it. I’ll probably be wrecked more than once before it’s all over, but that’s a price I’ll happily pay for a good story.

This was a home run.