‘Stranger Things’ season five volume one ending explained: who does Eleven find at the base?
Spoilers ahead
by Adam Starkey · NMEStranger Things wraps up the first volume of season five with several big revelations.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, the fifth and final season, set in 1987, sees the residents of Hawkins rally together to take down Vecna after several rifts open up in town. At the same time, Eleven is trying to avoid capture from a military group.
All the main cast reprise their roles, including Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalie Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery and Maya Hawke.
Stranger Things season five is being released in three batches, with the final two volumes set to be released on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day respectively in the UK.
How did Will stop the demogorgons in Stranger Things season 5 episode 4?
At the end of season five volume one, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) manages to stop the demogorgons from attacking his friends by using his connection to Vecna (planted within him in season one) to control them with his mind. Throughout the season, Will has been having visions where he can see who the creatures are targeting next, and by accepting who he is in this crucial moment, Will is now able to harness these powers himself.
As for why this epiphany happens, Will has been wrestling with his identity over the course of Stranger Things. At the start of season five, he’s rebellious and vocal against his mum’s wishes, realising he can and should be more assertive. He’s also had some chats with Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke) about her sexuality and how she found the confidence to become herself, which has clearly had a profound impact on Will.
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This all culminates when Vecna tells Will he was patient zero for his masterplan, with his weakness making him realise how easy it was to manipulate and trap children in the Upside Down. After Will hears this, and the demogorgons close in on Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Robin at different locations, Will awakens his true potential – which could turn the tide against Vecna.
Speaking about Will’s awakening in season five (via Tudum), co-creator Matt Duffer said: “There is a lot that Will has been dealing with over the course of the four seasons prior to his – so many emotions and inner conflicts that remain unresolved. So we wanted him to grow as a human and become a fully formed version of who he is… And once he’s able to do that, he’s able to harness these incredible powers.”
Who does Eleven discover at the military base?
After Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) break into the military stronghold, the latter arms himself with explosives and approaches the mysterious door where the military is keeping something hidden. Jim says goodbye to Eleven and looks as if he’s about to sacrifice himself, anticipating that Vecna could be behind the door.
However, Vecna isn’t there but someone from Eleven’s past. Being held captive is her “sister” Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), aka Eight. Eleven and Eight first met in the season two episode The Lost Sister, and she was similarly raised by Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine).
While it’s unclear what the military is planning to do with Eight, or why they have her captive, she has the power to create illusions.
Where is Max?
As detailed earlier in the final episode, Max (Sadie Sink), who is in a coma in the real world, is trapped in Vecna’s mental prison – hence why Eleven was unable to sense Max’s presence when she passed out at the end of season four.
Max almost escaped from this prison, which the kidnapped Holly (Nell Fisher) now inhabits as well, but a portal to the real world closed as a tape playing Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ cut off in the hospital room with Max’s unconscious body. Vecna pursued Max after this escape attempt, but when she ran into a cave dwelling, he was mysteriously terrified of entering. As such, she’s now made the cave her home in his mind palace.
As Max explains, Holly’s presence has opened up another portal within Vecna’s mind prison, so with her help, they both look set to form some kind of escape plan.