Having last watched season four of Stranger Things four whole years ago, it is quite difficult to remember everything that has transpired in Hawkins, Indiana, between 1983 and 1986. Dedicating nearly 35 hours to rewatch all four seasons of the series may also be a little difficult, especially considering that Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 premieres with four episodes in less than 24 hours.
But worry not, as the show's creators, Ross and Matt Duffer (the Duffer Brothers), have come up with a solution. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the creators have recommended watching just four episodes across four seasons before bingeing the first volume of the finale.
The four episodes are 'Will the Wise': season 2, episode 4; 'The Spy': season 2, episode 6; 'The Massacre at Hawkins Lab': season 4, episode 7; and 'The Piggyback': season 4, episode 9.
On recommending these episodes in particular, Matt Duffer said, "Season two is when we really started to build out the mythology and started to dive into everything, and how this was going to be an ongoing [series]. That’s where we started to really plant the seeds for the mythology, and I think probably that’s why that is as relevant as it is."
The upcoming season will see the return of beloved characters played by Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Jake Connelly (Derek Turnbow), Alex Breaux (Lt. Akers), and Linda Hamilton (Dr Kay), along with the main antagonist Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna.
The second volume, consisting of three episodes, is premiering on Christmas. The finale is releasing on December 31.