If you live in London, UK, and happened to be free yesterday (November 13) just before midnight, you stood a chance of grabbing extremely limited tickets to an advance fan screening of *Stranger Things* Season 5 Episode 1. Netflix hosted the event to coincide with the hit show’s UK premiere, with the first volume of Season 5 set for global release on the streamer on November 26 in the US (and November 27 for viewers in the UK and Australia).
It’s no surprise that Season 5 is likely to be unlike any season we’ve seen before, upping the ante in every possible way as *Stranger Things*’ main story draws to a close for good. While I’ve got major premiere FOMO, I knew I wanted to ask some incredibly lucky fans for their first reactions.
The Duffer Brothers have created something that means a great deal to people, and it’s amazing to see how many have grown up alongside its cast. Say what you will, but that feels pretty special to me.
Before we go any further, let’s make one thing clear: there are absolutely no spoilers here. Nobody wants to ruin the details of what we’re actually going to see in a few weeks’ time, so think of this as a vibes check to get ourselves emotionally prepared for what’s to come. Be warned: it sounds like we’re going to be devastated.
### “What really surprised me was the emotional depth,” fan says after *Stranger Things* Season 5 Episode 1 advance screening
“It doesn’t ease you in, but throws you straight into the heart of the story,” 23-year-old Diya tells me about *Stranger Things* Season 5 Episode 1.
You immediately feel the emotional weight on the characters this season; there’s a heaviness in the air, but also a deep sense of determination running through the group. There’s so much happening that on a second watch, I would absolutely notice things I didn’t catch the first time.
The episode is intense, emotional, and honestly pretty overwhelming at times, in a “wow, this is really finally happening” kind of way. It felt huge, cinematic, and very much like *Stranger Things* leveling up for its final run.
She continues, “What really surprised me was the emotional depth right out of the gate. I expected intensity, but not for it to feel so deeply personal from the start. The show balances that heaviness with moments of warmth, humor, and connection, but even those moments feel different now — more fragile and meaningful — because we know the end is coming.”
As for what Diya’s excited for across the rest of the season, it all comes down to the character arcs. It’s clear that we’re “heading into complicated territory” as our Hawkins gang tries to take down Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) for good, and they’ve changed hugely throughout that process. But given how many twists and turns the show throws at us, anything could happen, so we can’t take anything for granted.
### *Stranger Things* Season 5 Episode 1 summed up in three words?
“Full-circle, relentless, emotional. Or We’re. Not. Ready.”
I can hardly wait.
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### Full Season 5 release dates:
– **Season 5 Volume 1:** November 26 (US) / November 27 (UK, Australia); comprises Episodes 1 to 4
– **Season 5 Volume 2:** December 25 (US) / December 26 (UK, Australia); includes Episodes 5 to 7
– **Season 5 Volume 3:** December 31, 2025 (US) / January 1, 2026 (UK, Australia); contains the finale
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