As the anticipation builds for Stranger Things Season 5, the Duffer Brothers provided more insight into which episodes from previous seasons are the most important. Fans are already doing their homework by rewatching (or watching) the past four seasons of Stranger Things to better understand Vecna's endgame against the united heroes of Hawkins. The long wait between seasons has made the hype more intriguing, and there are even diehard fans who might not remember everything when Season 5 drops on November 26, 2025. For context, Stranger Things has a total of 34 episodes, meaning that a fan needs at least 35 hours to complete everything before the final batch of installments arrive.
Thankfully, Matt and Ross Duffer (the show's creators) found a way to give viewers an easy way to access all the complicated narrative that Stranger Things introduced by announcing which episodes are significant from the past seasons.
Every 'Stranger Things' Episode Fans Need to Rewatch Before Season 5
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the Duffer Brothers confirmed that the following episodes are the most crucial ones to rewatch in order to understand the show's final story.
- Season 2, Episode 4, 'Will the Wise'
- Season 2, Episode 6, 'The Spy'
- Season 4, Episode 7, 'The Massacre at Hawkins Lab'
- Season 4, Episode 9, 'The Piggyback'
Matt explained that Season 2 was where they "started to really plant the seeds for the mythology:"
"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. Season four is also highly relevant — ‘Massacre at Hawkins Lab’ is a good one."
Ross described Season 4, Episode 7 as the installment where "some answers" about the Upside Down mythology are unraveled, mainly due to the dynamic between Henry (aka Vecna) and Eleven:
"That [episode] starts unveiling some of the Upside Down mythology and starts giving some answers, and, of course, all the stuff with Henry (Bower) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) continues to resonate throughout season five. Those are some good ones to revisit."
Stranger Things Season 5 is set for a historic release, with the final batch of episodes scheduled to be released in three parts. The first four installments will be released on November 26, 2025. The next three episodes will premiere on Christmas Day 2025, and the much-talked-about finale will bow on the streamer and in theaters on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2025).
Season 2, Episode 4, 'Will the Wise'
Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 4, “Will the Wise,” was the episode where it was ultimately revealed that the Mind Flayer was the season’s big bad, and it showed the monstrous creature’s connection to Will Byers.
It also revealed Will's ties to the Upside Down after he was able to draw a map of the mysterious realm, which would eventually become the key to understanding the Mind Flayer's invasion plan. The ending also showed Jim Hopper discovering the underground tunnel and being stranded in the actual Upside Down.
What makes this episode important is that it further deepens fans' understanding of Will's possession, which will obviously play a major part in the first half of Season 5 due to Vecna's meddling and connection to the poor Byers kid.
Season 2, Episode 6, 'The Spy'
Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 6, "The Spy," shows a small-scale invasion of the Demodogs inside Hawkins Lab, potentially as a preview of Upside Down's full-scale attack on the town in Season 5. It also cemented the Mind Flayer's grasp on Will as the creature managed to control the boy and lead the lab technicians into a trap where the Demodogs ambushed them one by one.
Moreover, the installment also marked a significant turning point in the dynamics of some characters, such as Nancy and Jonathan's blossoming romance and the start of Steve and Dustin's brotherly bond.
Season 4, Episode 7, 'The Massacre at Hawkins Lab'
"The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" is a pivotal episode in the broader narrative of the Upside Down, as it reveals the origins and motivations of Vecna, who Henry Creel (aka Number One) really is, and the revelation that time moves more slowly in this dimension.
This was also the installment where Dustin realized that Vecna's act of killing civilians in the real world serves as a precursor to opening the gates to the Upside Down.
The episode is basically a "Vecna 101" in terms of understanding the villain's pure evil intentions and why Eleven is the only one strong enough to stop him.
Season 4, Episode 9, 'The Piggyback'
Stranger Things Season 4, Episode 9, "The Piggyback" (also known as the finale), was perhaps the best one yet, as it featured the Hawkins crew working together in a coordinated attack to stop Vecna. This could potentially tease how the crew will unite once more to finally put an end to Vecna and the Mind Flayer's evil schemes against Hawkins (and the world) in Season 5.
This is also a critical installment to better understand what happened to the characters, including the explanation behind Max's comatose state, Eddie's heartbreaking death that changed Dustin forever, why Hawkins is in quarantine at the start of Episode 5, and the heartfelt reunion of the core characters that sets the stage for a grand showdown in the final season.
