The truth about the Upside Down is finally coming to light in the second installment of Stranger Things.

And turns out, the Hawkins crew has been “dead wrong” about everything they thought they knew about the parallel dimension, according to a new trailer for Volume 2.

The truth, however, may come at a great cost, with the Stranger Things Volume 2 trailer showing a continuation of the battle that started in the first half of season 5, Volume 1, which dropped on Thanksgiving.

One moment that immediately stood out to fans as a red flag concern was a heartfelt scene between Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery).

As the duo look up in horror at some new Upside Down-created portal, Steve declares, “Mother of God.”

In a later moment, the duo makes a pact, “You Die, I Die,” which has left fans feeling some type of way about what’s to come. Will their favorite characters meet a doomed fate?

“Steve: you die, i die Dustin: you die, i die Me: Both of you don’t die!!!” one fan wrote in the comment section,  as another added, “NO PLEASE.”

“You die, I die” Netflix if they die, my subscription to your service dies with them,” another quipped, with others exclaiming, “NO, NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO DIE” and “The callback to S3 “you die I die” is BEAUTIFUL.”

‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Finale Is Coming to a Theater Near You—Here’s What You Need to Know

Others took it as a good sign, writing, “The “you die, I die” actually gives hope. Both are gonna make it,” as someone said it was a “massive red herring” that another character would meet their demise instead. 

There were a few other moments that demanded attention, with fans pointing out a scene with “henry glitching between himself and vecna looked so cool yet so freaky,” as another echoed, “The way Henry glitched to 001 and to Vecna is insane.”

Nancy Wheeler’s (Natalia Dyer) badass moment, where she emerges in what many stated was a “Rambo” and “Alien” reference, shooting at the military, was another moment that got everyone excited for what’s to come.

“Lol, stupid army. They brought guns to a Nancy fight,” someone joked, with one other expressing, “it is genuinely shocking nobody is talking about the way Nancy is firing that gun better than men who have spent 10yrs in the military.”

With music being an important part of the Netflix sci-fi series, particularly songs from the ’80s time period, many pointed out the brilliant use of Diana Ross’ “Upside Down,” with one complimenting, “Flipping Diana Ross’s music ‘UPSIDE DOWN’ like that was straight-up genius.”

Elsewhere, Will Byers (Noah Schanpp), who has gained powers of his own, is down in the dumps, stating, “We failed. We never stood a chance,” as his mother, Joyce Byers (Winona Rider), remains optimistic, holding him and informing him, “This is not over. Not by a long shot.”

Eleven remains committed, tapping her “sister” Eighth to “help” her find Vecna/Henry Creel/Mr. Whatsit (Jamie Campbell) and “kill him,” while the villain sets his plan into motion, stating, “It is time for a new world.”

And then there’s the scene where the Demo Dogs infiltrate a hospital in Hawkins and set their sights on Robin’s (Maya Hawke) girlfriend, Vicki, proving that what happens in the Upside Down does not stay in the Upside Down. 

As Stranger Things inches closer to the release of Vol. 2 on Christmas Day, no one is safe anymore.

Watch the trailer below—and let us know what you think! 

It’s almost time to head back to Hawkins, Indiana, to see how the rest of Stranger Things Season 5 will pan out.

If you’ve binge-watched all four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 1, that means you’re ready to take on Vol. 2 when it officially lands on Netflix.

Here’s everything you need to know! 

Spoilers ahead—so proceed with caution! 

When Does Stranger Things Vol. 2 Come Out?

The streaming giant and the Duffer brothers are working with Santa this year, giving fans the best gift of all.

 Stranger Things Volume 2 will begin streaming on Christmas Day with a total of three (3) episodes. 

What Time Does ‘Stranger Things’ 5 Come Out?

The first four episodes premiered as Volume 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 26. 

The mega finale streams on New Year’s Eve, with select showings in theaters. 

What Time Does Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Come Out?

Episodes will begin streaming on Netflix at 5 pm PT, which is 8 pm ET and 7 pm CT, across all three parts.

How Did Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 1 End?

If you need a little refresher before diving into Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 2, the ending of Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 1 set the scene for the upcoming episodes, with a huge and deadly battle at the military base (the “MAC‑Z” base), which saw Vecna emerging from the Upside Down to ensure that all the children he needs for his grand (and currently unrevealed) scheme are successfully dragged into the parralel world to join Holly Wheeler, including Dipshit Derek. 

While the military tries to contain the breach, they fail miserably, unable to fend off the Demogorgons. The rest of the Hawkins hero squad, including Mike, Lucas, Robin, Joyce, Murray and Erica, watch on in horror, seeing their plan to get the marked children out of Hawkins also fail. 

After a face-to-face meeting with Vecna, Will Byers finally embraces his connection to the humanoid being, taking control of it rather than playing the victim. His powers allow him to gain psychic control of the Demogorgons, breaking their bodies midair and stopping them from hurting his loved ones.

Will is now a powerful weapon, a sorcerer, as a trail of blood pours out of his nose, in the same way as it does whenever Eleven taps into her powers. The difference is that she’s got the powers coursing within her, while he channels them directly from Vecna. Is that a good thing? Only time will tell.

STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. (L to R) Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield and Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Meanwhile, one of the 12 children needed for Vecna’s plan, Holly Wheeler, who was kidnapped by Vecna’s alter-ego Mr. Whatsit earlier in the season, remains stuck in his mind-prison. She has an encounter with Max, whose physical body is stuck in a coma, while her mind is trapped in the memory world. She’s hiding out in the caves, the one place safe from Vecna’s reach, as he refuses to step inside, while plotting her escape, which will now require Holly’s help. 

Hopper and Eleven remain in the Upside Down, as they just found Eleven’s “sister” and former test subject from Hawkins Lab, Kali Prasad, otherwise known as “Eight,” being used as some kind of battery by the military, who have a base in the parallel dimension, run by Dr. Kay.  Steve, Nancy, Dustin and Jonathan are also trapped in the Upside Down after driving into it in search of the hive mind. 

STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. Linnea Berthelsen as Kali in Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Stranger Things Season 5 Official Synopsis

“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

Channeling our inner Mariah Carey, it’s (almost) tiiiiiime! 

After a very long wait (season 4 literally came out three years ago in the spring of 2022), Stranger Things‘ final season is nearly upon us. 

The anticipation is at an all-time high to see how the battle in Hawkins, Indiana, finally ends. Will the good guys defeat Vecna and the Upside Down? 

It’s all come to this, the last journey with Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Max, Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, Robin, Dustin, Joyce, Hopper and anyone who has been an ally along the way.

Of course, there’s still plenty of story to be told before we reach the end, with the fifth and final season splitting up into three standalone episode drops. 

What Time Does ‘Stranger Things’ 5 Come Out?

The first four episodes will premiere as Volume 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 26. 

An additional three episodes will arrive as Volume 2 on Christmas Day. 

And finally, the mega finale streams on New Year’s Eve, with select showings in theaters. 

Episodes will begin streaming on Netflix at 5 pm PT, which is 8 pm ET and 7 pm CT, across all three parts.

Stranger Things Season 5 Official Synopsis

“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 Trailer