November 27th, December 25th, and December 31st aren’t just the dates of some of the most anticipated holidays of the year, they are also the release dates of Stranger Things Season 5. Here is a rapid fire of the most important events, foreshadowing, and theories. Warning spoilers ahead!!

Hawkins is held under a government set quarantine, which is meant to protect a gate to the Upside Down. There is a new radio station in Hawkins that is being run by Steve and Robin. We later learn that it is being used to share messages to the gang about things called “crawls.” It is quickly flipped to show Eleven training in an obstacle course with Hopper and Joyce. She can now fly over buses and dodge and explode pumpkins with her newly regained powers.

There is a heavy focus in the beginning of Mike and Nancy’s younger sister, Holly. We learn that she has an imaginary friend named Mr. Whatsit, but they never show his face. Suring one recess Holly goes over to the fence to talk to Mr. Whatsit but shown from a different perspective it is shown that she is talking to no one.

There is now a top-secret government base in the Upside Down that is housing and testing demos and holding a locked unknown person in the back, presumably Vecna.
Will’s connection to the hive mind continues to grow as he can now see the Demogorgon as it attacks its victim. He knows that Holly has been taken to the Upside Down and Karen and Ted have been attacked.

Holly is met in the Upside Down by Mr. Whatsit, who is actually Henry/Vecna. We learn that she is in his memories, but she is not alone. Max is alive in Henry’s mind and surviving through his memories. She begins on a plan to get her and Holly out.

The party recruits middle schooler Derek Turnbow to help with their mission of getting behind the scenes of the government base that is responsible for the quarantine.
In the Upside Down the gang finds a large fleshy wall. Dustin using algebra learns that the wall is a circle and the middle is Hawkins Lab.

Finally, within the last 30 minutes of episode four, Venca returns, but his powers have doubled, he became strong and more vicious. Eleven and Hopper find out that 008 is the person stored in the Upside Down government base. And finally, Will gains power through the hive mind and kills three demos and saves his friends.