‘Stranger Things 5’: First Look at the Final Season Amid Growing Controversy
Netflix has released the opening five minutes of “Stranger Things” Season 5, sparking a wave of excitement mixed with controversy as the series approaches its long-awaited conclusion.
Revisiting Hawkins and the Upside Down
Unlike fan expectations, the story does not continue directly after Season 4. Instead, it revisits November 12, 1983—six days after Will Byers’ disappearance—taking viewers back to the unsettling Hawkins Library inside the Upside Down.
Though Season 5 is set 18 months after the events of the previous season, creators Matt and Ross Duffer use this opening to connect the emotional threads and storylines that began in Season 1, when Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Police Chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) first searched for Will (Noah Schnapp).
Controversy Surrounding the Cast
The promotional campaign has been overshadowed by reports alleging tension among the cast. A viral article claimed that Millie Bobby Brown accused her co-star David Harbour of on-set bullying, a story initially shared by The Daily Mail.
According to the report, Brown, 21, filed a harassment complaint before filming began, prompting Netflix to investigate “for months.”
The same source added that while no sexual misconduct was alleged, Brown was accompanied by a personal representative throughout production, which concluded in December. So far, neither Netflix nor the actors’ representatives have released official statements.
Author’s Summary
The premiere glimpse of “Stranger Things” Season 5 rekindles nostalgia and suspense, but its debut is entangled in controversy surrounding the show’s key cast members.