Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 Release Date and More: Will's Powers Explained - No It's Not The Same As Eleven's

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 5 is set to arrive as part of Netflix's major Christmas release, bringing new clarity to Will Byers' abilities and confirming that his powers operate in a way entirely separate from Eleven's.

Stranger Things Season 5 has returned to Netflix with its first four episodes now available, setting the stage for a final run spread across three instalments. This approach follows the platform's growing strategy of dividing major series into multiple parts to maintain momentum and drive viewership. Because this is the final season of one of Netflix's most watched titles, the release has been timed across key holiday dates.

Volume 2 of Season 5 will arrive on 25 December 2025, with Episodes 5, 6 and 7 dropping on the platform. This release comes nearly one month after the launch of Volume 1, continuing the pattern of staggered drops first used in Season 4. In addition, the finale will be shown in more than 350 cinemas across the United States and Canada beginning 31 December 2025, giving the series a large-scale send-off.

Where Season 5 Begins

The season brings back all central characters, including Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin and Joyce, as they return to Hawkins to stop Vecna. With rifts open and the villain's location unknown, the group must attempt to track him before the threat escalates beyond control. Their efforts are disrupted by a government military quarantine as officials search for Eleven and examine the rifts.

Netflix's official synopsis notes a rising sense of dread as the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, emphasising a final battle expected to be more dangerous than before. It signals that the entire party will need to stand together in order to end the conflict once and for all. This framing sets up the importance of Will's role throughout the season.

What Happens Before Episode 5

Season 5 Volume 1 concludes with a significant reveal centred on Will and the Hive Mind. In Episode 4, Will channels the Hive Mind's strength to stop several Demogorgons from killing his friends, then turns that force against the creatures. The scene shows him taking on a posture similar to Eleven, complete with an outstretched stance and a nosebleed, prompting questions about whether he now has powers.

According to Ross Duffer, Will is able to channel Vecna's powers through the Hive Mind, enabling him to manipulate creatures connected to it. He described the ability as similar but not identical to what Eleven can do, because the source of Will's strength lies outside of him. Matt Duffer stated that Will can manipulate anything within the Hive Mind but cannot interact with objects that fall outside it, such as doors.

The brothers also clarified that the powers are proximity-based, meaning Will must remain close to the Hive Mind to access them. If he is not near it, the abilities cannot be reached or activated. This constraint will influence how Will contributes to the coming episodes and the party's wider strategy against Vecna.

What Vecna Knows Going Into Volume 2

Matt Duffer noted that Vecna underestimates Will, viewing him as weak and incapable in the same manner others have throughout his life. This misjudgement plays a key role in how the events of Volume 2 may unfold. The creators indicated that viewers will see more of this dynamic as the series progresses, though the extent of Vecna's awareness remains part of the upcoming storyline.