Alright, Let's Talk About Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1

It's been long enough that we can assume anybody that wanted to watch Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 has watched Stranger Things Volume 1, right? One of the shitty side effects of Stranger Things' releases is that everyone is on different watch timelines, which carried over to even a mini 4 episode release considering it was right as a holiday weekend kicked off where people are traveling, drinking, watching copious amounts of football, and eating themselves into a coma. As much as I loved the idea of fresh quality content over Thanksgiving break, an 8 PM ET drop on Thanksgiving Eve was NOT the ideal release time in the social media spoilery world we live in, even for a washed loser like myself who can't go out drinking on the biggest bar night of the year. So Netflix needs to head back to the drawing board on that.

As for Volume 1, I liked it. I didn't love it but I definitely liked it. I haven't been a fan of the faceless military storyline since it was introduced and nothing in this volume changed my mind about that at all. In fact, those mamalukes continuing to use bullets against monsters that are clearly immune to bullets drove me mad, as did everyone else refusing to use the one weakness (FIRE!!!) against the demogorgons.  Speaking of idiocy, don't even get me started on the Wheelers who constantly dismissed Holly complaining about being haunted by a demon in a town full of demons. Mike is especially guilty of this considering he is BFFs with Vecna's first victim.

There was plenty of shit to like, namely being back with our pals in Hawkins once again. I know the people who hate or don't watch the show constantly complain about the kids aging. But that really doesn't bother me all that much. I just like seeing all these characters interact and all the changes they've gone through because they happen to live in Spookyville, USA. Dustin was clearly going through some shit in Volume 1, but I think he'll shake out of it, even if he loses a close friend or two along the way (I'm ready to say RIP to my dog STEVE HARRINGTON the way things are going). 

Some other quick thoughts:

- The Duffer Brothers clearly knew what they were doing by ending things on a high note when will started fucking shit up by becoming a goddamn sorcerer.

- I don't think we will get a better take from the final season than this:

- Derek seems to be the breakaway star of Volume 1 for some people. I still just see him as a midwestern Eric Cartman. Derek Cartman. Yeah that seems about right.

- The theory/potential red herring that's going to live in my head until Volume 2 is the Oklahoma play flyer we saw, that includes the names of Joyce, Hopper, Mr. & Mrs. Wheeler, Bob The Brain's sister, Eddie's dad, and of course Henry. 

I am already dreading the copious amount of time I am going to spend on Reddit this month reading break downs of every little detail about the play Oklahoma and how it could tie in with the Stranger Things universe.

- Look, they either gotta kill Hopper or let him live. They already used their Ace card on his death with the note scene, which honestly was one of the best scenes in the entire show. 

- The Stranger Things playlist on Spotify was already a banger but has somehow gotten better now that they added Season 5's music.

Robbie and I dive much more into everything that happens this season in the basement. So check out the pod below as we get ready for whatever awaits us on Christmas Day.