The rift between our world and the Upside Down is open in Hawkins, and Vecna is ready to make his final move. Recognizing that the end is near, our heroes ready for the battle in the official trailer for Stranger Things season five.

The fifth and final season starts in the fall of 1987, roughly a year and a half after season four. The trailer starts by showing how Hawkins has changed – namely a significant military presence and Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) indication that they are not allowed to leave the town. Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) is shown still sporting his Hellfire Club t-shirt and later is seen with a bruised face and torn short.

We see Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Hopper (David Harbour) in the Upside Down while Mike gives a speech to the rest of the group about finding Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and ending things once and for all. Eleven displays new abilities, namely taking a huge leap over a fence, Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) witness dark energy crackling in the sky, and Robin (Maya Hawke) and Murray (Brett Gelman) watch holes get punched into the ground around them.

A massive wave of energy shoots through the sky that appears to be produced by Eleven, Nancy is shown shooting an assault rifle, and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) flees from a demodog while carrying Max’s (Sadie Sink) unconscious body. There are several shots of characters hugging each other and crying, suggesting that one or more characters are injured or even killed. The trailer ends with Vecna, reformed and back in our world, using his telekinetic powers to pull Will (Noah Schnapp) to him while declaring that the poor boy will help Vecna “one last time.”

The new trailer also features returning characters Steve (Joe Keery), Joyce (Winona Ryder), Erica (Priah Ferguson), and Mrs. Wheeler (Cara Buono), and series newcomer Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay.

The eight-episode final season is split into three parts. Volume 1 with the first four episodes will drop on Netflix on November 26, 2025 (the day before Thanksgiving), followed by Volume 2 with the next three episodes on Christmas day, and the series finale arrives on New Year’s Eve.