Netflix has released the first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5, revisiting the night Will Byers disappeared in 1983 and his link to the Upside Down. The new season opens where the story initially began, offering a fresh look at that crucial night in Hawkins.
Instead of continuing immediately after Season 4, the episode titled “The Crawl” transports viewers back to November 12, 1983—six days after Will’s disappearance. In this eerie setting, the Upside Down’s version of Castle Byers houses a frightened and exhausted 12-year-old Will, played by Noah Schnapp.
Will is quietly singing "Should I Stay or Should I Go," a song first introduced by his brother Jonathan in Season 1, which has become an emotional anchor for him throughout the series.
Suddenly, strange noises echo outside the fort. Will grabs a hunting rifle, a callback to early episodes, and tries to defend himself. He climbs a tree, but a creature drags him down toward Vecna’s lair, signaling the threats lurking in the Upside Down.
This preview sets a haunting tone, linking past and present events and deepening the mystery surrounding Will’s disappearance.
Author’s summary: The first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5 revisit Will Byers’ harrowing experience in the Upside Down, blending nostalgia and suspense as the series returns to its roots.