Summary

Ross Duffer teases the "craziest cold open" for Stranger Things season 5 episodes 1 and 2.
Title cards revealed for episodes 'The Crawl' and 'The Vanishing of [redacted]' pique fan interest.
Final season of Stranger Things to premiere in three parts from November 26th to December 31st.

Stranger Things co-creator Ross Duffer has just given fans a "crazy" tease of season 5's first two opening episodes, and fans are beside themselves with anticipation to get a glimpse of the long-awaited series in action, as the update confirms that episodes 1 and 2 are finally in the bag. The eagerly-awaited fifth and final installment has almost reached its boiling point as fans prepare themselves for what looks to be the show's most emotional and tragic season yet.

Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the fantasy series became one of Netflix's most popular shows, with its fourth season the most-watched English TV series in the first four weeks of its release. Netflix announced that production wrapped on Stranger Things season 5 in late December 2024, and although an exact release date for its final season took its merry time to be confirmed, the Duffer brothers did reveal in February this year that they are ahead of schedule and that a 2025 release date looked promising. Now, nine years after it welcomed viewers into its horror-infested universe in 2016, fans are even closer to the Netflix show's final season, but not before its creator drops a huge tease, with many more likely to come.

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By Rachael Fiddis

Ross Duffer Describes Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 1 & 2 as the “Craziest Cold Open”

With only months to go before Stranger Things season 5 is released, the show's co-creator, Ross Duffer, is really ramping up excitement in a bid to get fans as hyped as possible for the upcoming science fiction/supernatural series. In a recent Instagram post from his personal account, Duffer posted the completion of Stranger Things season 5's first two episodes, stating that chapters one and two were "locked, mixed, scored, colored, DONE."

Not only that, but Duffer teased two images of the episodes’ title cards, which read, 'The Crawl' and 'The Vanishing of [redacted]'. According to the post, "Chapter One: The Crawl" is Ross and Matt's favorite opening episode since Stranger Things season 1, which is a very exciting statement since season 1's opening episode saw Will Byers getting abducted into the Upside Down. For the second episode of season 5, Duffer teased that it would be the "craziest cold open", which is titled "Chapter Two: The Vanishing of..." Piquing the interest of fans everywhere. Even though Duffer's tease didn't reveal who vanishes in the episode, it draws a lot of obvious similarities to Stranger Things' first-ever episode, "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers."

Anniston and Tinsley Price as Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things

Over on Reddit, fans have been reacting to the update from Ross Duffer, with many seemingly more excited now than ever before. "Oh god, what have the D brothers cooked up?" Commented one fan, while another said, "It sounds like it's going to be delicious." One Stranger Things fan could barely hold on to their excitement, expressing "I’m getting more and more hyped up as the days go by, I can’t wait anymore!!" Fans also believe that "Chapter Two: The Vanishing of..." Could be one of the Wheeler family members, with many thinking that it might be Holly.

stranger things creator debunks season 5 runtime leak

Thankfully, there isn't too much time to sit around and wait to see the outcome of these theories and teasers as Stranger Things' final Season 5 is set to premiere in three parts between November 26th and December 25th, with the finale releasing on December 31st.