Netflix has released new information about it Stranger Things 5, the upcoming final season of the hit series. Perhaps the biggest treat is the release window: 2025 and not 2026 as some have predicted.

That's good news, although it's almost certainly tempered with a caveat – I'd bet the season will come in at least two parts. After all, that's the trend with almost every popular Netflix series these days, since the last season Stranger Things To Bridgerton and the extremely lengthy final season of Cobra Kai.

The other interesting information we learned about Season 5 is the complete list of episode titles. The show will have 8 episodes in total – although we've learned from interviews with the cast that each one will resemble a full movie – and the titles have some very interesting clues and parallels. Here they are:

• Episode 1: “The Crawl”
• Episode 2: “The Disappearance of ____”
• Episode 3: “The Turnbow Trap”
• Episode 4: “Magician”
• Episode 5: “Shock Jock”
• Episode 6: “Escape from Camazotz”
• Episode 7: “The Bridge”
• Episode 8: “The Rightside Up”

A few observations about these titles:

• “The Crawl” is vague, but I feel like it has to do with Max's moment when he ran up the hill. She can't run anymore, but maybe she can crawl. It's most likely a D&D reference too. In Dungeons & Dragons, you “dungeon crawl” as you explore dungeons and caves, find treasure, and fight monsters.
• “The Vanishing Of Will Byers” is the title of the very first episode of the series, so with “The Vanishing Of ____” we draw direct parallels to the first season in season 5. Who disappears remains a mystery, and how they disappear – and who causes the disappearances – remains to be seen. This is one of two episode titles that bring things full circle.
• “The Turnbow Trap” is a bit mysterious, but must bring to mind this image of a billboard showing a family real estate business – I think it's no coincidence that the father's mouth is gaping:

• “Holly, Jolly” is the fourth episode and seems to be a pretty clear indication that at least part of this season will take place around Christmas. Other seasons took place around holidays such as Halloween. I'm wondering if this indicates a release date closer to the holidays than summer or fall.
• “Shock Jock” makes it sound like we're getting WSQK 94.5 radio action, which is a good way to catch some '80s jams and includes radios that might be necessary to listen to Eleven and co help. Access the Upside Down.
• Episode 7 “The Bridge” is very vague, but I remember it as a young adult book. The bridge to Terabithia, This seems like a natural reference to Duffer Brothers. This could be the episode where a main character dies.
• “The Rightside Up” is the direct opposite of the first season finale, “The Upside Down,” and suggests, in my humblest opinion, a happy ending for Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and everyone else. Of course, we can expect some of the cast to be wiped out, but if trends from previous seasons continue, it will only be relatively available characters that are being re-introduced, rather than the core cast. That being said, I suspect (hope? fear?) that we will have some surprises. Steve maybe? Funnel? Nancy or Jonathan? Robin maybe. But not with Joyce. That would be too cruel.

On second thought: Let's not go to Camazotz

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to Episode 6 entitled “Escape From Camazotz”. Episode 6 of the first season was titled “The Monster” and I think that’s another parallel. But what exactly is a Camazotz?

Originally it referred to a bat god from Mayan mythology – a bat spirit or “death bat” who serves the lords of the underworld. The name comes from the K'iche' words came (death) and sotz (Bat). With the Maya Popol Vuh, The twin heroes Hunahpu and Xbalanque encounter the Camazotz in the underworld when they spend the night in the House of Bats. When Hunahpu showed up to see if the sun had risen, the creature beheaded him and took his head to use for the gods in their sports.

I suspect we'll get more bats in season 5 Stranger Things, and perhaps even a death bat, but the word camazotz almost certainly has a different meaning. A note from the series' authors points us in a different direction:

I had – and perhaps still have – this exact copy of it A wrinkle in time, equally worn around the edges. It was one of my favorite book covers along with Lloyd Alexander'S Prydain Chronicles. In Madeleine L'Engle's excellent science fiction novel, Camazotz is the name of the planet on which the children – Charles Wallace, Meg and Calvin – go to search for Charles Wallace and Meg's father. Camazotz is home to the book's antagonist, IT, the mind-controlling brain creature that controls all beings on the planet. IT uses the man with the red eyes as his human agent. I'm starting to wonder if Vecna ​​isn't the big villain after all, but rather the agent of “Stranger Things” own version of IT, with Upside Down and Camazotz being practically one and the same. But maybe that's going too far, and Vecna ​​is both IT and the Man with the Red Eyes (and the Grinch!)

Max could very well be the children's version of their father A wrinkle in time, Her soul/spirit is trapped in Camazotz, where our heroes must go to rescue her. Whether we get any witch analogues – Mrs. Wahtsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which – remains to be seen. We'll find out next year!

PS: I refuse to watch any film adaptation A wrinkle in time. The book is perfect. It doesn't need to be adjusted and I don't feel like spoiling my imagination over an inferior product. It's also only the first book in the series. Three more books follow: A wind in the door, a rapidly tilting planet, lots of water And An acceptable time.

Actually, it's been a reasonable amount of time since I read all of this. I think it's time to read them again! I imagine I can finish well before then Stranger Things 5 comes to Netflix. You should read them too.

What do you think about? Stranger Things Season 5? let me know TwitterInstagram or Facebook. Also, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.