The curtain fell on the first volume of Stranger Things Season 5 with a triumphant crescendo, delivering one of the series’ most exhilarating climaxes. For years, Will Byers, portrayed by Noah Schnapp, existed as a character caught in the throes of victimhood, espionage, and fragility. Yet, this season saw him embrace a transformative arc, evolving into a “Sorcerer.” This role allowed him to flip the script, harnessing his connection to Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower, and the Upside Down, to wield control over the very monsters that once hunted him and his friends. With this newfound empowerment, the show’s trajectory can only soar higher from here.

Volume 2 of Season 5 offers a spectacle of remarkable set pieces, heart-stirring moments, and jaw-dropping revelations. However, it sometimes feels like an elaborate prelude to the explosive two-hour series finale that awaits. The three episodes in this installment straddle the line between television and cinema, resulting in a blend that is not always seamless. These extended episodes oscillate between being standalone TV movies and episodic storytelling, producing a mix of electrifying action, improbable plot devices, and genuinely moving scenes.

The heart of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 lies not in its elaborate spectacles but in the intimate scenes where the talented cast connects deeply with each other. Yet, the series falters in its reluctance to push the narrative boundaries, hinting that the Duffer Brothers are reserving the real dramatic punches for the New Year’s Eve finale.

The action in Episode 5, titled “Shock Jock,” resumes with Will Byers grappling with his newfound abilities. Meanwhile, Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, reunites with her sister Kali, and Holly Wheeler makes a daring return to the Creel House, all part of Max’s intricate plan to escape Vecna’s mental prison. Attention quickly shifts to Dustin, Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan as they delve into the Upside Down’s version of Hawkins Lab. Dustin, with echoes of Return of the Jedi’s Death Star shield in mind, believes the lab holds the secret to vanquishing the “flesh wall” surrounding this sinister realm—a nod to Steve’s affection for the film’s “teddy bears.”

Their quest in Hawkins Lab unfolds in unexpected ways. Amidst the group’s internal tension, Nancy and Jonathan stumble upon a mysterious red cosmic orb, just as Dustin realizes his theory has crumbled. This revelation sets the stage for potential repercussions, sparking some of the series’ most compelling Nancy/Jonathan and Dustin/Steve moments. However, Stranger Things Season 5 lacks the courage to deliver a lasting impact. Rather than a gripping television drama, it feels more like an assured theme park ride, where audiences are guaranteed a safe and predictable conclusion.

Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 6 “Escape from Camazotz” deals with Max and Holly’s continued quest to escape from Vecna, culminating with an exquisite scene where the older girl empowers the younger one with kind, empathetic words set to a haunting new arrangement of Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill.” Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 7 “The Bridge” crescendoes with yet another inspiring Will Byers scene, this time where he affirms who he is to his friends and family, drawing true strength from utter vulnerability.

So far, the most interesting thing about the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is the meta way in which the show’s story and scale have mirrored each other, monstrously, over time. The first season of Stranger Things became a surprise hit because it was so exquisitely grounded, so elegantly earnest in its approach to recapturing the wonder of ’80s Amblin hits. Classics like E.T. and The Goonies didn’t capture a generation’s imagination because they were full of dazzling effects or tremendous stakes, but because they were adventures set firmly against the backdrop of suburban America. The “everykid” could imagine themselves as one of the gang biking E.T. away from an oppressive military force or getting lost in caverns and stumbling upon a pirate ship full of gold. The Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas of Season 1 found themselves in similar straits.

As Stranger Things‘s cultural cache has exploded, the episode-lengths and SFX budgets have ballooned in tandem. Nothing about this show feels relatable anymore outside the aforementioned scenes of true emotional connection. That’s why the character-driven scenes hit harder than any of the show’s CGI-heavy spectacles. They are the moments were we can still see the humanity of these characters and not their D&D-esque “power sets.”

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 continues the trend of the show’s larger trajectory, embracing spectacle over the sentimental. Thankfully there are still enough tender moments in Stranger Things to keep us plugged in for New Year’s Eve’s super-sized, two-hour-long grand finale.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 is now streaming on Netflix.