Stranger Things Season 5 is finally here, and fans are already losing it. After three years of restless waiting, Netflix has dropped the first four episodes of the final chapter, and the world of Hawkins has never felt bigger, darker, or more gory.
While the core cast returns to face Vecna one last time, the new season also introduces a handful of fresh faces for the show's concluding run.
For those who haven't begun binge-watching yet (or are still recovering from Netflix's temporary crash during the premiere), here's a look at the newest characters who have stepped into both Hawkins and the Upside Down.
Linda Hamilton As Dr Kay
Hollywood icon Linda Hamilton joins the series as Dr Kay, a military scientist obsessed with hunting down Eleven. The Terminator star revealed in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the role arrived at an unexpected moment in her life - just two weeks after she had considered stepping away from acting, according to PEOPLE.
Nell Fisher As Holly Wheeler
Holly Wheeler returns for the final season, but with a new face. Fourteen-year-old British actor Nell Fisher has taken over the role of Mike and Nancy's younger sister, and Season 5 throws her straight into danger. Appearing just minutes into Episode 1, Holly becomes the first visible target of Vecna. Convinced that a mysterious figure is "protecting" her from "monsters in Hawkins," she becomes a key part of the emotional opening arc before being pulled into the Upside Down, as reported by PEOPLE.
Jake Connelly As Derek Turnbow
Newcomer Jake Connelly plays Derek, who becomes the group's next priority after Will senses that he is Vecna's upcoming target. Cast in 2024, Connelly wrote on Instagram that he was "so excited and honoured" to join the series. When the season wrapped, he shared a heartfelt message about closing his trailer door for the last time, saying the friendships and memories would "last forever".
Alex Breaux As Lt Robert Akers
Rounding out the new additions is Alex Breaux, familiar to fans of the Stranger Things stage prequel The First Shadow, in which he portrayed Dr Brenner. In Season 5, Breaux plays Lt Robert Akers, one of Dr Kay's operatives tasked with capturing Eleven. His storyline takes a dramatic turn when he is held hostage by Eleven and Hopper in the Upside Down, allowing Eleven to enter his mind and uncover deeper secrets about the lab and Dr Kay's plans.
Season 5 includes eight episodes, according to Netflix's fan platform Tudum, as reported by PEOPLE. Episodes 5, 6, and 7 will drop on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31.
ALSO READ: Stranger Things 5 Part 1 Review: The Final Season Is Grand, Ambitious, Imperfect And Worth The Wait
