The wait is finally over, and Season 5 opens with a tense first chapter. Here’s how Episode 1 unfolds.
Spoiler Alert:
This Stranger Things 5 Episode 1 recap covers every major event from Chapter 1: The Crawl.
Will’s Flashback in the Upside Down
“Chapter 1: The Crawl” begins with a return to Will Byers’ abduction at the start of Season 1. Will sings “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash to steady himself as a Demogorgon approaches. He fires his gun, runs through the Upside Down, climbs a tree to escape, and then falls. Unconscious, he is taken by the Demogorgon directly to Vecna. Vecna tells Will their plan can finally begin and that they will “do such beautiful things together.”
Life in Hawkins, Four Years Later
The episode moves to November 3, 1987, four years after the flashback. The Wheelers and the Byers now live together: Nancy, Holly, Mike, Joyce, Jonathan, Will, Karen, and Ted.
The kids listen to the Morning Squawk on WSQK, hosted by Robin Buckley and Steve Harrington. Robin celebrates her 500th broadcast.
Hawkins remains under military quarantine after the ash fall at the end of Season 4. Soldiers outnumber civilians. Residents undergo mandatory health checks, and the authorities describe the event as a “natural phenomenon never seen before.” Massive steel plates cover the ground cracks. Robin calls them a “giant band-aid.” Inside the MAC-Z zone (Military Access Control Zone), known as “Big Mac.” is the open portal to the Upisde Down. No one is allowed to enter or leave Hawkins.
Robin is now dating Vickie.
Dustin’s School Problems and Hopper’s Rules
At school, Dustin faces harassment for wearing his Hellfire Club shirt. Andy leads the bullying, but Lucas, Mike, and Will stay at Dustin’s side. Mike believes Dustin is fighting two battles, protecting Eddie’s name and wanting to find Vecna, when Hopper’s rules demand the opposite: stay quiet, blend in, and focus on the next Crawl. Dustin refuses to back down.
A missing-person alert circulates for Jane Hopper, last seen in June 1986. The military searches for her, unaware that Eleven is secretly training with Hopper and Joyce. Eleven pushes herself despite Hopper’s warnings to rest.
Nancy at WSQK and Murray’s Supply Runs
Nancy manages WSQK. Tension continues among Nancy, Robin, Steve, and Jonathan, especially when Steve and Jonathan slip into competitive behavior around her.
Murray still enters Hawkins disguised as a grocery delivery driver. He brings useful supplies: bullets, grenades, Gatorade, peanut butter, and shares intelligence. He reports that the military is preparing a large operation inside the Upside Down. That window gives Hopper time for another Crawl.
Robin uses a coded broadcast, paired with Diana Ross’s “Upside Down,” to alert Hopper, Joyce, Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will that a Crawl will happen later that night.
What the Crawl Means for the Group
The Crawl is the operation Hopper and the others carry out to search the Upside Down one section at a time. It’s their only way to confirm whether Vecna is still alive. Each Crawl targets a new zone reached through the MAC-Z gate, and the group tracks Hopper from the Rightside Up, while he moves through the Upside Down. They’ve completed more than thirty Crawls so far, and each one follows the same pattern: Hopper enters through the burned opening, moves as far as he can into an unexplored area, and searches for any sign of Vecna before returning through the gate.
The Group’s Doubts About Vecna
Every Crawl explores a new section of the Upside Down. They’ve completed more than 30, but still have no proof of Vecna’s death. Eleven can’t find him in the bath. Will can’t feel him the way he once did. Some start to wonder if Vecna is already gone.
Nancy and Mike refuse the idea. They argue they must keep going until they know for sure he’s truly gone.
Holly’s Secret Friend
Holly Wheeler speaks to someone only she can see. A teacher notices and notifies Karen Wheeler. Holly says her imaginary friend, Mr. Whatsit, warns her about monsters in Hawkins. Mike reassures her gently and introduces her to Dungeons & Dragons to help her feel stronger.
Experiments in the Upside Down
Dr. Kay, a government scientist leading the Wolf Pack, oversees experiments on a Demogorgon inside the military’s Upside Down base.
Hopper tells Eleven she can join a Crawl only when she completes her training circuit in under twelve minutes. She hits the mark, but Hopper still refuses to bring her. Soldiers inside the Upside Down remain on the lookout for her, and Hopper won’t risk exposing her until absolutely necessary.
Max, Robin, and Will’s Discovery
Will and Lucas visit Max at the hospital. Lucas plays “Running Up That Hill” for her.
Will later sees Robin kissing Vickie and leaves abruptly. Robin realizes he saw them.
Dustin’s Search Leads to Trouble
Dustin cleans Eddie’s old grave, which is often vandalized. This time he finds blood and realizes the snake he put in Andy’s locker in themorning returned dead to Eddie’s grave.
Andy and his teammates corner Dustin and beat him, right before the group is supposed to gather at the Squawk for the Crawl.
Preparing for the Crawl
Mike and Eleven talk about their future and imagine leaving Hawkins once Vecna is gone.
With Dustin missing, Steve needs someone to track Hopper from the surface while he drives. Will volunteers, but Joyce refuses. Jonathan goes in his place. Steve and Jonathan monitor Hopper’s movement from the right side up while Joyce coordinates.
Inside the Crawl
Mike and Lucas watch MAC-Z, waiting for the gate to open. The burn distracts the guards, the trucks move in, and Hopper enters the Upside Down through the portal.
Holly hears her parents arguing about her imaginary friend and retreats to her room.
Jonathan and Steve follow Hopper’s signal from the Rightside Up, as he travels deeper into the Upside Down.
Inside, Hopper’s truck crashes. At the Squawk, Will collapses, sensing Vecna again. Hopper sees a Demogorgon, gets injured, and falls from the vehicle before escaping into the woods.
Will tells the group the creature is heading toward Nancy’s house, whcih promots Nancy to rush home.
The Episode’s Ending
At the Wheeler home, Holly notices the lights shifting and the cracks on her ceiling spreading. A Demogorgon breaks through her room.
The episode ends there.
