We’re still a long way from Stranger Things 5 premiering on Netflix, but the ‘Strangers’ are hanging on to every measly breadcrumb that the writer’s room will offer to them. On Nov. 6, the official Stranger Things Twitter account posted an image of the Stranger Things 5, Episode #501 screenplay, thus revealing the title of the first episode, “Chapter One: The Crawl.” Naturally, the Strangers rushed to social media — namely Reddit — to theorize about what the ominous and ambiguous title might indicate.
When we last left the Hawkins gang, all the separate squadrons — known as the California gang, the Hawkins gang and the Russia gang — reunited at the Byers/Hopper household. Following the heartwarming displays of affection, Will Byers feels that familiar and foreboding tingle that has the hair on the nape of his neck standing to attention. When the gang — now together again — ventures out into the open field nearby to explore the source of alarm, they see that Hawkins has been ripped apart by four separate gates culminating at the heart of the idyllic town that lead to the Upside Down. They come to understand that because Max technically ‘died’ at the hands of Vecna, she was the fourth and final sacrifice (following Chrissy, Fred and Patrick) needed for Vecna to invade Hawkins.