Stranger Things 5x05 Full Reaction!
Added 2026-01-03 19:27:26 +0000 UTC
Comments
Could simply be accidental with Darabont directing two episodes with such a montage, and if it is, it’s amusing. Sounds an awesome trick that you described. Hearing plenty about Will. The question of “a story where two members of the heroes come up with totally different and equally valid ideas and decide to just try them both”, yeah, nothing really springs to mind there, so that does sound like a very cool part of this that I’m sure is great. Nice to hear that although Will doesn’t actually SAY it about being gay, he gets the point across to Robin. Don’t have a shared experience as it pertains to sexuality, but I do get that thing of first needing to tell or talk to someone outside one’s closest group to build up to being open about stuff. Nice to hear it resonates with you, vis-à-vis when you came out as ace. More on the topic later as the internet is LOUD about this, leading me to be clued in on at least the general idea about what happens. From what I am hearing from those who are not yelling, yes, it does sound like there was plenty of care put into this. From what I’ve seen of Jamie, he would have that Willem Dafoe energy of showing how much he could do without the extensive makeup. Sounds like Tim Curry as Pennywise when they realized how much he brought to the table without hugely complicated prosthetics. Can’t speak to the Kali of it all, beyond assuming that the Sankara stones aren’t involved in this. See you say that the effect is muted and that your response to the one shot would likely be, “That kid gets NO tip.” I’d imagine. I have heard so much yelling about Eddie. I can’t add anything, save for, again, internet is loud, meaning I have the one reference tucked away. Save that guy for later. Nice to see the thoughts you and Jess have had. Hoping you guys are happy with the rest of the episodes.
Thomas Corp
2026-01-04 04:43:01 +0000 UTCI came to Neverending Story in an extremely roundabout way, first seeing the far inferior sequel when it came out and eating it up because I was a dumb undiscerning kid, then reading the book in my teens and having my socks blown off before finally getting to the first movie. Which the book's writer hated, and it's very much a Shining situation where I can entirely understand why but I still think it's pretty great in its own right. I actually don't think the Ripley show would make good reactions from anyone, due to being so slow-paced and toward the end getting to a Blood Simple level where you have to keep track of what multiple people think is happening on top of what's really happening, so you need all the brainpower you can get staying on top of that.
Ryan
2026-01-04 04:12:02 +0000 UTCNo idea if it was deliberate that Frank Darabont was given both episodes with a montage of kids playing in Henry's house, but I love it anyway. And he has one more awesome bit here with the single shot spinning around Derek showing there's no one anywhere around him, before Jamie suddenly appears thanks to stepping in while it was pointed away from him. Even if you don't notice it consciously, your mind picks up on how it shouldn't be possible and you understand a bit better just what Vecna's powers can do. Knew you'd be all over how proud everyone is of Will, and quite convenient that we've already had Joyce fully get over her protectiveness so she can be part of it with no reservations. As this part continues, I also found myself thinking that I can't recall the last time I saw a story where two members of the heroes come up with totally different and equally valid ideas and decide to just try them both, so good on the Duffers for making that logic leap that still makes perfect sense. And I can't leave out Will all but confirming to Robin he's gay himself as she discusses how she first needed to come out to someone outside her closest group to build up to that, very much reminding me of when I first told people online I was ace before anyone I knew in real life was in on it. For all the crap the show has taken about putting this moment off, they clearly put a lot of care into doing it right now that we've finally gotten there. Max and Holly's partnership continues to be everything we didn't know we needed, Sadie and Nell bouncing off each other perfectly and creating one of those times I'd be perfectly fine with them becoming a regular acting duo. After all this time hoping for Max to get out of here, you really feel that frustration when Vecna cuts them off, and the costume switch effect is seamless, another very nice bit from Darabont. I'm reminded a lot of Willem Dafoe in No Way Home, where after all that time Jamie was under heavy prosthetics last season, now we get to see just how much of his performance we were missing with his face uncovered. I knew Kali's big reveal would hit all your buttons, though the effect was a bit muted for me since I'd figured the whole time it had to be something like this. But before we get there, there's the other big reveal that her entire group was killed, complete with us getting to see the most annoying one shot between the eyes, very much feeling like the Duffers are giving a Barry Levinson level "Happy now? Happy? Happy now?" And being separated from them definitely makes Kali a lot more palatable, also helping that we have Hopper there for a brand new dynamic with her. I've made no secret how much I wasn't into the big arguments between Steve and Dustin, and Steve and Jonathan and Nancy, but at least we've now reached the point where these scenes are actually about something real rather than just generic childish squabbling. And I know a lot of people very much appreciated Steve bringing up how stupid and pointless Eddie's sacrifice really was, a big complaint over the last three years. Major props to the production team for the melted lab, because I don't know how they did it but I fully buy this as a half-melted building, and that visual spice also helps the ongoing arguments go down a lot easier. And boy, am I glad they didn't make this the big cliffhanger before the second half because I don't know how I could stand it.
Ryan
2026-01-04 04:01:57 +0000 UTCOh, I LOVE that sparkly dress, Jess! Sorry I don’t have much to add with the episode. I can share what I’m stuck vaguely knowing about as the internet is full of inconsiderate BASTARDS, though friends of mine have been nice about it, incidentally. Start by talking about the advice you gave. Even if I was on top of this show, I’d be watching the fulls here on patreon. Which I am pulling these up to hear your joy with this show, seeing that you are happy with the conclusion of it. Do understand your advice of not putting these on the watch later playlists. Addressing the paramount concern that I can talk about with the episode. Murray. You say he’s good. Good, Murray is ok. I’d take him up on the food, especially if that means his risotto. (Even a dummy like me who hasn’t seen the show, I know about his risotto. Some damn fine risotto is just the ticket.) Hear you on the IV business. Reiterate that the six and a half years of the growth hormone shots, which ended about seventeen years ago as of this Spring, I get exactly the phobia of needles, and how even if an IV is covered, it still troubles you. Complete sympathy, empathy, and understanding you have from me, Jess. I have seen that image of whatever scene with Vecna that you have for the thumbnail. Few thumbnails have alluded to a description of what exactly is transpiring in said scene. Been hearing Will has been getting some praise here. I gather it’s connected to the thumbnail. See that this is another show that taps into your tried-and-true response of you can’t move past shit if you don’t get it out there. The business of Dustin and Steve, and you potentially have a hot take: I can’t speak to that point, but from what you described, it does sound like it would trigger you with the passive aggression. I do concur with you on being a no bullshit person, so we would both, as you describe, have that response of turning around, snapping, “Something on your mind!?” in response to all the snippiness. Presently pissed off about what I heard at the end of the year. Namely: There’s been some OBSCENE frustration with certain people on the internet with their stupid minds, stupid, stupid, with having pointless hate and anger over a specific development in the second half of this final season. I’ll get to that when we come to it. Even me who’s not into this show, the bile was unavoidable and tiresome. As to what you’ve been dealing with. I already anticipated these reactions would be a while. I can’t watch them, but even if I could, I’d hold the patience and fully support you getting the rest and sleep in rather than the nights upon nights of the struggling. Want to give you a big hug on that one. Of course, these were going to take a while. You had your holiday festivities, hope that was lively by the way, so no worries. On top of how you said Netflix is very mean lately. A fact you reiterated here. I mentioned seeing posts from Blind Wave and Late to the Party that spoke of what you discussed. Saw another such post from funnylilgalreacts where Angela mentioned that she’s dealt with Netflix taking her Stranger Things videos down too, implying that Netflix or some fucking AI bot is on a goddamn tear with this horseshit. All to say that everyone will understand the videos taking time to come out. And if it makes you feel any better, if people are impatient about it and do give you any shit, then you wouldn’t be the only one getting shit for being behind on this, as I’ve AGAIN been shamed for being behind with this entire show. (Though still less annoying than when everyone at work yelled at me for being FAR MORE excited for the Obi-Wan show than season four of Stranger Things.) At the end of Christmas movie trivia last month, they announced the upcoming line-up with the second year in a row where January is Stranger Things trivia. Told the ladies who organize the event that I’d see them in February, they asked what about January, I say, “I have not seen a single episode.” and they were gobsmacked, flabbergasted, bamboozled by that. I had to swear up and down that I was not fucking with them, and I was serious that I’ve not seen it. Alluded to having seen the NeverEnding Story scene largely to ascertain what all the fuss was about that you mentioned in the reaction to the film. That thing of you mentioned getting shit for not being swept up in the whimsical eighties nostalgia of said NeverEnding Story scene, and I asked, “Well, what’s the scene?” went on youtube, saw the scene, pulled up your reaction to it, and then said, “I mean, I’m with Jess on that one.” Mentioned some of it to my brother. And the idea of having never heard of NeverEnding Story prior to Stranger Things; my brother said that it made sense to him as we concurred that the film flies just a little under the mainstream radar. Mentioned the same to my mom who also largely understands as she notes that in addition to fantasy not really being her genre, she was too old for the target demographic when it first came out. Combine that with neither my brother and I were born when it came out, and it wasn’t a film that either of us watched much growing up, she sees no real problem if someone happens to not recognize the song when it was featured in that scene of Stranger Things. Maybe I’m now rambling a bit, but it really does still sound just absolutely ridiculous for you to have gotten shit for having the reaction you had to that scene. Just as ridiculous it would be if anyone gives you shit for these final reactions when it’s fuckery beyond your control. So, again, no worries, again about it taking time for these reactions. Remembering too, that you said that there will be no new shows that you react to that are from Netflix, and you reinforce that stance again here. Telling myself, “Hold off on suggesting that Jess react to Ripley, check.” in response to that. That’s really it, by the way, in terms of Netflix series suggestions that I would even have if you didn’t have the Netflix ban. Well, there are one or two other things, but I wouldn’t recommend those as they would get zero traction with the numbers as nobody but me wants to see them, on top of Netflix being mean. Not even sure what’s around the corner. Think they said more Beef, which, I don’t know, hard to top the first season. Thank Christ that the Shenanigans by Mike Flanagan are moving to Amazon. Wednesday, and I believe Black Mirror if it returns would be the only current shows. I’ll respect your assessments on those. And say that the latter gets the axe: Last year gave me that BEAUTIFUL Paul Giamatti episode, your PERFECT reaction to it, so I can very easily live with dropping the show as I don’t see how you top that episode. I imagine too that this done with Netflix decision includes not reacting to the Stranger Things spinoffs. If so, I don’t blame ya there. Just, Godspeed to you, all the best. And even when I can’t share the show with you, it’s just great to hear your love for it. Take care, Jess.
Thomas Corp
2026-01-03 20:46:21 +0000 UTC
