‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: 12 Most Important Easter Eggs & References

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A big reason why people love Stranger Things is how cleverly the story connects back to its beginning. After watching the first part of Season 5, many fans want to rewatch Season 1 to pick up on details they missed the first time around. From the very first episode, with Will’s Dungeons & Dragons character facing a Demogorgon, and his unique ability to communicate with his mother from the Upside Down, the show was subtly laying the groundwork. This season is packed with hidden references – connections to earlier storylines, interesting facts, and nods to 1980s pop culture – that viewers may or may not have noticed.

12
We’ve Seen the Rocket Ship Before

During the first season, Joyce (Winona Ryder) recalls Will’s vivid imagination as a child, sharing how he created amazing drawings after receiving a box of crayons. She specifically remembers a colorful rocket ship he drew, which she says wasn’t inspired by anything he’d seen in movies—it came entirely from his own mind, and he called it a “rainbow ship.” Looking back, this drawing could have been a subtle clue foreshadowing Will’s significant role in Season 5 and a possible link to Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).

During season 5, when Holly meets Max near Vecna’s old house, she passes a playground that looks exactly like the one shown in this picture.

11
The ‘Stranger Things’ Parents Went to School With Henry

As a total cinema devotee, I was floored during Max’s journey into Vecna’s mind! She ended up in what looked like a 1950s high school, and it was amazing seeing a young Joyce handing out flyers for the school play. The really cool part? She tried to give a flyer to this guy she called ‘Harrington’ – it’s heavily implied that’s Steve’s dad! And get this – the flyer listed all the parents involved in the play, and Henry Creel was also one of the actors. It’s just brilliant world-building and adds so much to the story!

The play’s date, November 6, 1959, is surprisingly important – it’s the same day Will Byers disappeared years later. It’s clear that Joyce, Hopper, and others all knew Henry Creel personally. Whether they’ve ever learned his last name or realized Vecna is someone from their past remains a mystery.

10
El’s Missing Persons Flyer Is Interactive


Image via Netflix

Okay, so right at the start of Season 5’s first episode, “Chapter 1: The Crawl,” you see a shot of a missing person poster – it’s Eleven. It’s a really cool detail, but what’s even cooler is that the poster actually has a phone number on it. And get this – if you actually call that number, you don’t get a dial tone, you get a recording that sounds like it’s from the Hawkins police department! It’s a seriously immersive touch and makes you feel like you’re part of the story.

I just received a message from the Hawkins Police Department, and it’s pretty serious. They thanked me for reaching out, but explained that the town is on lockdown after that huge 7.4 magnitude earthquake. They’re doing everything they can to keep everyone safe, and right now, their biggest concern is finding Jane Hopper. They’re asking all of us, as good citizens of Hawkins, to help them locate her, and honestly, I want to do everything I can.

9
Kali’s Return Could Be Crucial to ‘Stranger Things’

A quick flashback helps viewers remember Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) and her story. Kali is the other person who survived the Hawkins Lab massacre. In Season 2, Eleven found her, and Kali taught Eleven how to better control her powers.

After escaping Hawkins Lab, Kali became distrustful and resentful, assembling a team of outcasts to help her get revenge on those who had tortured her. Though she and Eleven had a falling out due to their differing lifestyles, Eleven still considers Kali family. Kali, known as number 008, has the power to create illusions and manipulate what people see and believe. Some fans theorize – known as the ‘d20 Theory’ – that Eleven, Kali, and Vecna must join forces, mirroring a perfect ‘Natural 20’ roll in the game Dungeons & Dragons. This suggests Kali could be essential in defeating Vecna.

8
Vecna’s ‘Stranger Things’ Cave Story Has Been Told


Image via Netflix

Episode 4, titled “Chapter Four: Sorcerer,” has received the highest ratings of any episode of the show on IMDb. In this episode, Max fills Holly in on what happened to her, explaining how she ran to the cave that’s now her home. She recalls Henry being scared to enter the cave, a detail that was previously revealed in the Stranger Things stage play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is currently playing on Broadway.

The play explores Henry’s childhood and reveals how he became the character we see in the series. Dedicated fans will appreciate it for providing backstory that might not be fully shown in the main story. The creators, the Duffer Brothers, have confirmed that this play, set in 1959 and based on their original story, is officially part of the series’ established history. Observant viewers might have noticed a connection between the view through the Spyscope and the cave entrance – both start with a limited view that expands when the cover is removed.

7
‘Stranger Things’ Nods to ‘The Goonies’

From the start, many people have noticed similarities between Stranger Things and The Goonies, particularly because both are set in the 1980s and center around a group of kids on a quest. In the fifth season of Stranger Things, Eleven’s clothing is a clear reference to The Goonies. Her bandana, grey cropped shirt, and shorts worn over sweatpants closely resemble the outfit worn by Josh Brolin’s character, Brand Walsh, in the film.

The moment the kids dig a hole in the bathroom floor to help the younger ones escape is reminiscent of a scene from The Goonies. In that film, the kids are trapped in a cave and try to signal for help by hitting pipes, but end up breaking one, causing water to flood a bathroom and showers in a country club. Stranger Things mirrors this with Mike (Finn Wolfhard) accidentally breaking a pipe, leading to a similar flooding of the bathroom above.

6
Holly’s Teacher is the Real-Life Duffer Brothers High School Drama Teacher


Image via Netflix

The creators of the show, the Duffer Brothers, included a special appearance by their former high school drama teacher, Hope Hynes Love. She plays Miss Harris, Holly’s teacher, in the season. Viewers first see Miss Harris notice Holly seemingly talking to an imaginary friend, prompting her to call Holly’s mom, Karen, to the school. Later, Miss Harris is at the military base, helping to care for the kids who are being protected from the monsters.

The Duffer Brothers credit Love with sparking their initial interest in filmmaking and continuing to inspire them throughout their journey. It’s a heartfelt way for them to acknowledge her unwavering support.

5
The Scene Inspired by ‘Home Alone’

After Will has a vision revealing Vecna’s plan to send a Demogorgon after Derek (Jake Connelly), the kids quickly devise a plan to protect him. They drug Derek’s family, move them to safety, and then set up a series of traps around the house. This whole sequence, with the traps being sprung when the monster arrives, is a clear nod to the movie Home Alone. Though much more intense and dangerous, it’s a fun tribute to a beloved Christmas classic.

4
Nods to Other Classic Movies

Derek’s plan to trick the Demogorgon with a crash test dummy is a clear reference to the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. There are also several nods to Back to the Future, like when Steve drives through the opening into the Upside Down. The most amusing moment is when Robin shouts “Great Scott!” and then excitedly tells Joyce that the ‘flux capacitor’ is broken, rushing Will outside to try and repair it. A flux capacitor is a fictional device from Back to the Future used for time travel. The kids’ reactions to Joyce realizing it’s not real show they all recognize the reference and understand she’s been tricked.

Fans of 1980s movies will likely recognize Will’s eerie line, “they’re here,” as a reference to the horror film Poltergeist, which famously features that phrase. Holly’s bedroom also shares a similar look and feel to the bedroom of Carol Anne (played by Heather O’Rourke) in Poltergeist, even down to the bed’s design. Another clear nod to the ’80s is the casting of Linda Hamilton, known for her roles in ’80s action films like the Terminator franchise, as Dr. Kay. The scene where the children have spires attached to their mouths draws inspiration from the movie Aliens.

3
Vecna’s Entrance Was Inspired by Star Wars

The fourth episode features Vecna’s dramatic entrance into the military base. He walks slowly through the main entrance, appearing only as a dark silhouette against the red vines. Once fully revealed, he immediately begins a destructive rampage, eliminating anyone who stands between him and Will. The scene’s creators have said it was directly inspired by Darth Vader’s entrance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Both scenes share a similar tone: the villains move with a calm, deliberate power that makes them truly terrifying.

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2025-12-02 15:36