Stranger Things has stormed back onto screens for the final time, with Season 5: Volume 1 premiering on November 26 and leaving viewers stunned by its explosive last scene. As fans gear up for the conclusion of Netflix’s biggest sci-fi saga, the streaming platform has kicked off promotions for Volume 2, set to drop later this month. And now, fresh character posters released on December 8 have everyone talking — and panicking.
Netflix unveiled a dramatic series of posters featuring Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve. Each character looks tense, emotional, and battle-ready as they face the ever-terrifying Vecna. The images appear to form a single cinematic panorama, split into individual frames, teasing the epic final showdown that awaits in Volume 2. Shared with the caption, “Ready for one last battle. STRANGER THINGS 5 VOL 2. Christmas,” the posters instantly went viral.
But the excitement quickly turned into confusion and concern as fans noticed one major absence: Robin Buckley. Played by Maya Hawke, Robin has become a fan-favourite since her debut in Season 3 — which made her removal from the lineup even more suspicious. The internet wasted no time demanding answers. One user wrote, “UM HI I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON WHERE IS MY GIRL ROBIN AT??” Another worried fan theorised, “So they just confirmed Robin is gonna die.” Others, however, remain hopeful, suggesting the posters only depict the “OG gang” and that more character visuals are still to come.
Robin’s role in Season 5 has been especially important, as she becomes a crucial emotional support for Will while he grapples with his queer identity and his unspoken feelings for Mike. Maya Hawke’s layered performance and Robin’s growing significance make her absence from the promotional posters all the more suspicious.
Netflix will release Volume 2 — comprising three episodes — on December 25, giving fans a Christmas packed with Demogorgons, portals, and emotional chaos. The third and final part, consisting of one extended episode running 2 hours and 5 minutes, drops on December 31, closing the curtain on the globally loved sci-fi phenomenon. Created by the Duffer Brothers, the final season stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, Maya Hawke, and others.
