After what felt like an eternity, Netflix finally dropped the release date for Stranger Things Season 5. Fans were torn, half the internet celebrated Will Byers (aka Noah Schnapp) finally ditching his tragic bowl cut, while the other half couldn’t stop cringing over a brief but baffling clip from the teaser.
Will’s big “Run, RUN!” moment was supposed to be dramatic, but for many people, it didn’t quite land the way it was meant to. Fans were quick to make the instant comparison to Gal Gadot’s infamous scene from WW84. While the haircut glow-up gave hope, the clip had others wondering if Noah Schnapp’s post-Stranger Things prospects might be headed for the Upside Down.
Noah Schnapp’s latest Stranger Things clip has fans divided!
Netflix has finally given fans what they’ve been waiting for, the release date for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. And it’s coming in a pretty dramatic way in three parts, starting November 26, followed by Volume 2 on Christmas Day, and the big finale landing on New Year’s Eve.
The announcement dropped during Netflix’s Tudum livestream, alongside a teaser that gave fans just enough to scream over, and also, maybe, cringe a little.
The final season promises lengthy episodes, more emotional stakes, and one last showdown as Eleven, Mike, and the rest of the gang try to stop Vecna from turning reality into his personal haunted house.
Will Byers, as expected, seems to play a major role this time, with his long-standing connection to the Upside Down likely becoming the key to everything.
But amid all the hype, one particular moment in the teaser has fans talking for the wrong reasons. In the final shot, Will, played by Noah Schnapp, was seen yelling a very dramatic “Run, RUN!”, and instead of sparking tension, it triggered a wave of secondhand embarrassment for many people. The line delivery felt overly dramatic, almost out of place, and social media didn’t hold back. Here is what some of them said,
he graduated from the university of gal gadot pic.twitter.com/r1ozxsR2D9
— jolt (@meltborne) June 1, 2025
noah schnapp after stranger things pic.twitter.com/1P3q0LwY8W
— Z ز 🌟𓊍 (@okokalrightZain) June 1, 2025
I wonder how Noah Schnapp feels about the only role he’s ever going to have (stranger things) ending soon
— gabe cant sing (@incase_ofdeath) June 1, 2025
The male version of Gal Gadot when it comes to acting pic.twitter.com/8kyScmWTY4
— kira 👾 (@kirawontmiss) June 1, 2025
i just burst out laughing I CANT BREATHEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/kWC68MEQq9
— 𝝑𝝔 ˖ ࣪ petra! 🌷 (@peterfemmejay) June 1, 2025
Many viewers instantly drew comparisons to Gal Gadot’s famously cringey scene in Wonder Woman 1984, the one in the car with Pedro Pascal, where she pours her heart out but somehow ends up sounding stiff and unconvincing. Will’s moment gave off the same vibe. The backlash seems to have only grown stronger following the resurfacing of a video showing him promoting stickers with the phrase “Zionism is sexy.”
While there’s still plenty of excitement for the season, that one line has already become meme material, and some fans are now wondering if Noah Schnapp’s post-Stranger Things future is looking a little shaky.
What can fans expect from Stranger Things Season 5!
Other than a bit of criticism here and there, most fans are genuinely excited for Noah Schnapp’s return in Stranger Things Season 5. The final season is officially on the horizon, and it’s shaping up to be the most intense and emotional chapter of the series yet.
Set in the fall of 1987, the story picks up after the events of Season 4, where the gang faced off against Vecna and the Demogorgons in the Upside Down. Although Vecna was temporarily weakened, he remains a powerful and looming threat.
The aftermath of his attack continues to haunt Hawkins, the Rifts between dimensions have left deep scars, and the Upside Down is beginning to seep into the real world.
The government has declared Hawkins a restricted zone, placing it under military quarantine. Meanwhile, Eleven has been forced back into hiding as federal agents intensify their search for her. As the anniversary of Will Byers’ original disappearance approaches, that old sense of dread returns, only this time, the danger is even more powerful.
Season 5 will center on the group’s final mission, and that is to locate and defeat Vecna once and for all. With the stakes higher than ever, the entire cast will reunite for what promises to be a grand finale packed with high-stakes action.
Fans can expect all the mysteries to be finally answered. Whether it’s the fate of Max, Eddie Munson’s sacrifice, or the evolving threat of the Upside Down, every thread will come to an end, and fans are excited!
