This week on Binge Yap Repeat, Shalini and guest host Anjali jump headfirst into the first half of Stranger Things Season 5—and yes, we have a lot of feelings. We unpack our overall reactions, break down each episode, and dig into the emotional weight of the season so far, from the kids’ growth (literal and otherwise) to the shifting dynamics driven by Will’s increasingly powerful abilities.

We talk about how seamlessly the show picks up after the long gap since Season 4, revisit why Season 1 will always be a perfect 10/10, and explore the character arcs that hit hardest—including Dustin still reeling from Eddie’s death and Max’s devastating, season-defining storyline. We draw connections between Holly Wheeler’s disappearance and Will’s in Season 1, debate whether Will might now surpass Eleven in power, and spiral deep into theories about the mysterious importance of the number 12.

And because we can’t help ourselves, we also compare the show’s character complexity and world-building to Game of Thrones, pulling out the parallels that make this season feel bigger—and darker—than ever. Predictions, emotions, and plenty of chaotic theorizing included.

BYR average rating: 10/10

Number of episodes (so far): 4 (~5h runtime)

Binge In Progress: Survivor, The Amazing Race, Spongebob, The Beast In Me