New Delhi

As the first part of the final season of the hit sci-fi series Stranger Things arrived on Netflix, the internet erupted—not with Demogorgons, but with memes.

Fans who waited over four years to revisit the Upside Down wasted no time channeling their excitement, shock and emotional whiplash into some of the most chaotic and entertaining posts across Instagram and X this week.

With the release of the first four episodes of Volume 1 on Wednesday, social media was quickly flooded with reactions to everything from Vecna’s unexpectedly “hourglass” makeover and glossy manicure to Will Byers’ striking “glow-up.” Users shared everything from mock “aarti” rituals for their favourite characters to dramatic edits celebrating Will’s new abilities against the Demogorgons.

Will, in particular, has become an overnight sensation after a major twist in the final moments of Episode 4. His powerful scene stunned fans, with many admitting they “did not see that coming,” calling it one of the most shocking moments of the season so far. Memes labelled it the “fastest crush shift in fan history,” with one post joking that a five-minute scene was enough to dethrone long-time favourite Steve Harrington.

The first four episodes of Season 5 dropped on Wednesday. According to Netflix’s fan platform Tudum, as reported by PEOPLE, the final season consists of eight episodes. Episodes 5, 6, and 7 will arrive on December 25, followed by the series finale on December 31.