The new episode title for the Stranger Things season 5 premiere, "The Crawl," suggests the final season will start with some huge action. As well as being inspired by 80s horror, one of Stranger Things' biggest influences has been the fantasy game, Dungeons & Dragons, a game which has informed several storylines and the names of various monsters. The Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and even the primary antagonist Vecna were all named after creatures in DnD. Now, Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers have confirmed the title for episode 1 of the upcoming season, which suggests another major inspiration from the game.On November 7, 2022, the Stranger Things social media accounts confirmed the title for season 5, episode 1 to be "The Crawl." This reveal stirred a lot of excitement in avid fans, awaiting news about the upcoming season, with many quickly connecting the title to a classic DnD throwback: the dungeon crawl. In the game, a dungeon crawl is a scenario in which players navigate a labyrinthine environment where they battle monsters, avoid traps, solve puzzles, and win treasure along the way. If the title for the Stranger Things 5 premiere is pointing to this game scenario, the final season of the hit Netflix series could be starting with a bang.
What Does “The Crawl” Suggest About Stranger Things 5?
Stranger Things season 4 ended with the Upside Down leaking into Hawkins, potentially opening tunnels beneath the town which could double as the dungeon crawl's labyrinth. The title suggests that the season 5 premiere will feature the heroes venturing into the Upside Down, coming face-to-face with several terrifying monsters, and solving mysteries that could lead them to answers for the rest of the season. A dungeon crawl storyline surely has enough material to cover the span of a whole season, so the fact that the first episode starts with the title, "The Crawl," suggests that the premiere is going to be a huge event, setting the stage for the grandeur of the final season of Stranger Things.
What Could Happen During Stranger Things 5 If It Starts With “The Crawl?”
If Stranger Things season 5 starts with the epic storyline of a dungeon crawl, then the rest of the season will certainly be bigger and badder than any previous season. This makes sense since season 5 has been confirmed to be the final season of Stranger Things, so it will surely wrap up loose ends and include massive battles. Season 4 established Vecna as the main villain who has been pulling the strings since the premiere of season 1, which means that season 5 can dedicate its time to less exposition and more action. "The Crawl" title could suggest that the heroes will be spending the majority of their time in the Upside Down, bringing the fight to Vecna instead of allowing him to terrorize Hawkins even further.
Though "The Crawl" seems like an obvious tease to the dungeon crawl scenario from Dungeons & Dragons, there are several other theories surrounding the new season 5 update. The title could be pointing to Vecna's crawl away from the Creel house after being injured by Nancy, Steve, and Robin. Or it could be a tease for Eddie's return despite his heroic death in Stranger Things season 4 since "The Crawl" mirrors lyrics in Metallica's "Master of Puppets," which Eddie performed in the Upside Down. Whatever the new title reveals about the upcoming season, Stranger Things season 5 will surely be a thrill ride, finally completing the story that many have become invested in over the last six years.