Late Nights and New Releases: What to Watch This Fall

When coming home from school after a long day of tests, papers, and presentations, nothing sounds better than curling up on your couch and watching the newest season of your favourite show or movie that finally came to Netflix. However, this doesn’t always go in my favour, as I find myself scrolling through Netflix, trying to find a show I will enjoy and seeing absolutely nothing there. With Netflix’s quality going down, my boredom has skyrocketed. Nevertheless, some films are coming out soon that I’m sure I’ll enjoy. 

Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1

With the Stranger Things trailer coming out only recently, we get a sneak peek of what’s to be expected for the first part of the 5th season. In the trailer, many things are happening, and I’m here to break them all down. 

The trailer begins with Dustin returning to school on his bike, which likely occurs directly after season 4. Mike and Eleven are on top of a building talking about life, and everything seems normal, despite the challenges they faced in the previous season. Then, the major threat of the 5th season - which was technically revealed at the end of the 4th season- is revealed: Vecna’s survival. Because of this, the team must reunite to find a way to eliminate Vecna. 

We see them surrounding a government facility and planning an invasion. Why do they need to get in? Do they need supplies? Is it a way for them to enter the upside-down? I personally believe the group is attempting to get supplies needed for a battle in the future, perhaps the final battle between the group and Vecna. We see Eleven and Jim inside this facility. Jim is aiming the gun at someone behind the camera, and Eleven is closing her fists, ready to fight. Is this one of Dr. Benner’s facilities? Is Eleven fighting the government? I’m inclined to believe it’s a human, based on their determined looks rather than the looks of fear they would have carried had it been a Demogogron, but who exactly is it? We later see Eleven setting off an explosion from this facility, and its power flying across the town of Hawkins. Is this what eventually opens the gates across the entire town? Why would she do this? Is this to draw out Vecna? 

When the gates do open, we observe a battle scene between what seems to be the military and the demogorgens. Once the battle is over, with the military dead, Vecna makes his screen appearance. He states the following words: “William, you are going to help me… One last time”. I believe we are going to uncover the answer to a question I have had for a long time: Why was Will able to survive in the Upside Down for an entire week, while the rest of the cast found it nearly impossible to survive for longer than a couple of hours? 

Throughout the trailer, we see glimpses of other scenes which I couldn’t decipher without more context for the situation, though for Nancy and Jonathan, I have a theory. There was one scene in the trailer where Nancy and Jonathan were in tears, forehead to forehead, which features the characteristic blue hue the Upside Down provides. I believe this is foreshadowing Jonathan’s death, where he’ll sacrifice himself for Nancy in a devastating scene. However, this is only a theory based on one clip. 

As you can see, I am extremely excited for the newest season of Stranger Things to come out. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to binge the entire season in one sitting, as Netflix has decided to split the final season into three parts. The first four episodes will be released on November 26th. The next three will be released on December 25th, and the final episode will air on December 31st. When watching the finale, I would suggest having a box of tissues next to you, as actor Noah Schnapp, who plays Will, said this about the finale: “I’m honestly, like, as sad as it was, I’m so excited to see the world’s reaction to like, watching the finale, because, I mean, there’s not going to be a dry eye. It’s going to be sad.” So, while that sounds absolutely terrifying, it also sounds promising for an incredible season. 

Wicked: For Good. 

The first Wicked movie began with Glinda and Elphaba meeting at the University of Oz and becoming unlikely friends despite their differences in personality and values. As the movie progresses, Elphaba begins to see injustice in Oz, particularly when she observes animal abuse and the Wizard’s lack of proper leadership. She decides to grow her power to fight these causes. Glinda originally decided to continue her comfortable life before joining her friend (Elphaba) to rebel against The Wizard, who is revealed to be a fraud at the end of the movie. Because of this rebellion, Elphaba is ostracized from society, and the people of Oz begin to see her as the “Wicked Witch of the West,” even though her intentions are pure. The film ends with a cliffhanger; Elphaba is on the run from the Wizard and his forces, and Glinda chooses a different path- one of comfort. 

While the first movie was a three-hour introduction to the tale, I am especially excited to see what will occur in the climax of the second movie. I am hoping to see the development of Elphaba’s character, revealing what truly made her the antagonist in Dorothy’s story from The Wizard of Oz. I am also curious to observe how Glinda the Good-- as she became known to be-- and The Wicked Witch of the West navigate their difficult relationship now that Elphaba is a fugitive. Will their paths diverge? Will they reconcile? These are questions I hope to have answered when I book my ticket for the first showing, on November 21st, 2025. 

Zootopia 2

The first Zootopia movie was the development of Nick Wilde’s (a con artist) and Judy Hopps’ (a rookie cop) relationship as they try to uncover the mystery of the “Night Howlers,” a serum that causes predators to revert to their savage, primitive instincts. Because this threatened to tilt the peaceful balance of Zootopia, the two set off to save the city. Over time, as they uncovered the case, Nick and Judy became close friends, with Judy letting go of her prejudices against predator animals, and Nick changing his heart, no longer being a con artist. The movie ended with him joining the police force. 

In Zootopia 2, Nick and Judy are cop partners who investigate the appearance of a reptile, Gary De’Snake, in Zootopia. While being undercover, Nick and Judy delve into parts of Zootopia they haven’t seen before. After watching the trailer, one can assume the film will be about the continuation of Nick and Judy’s relationship as new cop partners, as well as the discovery of the hidden reptile community in Zootopia. I believe, after watching the trailer, that the movie will revolve around Judy and Nick having to convince the government of Zootopia that reptiles aren’t as bad as they seem. While Zootopia is a movie directed mainly for children, I know I will be watching it when it comes out on November 26th, 2025!

Knowing these films will be coming out around the same time -late November- it does give you some wiggle room to try and finish the show you are currently watching; for me, that’s trying to binge seasons 1-4 of Stranger Things in time. So sit down, enjoy the wait, and get ready for these films to hit your screen.