STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW Reviews- Page 5

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 12:41pm

Netflix has posted the first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season Five. I found two brief nods to the events of The First Shadow.

 

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A flashback to Joyce in high school, passing out flyers for the school play.

A reference to a cave that Henry is afraid of. Apparently it was discussed in more detail in the play in London. But was cut to just a sentence or two when I saw it on Broadway. The Duffers seem to be saving its significance for the final episodes.

 

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 2:19pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Haven't watched the show but the name Jack Throne alone is a big red flag. And I was not proven wrong. It feels like one of those run-of-the-mill kinds of storytelling without any focus. There is nothing for the story to latch onto that makes it compelling or transporting. Rather, the play is actively distancing itself from the audience and doesn't let you sit with the characters and see their humanity. I'm not sure whether this is the case for the tv show fans or there is some assumed familiarity, but as a standalone play it leaves an awful lot to be desired. The only joke that was remotely relatable personally was the Oklahoma ones, but when very few people in the theater even care about that joke you know you are probably in the wrong place."

Who cares? It was visually amazing and the performances were as well. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 2:23pm

MrsSallyAdams said: "Netflix has posted the first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season Five. I found two brief nods to the events of The First Shadow.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

A flashback to Joyce in high school, passing out flyers for the school play.

A reference to a cave that Henry is afraid of. Apparently it was discussed in more detail in the play in London. But was cut to just a sentence or two when I saw it on Broadway. The Duffers seem to be saving its significance for the final episodes.

"

SPOILERS:

If I recall correctly, they spent much of the play making fun of Oklahoma, no? And they did a different play. But in the TV show, it says they’re doing Oklahoma. Also thought it would’ve been nice to give the Broadway actors the parts instead of having other people do it with Winona’s voice.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 4:37pm

Matt Duffer gave an interview in Entertainment Weekly, where he said no actor from the play will appear in Season 5, because only a few people will see the play, and they want Season 5 to make sense as a standalone experience. 

The explanation makes zero sense to me because say you're going to use a different actor to play young Joyce Byers anyway, it's no more or less confusing to the general audience if it's the same actress from First Shadow.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 6:36pm

Re Drama Teach. Yes, Joyce decides to produce Dark of the Moon instead of the previously announced production of Oklahoma. I'm not sure why this involved passing out fliers for Oklahoma but I'll roll with it.

As far as stage actors go, another fan pointed out that Alex Breaux plays Dr. Brenner on Broadway and Lt. Akers in season five. I'm not sure if any other stage actors will be making cameos.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 6:49pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "Matt Duffergave an interview in Entertainment Weekly, where he said no actor from the play will appear in Season 5, because only a few people will see the play, and they want Season 5 to make sense as a standalone experience.

The explanation makes zero sense to me because say you're going to use a different actor to play young Joyce Byers anyway, it's no more or less confusing to the general audience if it's the same actress from First Shadow."


They know the play is sh*t and don’t wanna involve it in the series lol

[getatme]

Posted: 11/30/25 at 6:54pm

MrsSallyAdams said: "Re Drama Teach. Yes, Joycedecides to produceDark of the Mooninstead of the previously announced production ofOklahoma.I'm not sure why this involved passing out fliers forOklahomabut I'll roll with it.

As far as stage actors go, another fan pointed out that Alex Breaux plays Dr. Brenner on Broadway and Lt. Akers in season five. I'm not sure if any other stage actors will be making cameos."

In the plays they are pretending publicly to be doing Oklahoma because that is the show the school approved, but Joyce decides to instead put on Dark of the Moon and announce this on opening night before the show starts.