The Watch (The Ringer)

Episode: ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Is Finally Here. Was It Worth the Wait? Plus, ‘Landman’ S2E3
Date: December 1, 2025
Hosts: Chris Ryan & Mallory Rubin
(Guest host Mallory Rubin stands in for Andy Greenwald)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, reflecting on the long wait, its impact as a piece of “monoculture,” and how the storytelling and character development have evolved as the beloved Netflix series nears its end. The second half explores the third episode of Landman Season 2, with equal parts amusement and disbelief about the show’s escalating absurdities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stranger Things Season 5 – The Return of a Monocultural Event

The Zeitgeist Factor

• Shared Experience: Despite fragmented streaming culture, Stranger Things retains the rare ability to bring people together for a collective viewing event, especially with its holiday-season drop (06:00).
• Mallory Rubin: "It didn't occur to me that I was talking about Stranger Things. Even though obviously that's like a zeitge animating rare bit of monoculture." (03:47)
• Chris Ryan: Reflects on the joys of watching with others, especially kids, who bring energy and emotional immediacy to the viewing (07:03).

Binge-ability and Release Structure

• Discussion of Netflix’s Three-Volume Drop: The release, spread over the holidays, creates both opportunities for group binging but may dampen the old-fashioned “everyone watches at once” moment (06:02).

Plot and Episode Breakdown

• Season 5 Context: The new season picks up a year and a half after Season 4, following Hawkins’ apocalyptic rupture and with the return of Vecna/One/Henry.
• Episode Titles in Volume 1:
  • The Crawl
  • The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler
  • The Turnbo Trap (directed by Frank Darabont)
  • Sorcerer (the “big one”)
• Direction: Mostly by the Duffer brothers, one by Frank Darabont (08:00).

Evolving Tone and Structure

• Shift Towards Action and Task-Oriented Storytelling:

  • Chris observes a move away from the coming-of-age warmth and 80s hangout charm toward plot-driven, action-heavy sequences (14:10).
  • Mallory notes the “on the clock” nature might come at the expense of quieter moments but is logical for the final season (16:31).

• Monoculture Nostalgia & The Ringer’s Shared History:

  • Mallory reminisces about the early Ringer days (Barb debate, first blog, mall talk, pool scenes); the pop culture touchstones the show both references and creates (10:14, 11:15).

Thematic/Pop Cultural Callbacks

• Overt References:
  • A Wrinkle in Time (“Camazotz” and Mrs. Whatsit), placed front and center (09:40).
  • Harry Potter (Will and Vecna echoes of Harry-Voldemort) (09:40, 42:48).
  • Ongoing 80s nostalgia—music, bikes, latchkey kids, “Goonies,” etc.

2. Character Arcs and Relationship Dynamics

Task vs. Heart

• Characters now engage more in "describing an obstacle, scheming a way to get around it" than in hangout scenes or organic character beats (14:39).
• The party is mostly trapped together in Hawkins, reducing the cross-country group splits that both helped and hurt previous seasons (17:23).
• There is still chemistry and opportunity for growth—Mallory wants more heartfelt Steve & Dustin moments (26:08).

Specific Character Notes

• Will Byers:

  • Season 5 finally re-centers Will as a major player, culminating in his new powers in episode four (“Sorcerer”) (41:07).
  • The show doubles down on his psychic connection to Vecna/the hive mind, likened to Harry Potter’s link to Voldemort (43:40).
  • Will’s sexuality and coming-of-age storyline intertwines thematically with his supernatural arc (44:31).
  • Quote (Mallory, 41:07): "I think something that Joe and I talked about a lot in the run up to season four was a real desire to see Will more centered in the story again…"

• Max Mayfield:

  • Her mind-trapped state inside Vecna’s “mind palace” draws on fairytale motifs, anxieties about agency, and echoes season four’s “power of music” solution (46:13).
  • “It was cool… I don't know if I get it, you know, And I'm curious to know what it is about the caves that Vecna can't go into and get scared off by.” (Chris, 46:13)

• Steve, Jonathan, Nancy dynamics:

  • Love triangle persists but is less important than the characters’ relationships to themselves, their friends, and their futures (23:22, 25:27).
  • The authenticity of friendship pairings (Steve/Dustin especially) remains a highlight.

• Dustin Henderson:

  • Carries the torch for the “party stays together” ethos, grieving for Eddie and Hellfire Club, pushing for loyalty (24:39, 25:03).

• Vecna/Henry:

  • Bulkier this season; the creative team aims for a "Vader in Rogue One" kind of threat (34:05).
  • His entrance riffs on Game of Thrones (Hardhome/Army raising), with the Upside Down taking on “wall” iconography (34:23).

• Eight/Kali’s Return:

  • The return of the controversial “Lost Sister” is both “chutzpah” and potentially a redeemer for a previously failed plotline (31:13, 56:38).
  • Eight’s unique powers and uncertain role in the series resolution are openly debated.

• Secondary Characters:

  • The Wheelers (Holly, Karen, Ted) are unexpectedly central as Holly becomes a key player within Max's mental storyline—a twist lauded for using existing "background" faces rather than introducing new ones (48:33).
  • Dipshit Derek is a divisive addition—some find him unnecessary, others enjoy his levity (48:32).

3. Critique: Stakes & Death Fakeouts

• The show repeatedly employs fake-out deaths (particularly Hopper and Karen Wheeler).
• This “Wrath of Khan” routine frustrates Chris, who suggests it undercuts stakes and emotional truth (50:27).
• Mallory prefers emotional stakes through parting, transformation, or growth rather than just character deaths (52:13).

4. Mythology, The Government, and Big Ideas

• Chris is drawn less to the magic/mind palace than to the show's depiction of government overreach and cover-ups in Hawkins—a thread he wishes the show would pull on more (33:05).
• There’s skepticism about the military subplot, though Mallory thinks the “government as an antagonist” is conceptually interesting (35:19).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I've never seen someone more excited to talk about Ali Larder giving roadhead than you."
  — Chris Ryan, teasing Mallory’s Landman enthusiasm (03:05)

• "I have recently been thinking about… how much time is left to, like, read books and watch new shows versus rereading books I love and rewatching…"
  — Mallory Rubin, musing on time, rewatching, and anticipation (02:41)

• "But you know, I was watching this Stranger Things this weekend... I got the experience of watching it with a 10 year old... and a 15 year old..."
  — Chris Ryan, on the joys of communal, intergenerational viewing (07:03)

• "One thing Stranger Things has always done really well is balance those elements..."
  — Mallory Rubin, on the show’s blend of coming-of-age, nostalgia, and horror (21:44)

• "When you have task after task after task, you can kind of lose the warmth."
  — Chris Ryan (14:39, paraphrased sentiment)

• "Will becoming Jon Snow, Luke Skywalker, and Harry Potter at the end of episode four..."
  — Chris Ryan, on Will’s arc in Episode 4 “Sorcerer” (40:38)

• "I think the overt 'The Shire can be saved, but not for me' conversation that Mike and Elle had… is definitely setting up the Frodo outcome."
  — Mallory Rubin, discussing how emotional endings don’t have to be mortal (52:13)

• "Dipshit Derek is in season five… not a fan."
  — Chris Ryan, on new character fatigue (48:32)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Stranger Things monoculture & family viewing anecdotes: 04:10–07:32
• Season 5 release/debate on binging vs. group drops: 06:02–07:50
• Season 5 timeline recap, episode directors, plot set-up: 07:50–10:03
• Ringer history, Barb, nostalgia, coming-of-age: 10:14–12:28
• Task-oriented shift in show structure: 14:10–15:26
• Discussion of the “mind palace,” themes, and 80s references: 29:03–31:13
• Eight/Kali's return, mythology expansions: 56:38–61:56
• Fake-out deaths, Hopper, stakes discussion: 50:26–55:09
• Will’s powers, Sorcerer episode breakdown: 40:38–45:43
• Max, Holly, fairy tale mind-trap, and Wheeler family focus: 46:13–49:07

Landman S2E3 – Batshit Energy in the Oilfields

Tonal Chaos and Absurdity

• Chris and Mallory revel in the show’s willingness to bounce between massive chemical spills and raunchy sexual humor (62:38–65:00).
• Ali Larder’s Angela: The sexual bravado is both hilarious and bewildering. “Angela didn’t get where she is by not knowing how to give a blowjob. I don’t buy that at all.” — Mallory Rubin (64:42).
• The “your job is to achieve the impossible, mine is to motivate—that’s why God created tits” quote (65:00) stuns both hosts.

Taylor Sheridan’s Approach

• Andy Garcia’s cartel-backer character brings unpredictable energy; his scenes with Tommy are highlights (65:49).
• Landman is dubbed “not the best show on TV, but possibly the most entertaining for its runtime” (65:20).
• Discussion of Sam Elliott, oil plots, and the show’s willingness to introduce countless threads and sidebars.

Minor Characters and Subplots

• Mallory doesn’t care about bartender Ariana.
• Chris finds the Yellowstone-ification and endless father-son drama both familiar and amusing.

Final Thoughts

• Both hosts praise Stranger Things Season 5’s ambition and entertainment value, while wishing for a little more breathing room and focus on emotional closure.
• They remain invested in the relationships (Will-Mike, Steve-Dustin, Max-Lucas) as much as the larger plot twists.
• Both take glee in the wild genre-mashing of Landman, even as it makes almost no logical sense.

Summary Table of Key Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | | ----------| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 03:47 | Mallory | "Even though obviously that's like a zeitge animating rare bit of monoculture." | | 07:03 | Chris | "I got the experience of watching it with a 10 year old... and a 15 year old..." | | 14:39 | Chris | "Characters spend 90% of their time describing an obstacle..." | | 21:44 | Mallory | "Stranger Things has always done really well is, like, balance those elements." | | 41:07 | Mallory | "A real desire to see Will more centered in the story again..." | | 65:00 | Angela | "That's why God created tits." (quoted by Mallory from Landman) | | 65:20 | Mallory | “Landman...not the best show on tv. Of course not. But is it the most entertaining?” |

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

If you love TV that sits at the intersection of nostalgia, emotional resonance, and mind-bending genre storytelling, this Watch episode is essential listening. It delivers high-intrigue discussion, passionate debate, memorable one-liners, and that singular Chris-and-guest camaraderie—while also serving up a heavy dash of Taylor Sheridan mockery/lovefest to cap it all off.

Skip the promos—dive straight into the fast, funny, and warm deep-dive that celebrates what remains special (and occasionally absurd) in modern pop culture “event” TV.