Stranger Things: The First Shadow might finally stream on Netflix this year — here’s why it’s required watching for the next chapter in the series

By Hamish Hector published 20 hours ago

The Stranger Things spinoff is streaming soon

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is being filmed this week
This teases a Netflix debut for the play sometime soon
It could be crucial to understand the next chapter in the series

Stranger Things season 5 might have wrapped up the main series, but Netflix isn’t done with this fan-favorite franchise, it seems, as yet another spinoff is reportedly coming to the streaming platform: The First Shadow.

This prequel story set in the Stranger Things universe has already graced stages in the UK’s West End and US’ Broadway, but according to The Hollywood Reported a recorded version of the play will be available on Netflix at some point later this year – and if you’re a fan of the series, this is a recording I’d highly recommend watching.

Especially before watching the other Stranger Things prequel the Duffer brothers teased – one which will reveal how that strange rock in season 5 gave Henry Creel his powers and where it came from.

While The First Shadow wasn’t required watching for the main series, I suspect it might be much more essential to that upcoming project.

*Light spoilers follow for The First Shadow*

Stranger Things: The First Shadow predominantly follows the time Henry Creel spent in Hawkins in 1959 – a time after his powers manifested, but before he truly became Vecna.

We’ve seen snippets of this in the Netflix show with Henry’s backstory in Season 4 – when we see him torment his family – and then in Season 5 – when Max explores Henry's memories of Hawkins High School.

The stage play expands on this backstory with a cast of recognizable faces in the form of the party’s parents, as well as a motley crew of young Joyce, Hopper, and Bob who take on a familiar investigative role, looking into the strange animal killings taking place in the town.

I was lucky enough to be in one of the original production’s first audiences – I bought tickets for one of its earliest previews, which took place ahead of the official opening night – and I adored it.

A fine blend of familiar yet fresh, The First Shadow presents an interesting alternate perspective on Henry Creel’s villainous nature – while not making him appear saintly – and at the same time dodging the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s spinoff faults. It wasn’t required watching for the main series, while also not feeling like a completely independent side-story that simply uses the Stranger Things branding to elevate its pop-culture status.

It did expand my understanding of elements of the show’s wider world – I knew what that weird cult-like stage performance was from Henry’s memories, which Max explored, and had a better grasp of Henry’s relationship with the Mind Flayer – but you could have just as easily enjoyed Season 5 without it.

You can enjoy The First Shadow as both its own thing and as a piece of the whole, and when it launches on Netflix, I’d recommend tuning in – I know I will, even though I’ve already watched it once before.

But you’ll notice I said the show “predominantly” follows Henry's Hawkins life, and it's the few scenes that buck this trend which I believe will be essential for understanding the next Stranger Things spinoff.


FULL STORY, including FULL SPOILERS:

https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/stranger-things-the-first-shadow-mi ght-finally-stream-on-netflix-this-year-heres-why-its-required-watching-for-the -next-chapter-in-the-series

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