Stranger Things has finally come to an end and left us with some big complicated feels about how it all went down. Both of us (Jennifer and Beth) are bona fide fans who have seen prior seasons multiple times, and we had remarkably similar reactions to the fifth season, especially the series finale. So we decided to co-write a review, discussing everything we liked about it as well as kvetching about the things we definitely didn’t like—a shared “airing of grievances.”
(WARNING: Many, many spoilers below in the interest of a thorough analysis.)
Season 4 ended with Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) opening the fourth gate that allowed the Upside Down to leak into Hawkins. We got an 18-month time jump for S5, Vol. 1, but in a way, we came full circle, since those events coincided with the third anniversary of Will’s (Noah Schnapp) original disappearance in S1.
It’s always bittersweet when a beloved series comes to an end. It’s interesting to hear about the mixed feelings regarding the finale. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
I completely agree; the end of a series can be a mix of emotions. It’s fascinating how “Stranger Things” managed to weave in so many complex themes throughout its run, making the finale even more impactful, despite some frustrations. Those character arcs really kept us invested!
It’s definitely a rollercoaster of emotions! It’s interesting to see how the finale tried to tie up so many loose ends while also leaving some questions lingering. That balance is tough to achieve, especially for a show with such a complex storyline.
I completely agree! The way the finale attempted to connect all the character arcs was ambitious, but it felt uneven at times. It’s also worth noting how the show’s themes of friendship and sacrifice were really emphasized in the end, making the emotional impact even stronger.