Photo courtesy of IDMb
In May of 2022, Netflix had the world on the edge of their seats. The hit show “Stranger Things” had concluded its fourth season with a bang, opening up massive possibilities for the fifth and final season. However, when the final season premiered in the past several months, viewers have had an overwhelming negative response. It doesn’t make sense—how did one of Netflix’s top shows with a 480 million dollar budget and the same writers as always manage to tank so spectacularly? (Spoilers ahead!)
Viewers have complained about three main problems with the wrap-up of the show.
1, The writing tone has shifted. Previous seasons boasted the nostalgia of the ’80s and realistic dialogue that drew audiences in; it reminded them of what it was like to be a kid, and how friendships really could change lives and defeat evil. However, in Season 5, things have gone off the rails. Characters like Robin, Will and El that previously felt relatable and realistic were melted down into character shells with modern agendas. It no longer felt like an 80s show—it felt like a 2025 show wearing ’80s clothing.
2, The plot felt badly underdeveloped. Matt and Ross Duffer, the brother-writer duo that fueled the show, have publicly admitted in the post-release behind-the-scenes documentary that they started shooting certain scenes before the dialogue was even finished, despite having had four years to develop it.
The documentary shows actors reminding the authors about their own characters’ lore, and showcased a real carelessness for something audiences had been waiting on and ramping up their expectations for. Parts of the finale—for instance, the way that the military just pack up and leave town post-final-battle after investing in this bioweapon project for years—seemed to create plot holes instead of filling them, and the Duffer brothers’ new favorite catchphrase seems to be “It happened offscreen.”
3, Promises without payoff. Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, advised readers to, “bring a box of tissues with you.” The Duffer brothers told audiences that, “It would be a dark Christmas.” Major character deaths were foretold, and everyone waited with baited breath to see if their favorite characters would make it out alive. Spoiler alert, but they literally all do. The stakes seemed to be imaginary, with characters making it out of situations that should have killed them completely unscathed. Although there are two “official character deaths,” they aren’t confirmed and are left up to the audience for interpretation—which, I would argue, isn’t at all a satisfying way to end a five-season show.
All in all, Season Five of “Stranger Things” was wildly disappointing but not completely irredeemable. The final scene was tearjerking, there was plenty of recall and nostalgia-baiting for older viewers who could remember watching the first season as children. However, when Netflix is creating their next multimillion-dollar hit, they might consider that while the audiences have hearts, they also have brains.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of IDMb.