After waiting for almost three years, stranger things has returned to Netflix with its fifth and final season — and the internet can’t stop talking about it. The Duffer Brothers’ blockbuster science-fiction horror series, which began in 2016, is finally heading toward its conclusion. But while anticipation was skyrocketing, initial reactions stranger things Fans of the S5 show are deeply divided over whether the long-awaited finale lives up to the hype.
beginning of the end
Season 5 sees the beloved cast back together for one last performance: Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Noah Schnapp as Will, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas. Sadie Sink returns as Max, and David Harbor returns as Chief Hopper, with Winona Ryder continuing the story as Joyce Byers.
The teaser promised a darker, more emotional tone and some powerful farewells. And according to early reviews, the new season delivers on both — though not everyone agrees on how well.
Netizens have mixed feelings
One fan gushed, “Will has powers, 008 is back, Vecna took all the kids, Max is alive, Will befriends Robin, military ass got kicked, and the parents of the Wheeler family are on the verge of death. Stranger Things Volume 5 is a fuckin’ crazy.” Another said, “The acting, the music, the cinematography, how the scene is presented, everything is absolutely perfect and everything is absolutely and truly stunningly perfect.”
A third review echoed the enthusiasm, writing, “#StrangerThings5 (Vol. 1) mirrors the tone of the final season – it’s more mature, more intense, but still keeps that classic ST humor alive. The character work this time is insane, and every episode ends on a straight-up high note. And Will Byers… easily the standout of this volume. His character development is unreal and Noah plays it with such conviction, it’s Honestly the best part of this season. The cliffhanger is wild, the last 15-20 minutes of episode 4 were great but now we will have to suffer through it.
But not everyone is impressed
For every rave review, there’s another reason to call the season overrated. One viewer wrote, “#StrangerThings5… is weird. The show really struggles with its large cast, and most only get a few meaningful things to do. The plot barely seems to move forward, and there’s a weird lack of momentum. Maya Hawke is acting around the rest of the guys.” Another fan complained, “Sorry kids, but the beginning of the end of #StrangerThings5 is rough. The final season of the hit Netflix series has the longest episodes, but also the most painfully clumsy dialogue. It’s reminiscent of the beginning from almost a decade ago.”
Some people also objected to the technical aspects. One person said, “The first episode of Stranger Things s5 is here… seriously some of the worst and weirdest acting I’ve ever seen, it seems like every time one of the 4 main guys talks.” Another said, “Completely offensive but weird stuff season 5 took so long to make and the camera work and CGI are really horrible, oh my god.”
Verdict: The Internet Can’t Agree
With its huge fan base and high expectations, stranger things The S5 was never going to please everyone. For some people, it’s a satisfying, emotional payoff; For others, it’s an uneven, bloated finale. Have you seen it yet?