Since 2016, Stranger Things has kept fans deeply invested in the events unfolding in Hawkins, Indiana, and now, almost a decade later, we have finally reached the end of Netflix’s biggest series ever. To fully immerse myself in this final season, I decided to rewatch the show from the very beginning, a task that felt daunting at first but ultimately proved worthwhile.

Binge-watching the series allowed me to catch finer details that had slipped my mind over the years and gave me a deeper appreciation for the story as a whole. That is not to say the journey was flawless, as there are still lingering questions and elements left unexplained, but taken as a complete package, Stranger Things remains a bold, emotionally driven series that understands the power of its characters, its nostalgia, and its audience.

As the curtain closes on Hawkins, this final season serves as a harsh reminder of what once was. This season is such a disservice to the world that they initially created back in season 1.

After the way season 4 ended, I would be lying if I said that I, along with many other fans, was not ridiculously excited to see where the final season would take things. The way the creators had been building up Vecna left me desperate to see what his grand plan really was. That being said, season 5 did not satisfy that anticipation for me whatsoever.

I genuinely believe this is an after-effect of the creators forcing the series to stretch to five seasons and retroactively acting as if Vecna had been the plan from the very beginning. Season 1 was grounded, intentional, and a genuine breath of fresh air when it first premiered. By the time season 5 rolled around, that clear sense of identity was completely gone, and much of that can be traced back to a trend I have seen discussed more and more lately: the so-called “MCU-ification” of the series.

I’m aware that making a series finale is a massive task, and I respect the effort that went into Season 5. But the end result still left me feeling like the show lost its way. It’s hard to criticize something you love, but I can’t ignore how often the logic breaks and the pacing rushes past moments that should have meant more. I really wanted to love this season but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t do it. As the series is still super fresh, I don’t want to get into any spoilers and I would still encourage anybody reading this to still go and watch season 5 if you haven’t already.

Some of the character choices in Season 5 feel like they were written just to push the plot forward instead of showing real growth. Nancy and Jonathan have moments that should feel emotional, but their decisions come off rushed and out of character. They suddenly do things that do not match who they have been for four seasons, all because the story needs them to. And then there is Steve and Robin, who disappear for long stretches and suddenly pop back in like, “Oh hey, we remember you exist.”

That is especially disappointing because Stranger Things has always been about the characters first. Season 5 seems to forget that, and it shows. The season builds tension in a few places, but the payoff feels rushed like the writers were running out of time. It is like the show built up the emotions and then skipped the part where we actually feel them.

The nostalgia overload also becomes a problem. There are so many scenes that feel like they exist mainly to reference past seasons or recreate iconic moments. It is not all bad, but it starts to feel like the show is constantly reminding us it used to be great instead of proving it still is.

The relationships between Mike, Eleven, and Will have been built up for years, but Season 5 does not fully deliver on those emotional moments. Instead of feeling like a heartfelt ending, it feels like the show is rushing through important goodbyes.

Honestly, there are so many issues that if I went into all the details, this would not be a review, it would be a book. The inconsistencies are jarring, there are no meaningful changes by the end, and Vecna never feels like a real threat. As someone who loved the earlier seasons, this was painful, but the show still has enough charm to be entertaining. It is just not the finale we deserved.

Stranger Things Season 5 still has the charm, the nostalgia, and the moments that remind you why the show became such a cultural phenomenon. But as a final season, it falls short. The pacing is messy, the characters get pushed around by the plot, the villains feel shallow, and the emotional payoff never truly lands. The season tries to end with a bang, but it forgets that a finale should feel earned.

If you’re a fan, you’ll still find moments to enjoy. But you might walk away feeling like the show ended in a rush instead of a proper goodbye.

Stranger Things Season 5 Review in Full: So… That Finale Was Underwhelming!

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