Stranger Things has concluded, yet fans are left with underwhelming ending. (Spoilers) 

After a four-year wait, Stranger Things returned for its fifth and final season, and with it came big expectations. With all the volumes released the picture is clearer, the final season is intense and more emotional than ever, but not without its flaws. Now that it’s over, let’s talk about the good, the bad, the plot holes and fan theories. Be warned: there will be spoilers! 

But first, a brief recap: Season 5 opens in a thrashed Hawkins, still scarred by the events of last season, now sealed off from the outside world. The government’s supply runs into the upside down quickly become a point of interest. Hopper once again find himself risking everything, while the rest of the crew keeps their distance with radios, trackers and instinct to keep safe. 

By the middle of the season Vecna shows himself, attacking the kids through mental invasions, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. The group finally notices a pattern and sets a trap, confirming that Vecna is no longer hiding, he’s hunting. These first couple of episodes were great at setting the tension for what was to come. When Vecna finally shows up, the group just doesn’t have the fire power to fight back.  

When Vecna finally shows up, the group just doesn’t have the fire power to fight back. But just when it felt like our beloved characters were surely going to be dead meat, Will single-handedly stopped all the Demogorgons, white-eyed, hands in the air. It was a Will that we never knew we needed. 

In the final episode the group focussed on finding where the kids were and saving them. Which leads them to weakening the mind flayer by fire, which ultimately wears out Vecna, leaving Joyce to deliver the final blow. She swings an axe and ends the evil once and for all.  

Following this, Eleven sacrifices herself to destroy the upside-down, closing the gate permanently and ending the nightmare that has kept Hawkins awake. 

18 months later, graduation day arrives, Dustin delivers a striking speech, it seems like things are going to be just fine. The crew gathers for one last D&D game, but it’s not the same, they can’t accept the fact that someone is missing… Eleven 

Not everyone has appreciated the series’ final season. Variety‘s Alison Herman said, “By declining to enrich its characters as they age… you get bigger without going deeper, you end up stretched thin.”  

While Alison’s statement is true, I felt her and many other reviewers overlooked the individual growth of the characters. Without a doubt, from afar the adult actors playing children does seem a bit corny and out of place, yet the plot for each person goes so deep. 

Although the cast grew much older than their roles, their maturity was on par, rather than being spontaneous they took precautions to predict what was going to happen. For the teenagers, they all grew into their own personalities, unlike previous seasons where the main differences were looks and powers.  

Netflix’s foresight into their character’s future was greatly shown this season. Take Dustin for example, he used to be the shy group geek, this season he was standoffish, showing attitude and holding his ground.  

“Just read the manual Steve… I can’t always be there to solve your problems for you.”  

The quote shows how Dustin has been affected by the passing of Eddie, a domino effect that has been put in place since the very first episode. 

I’ve seen countless finales rely on killing off characters to create impact or shock value. A clearer example is in Breaking Bad, where Walter White is shot by his own machine gun and bleeds out in a calming way. The ending is effective, but it leaves very little possibility for a sequel. 

After spending nearly 45 hours building character, killing them off acts as a full stop rather than a meaningful conclusion. Deaths that bring shock may deliver a powerful moment, but they also take away the opportunity for growth, reflection or consequence.  

The Duffer brothers prioritize tension over shock. Instead of relying on permanent deaths, they go through near death experiences, allowing the show to continue with as many actors as possible. Their survival does not mean being safe, we see that many characters suffer from past trauma, which allows for more emotional connection.  

There has been speculation about another episode, mainly coming from fans that are upset at the calm, anticlimactic ending. Luckily, most of the characters are still alive, allowing for the possibility that more stories could be written. 

On the other hand, keeping so many characters alive leads to plot holes or the story not lining up. That said, it would be almost impossible to make sure no mistakes slipped by the writers, considering that every single small detail for each character had to be accounted for. 

Such as how Max goes from being blind, paralyzed and brain-dead to 100% normal, or how Lucas was stabbed to the point where he couldn’t walk, yet the next day he was carrying Max like it was nothing.  

I could go on and on, but my main point is that I think the Duffer brothers kept too much on their plate. So much so that it was easy for big details like this to slip out. As a viewer, if you casually watch the show these things may slip by, but for many die-hard fans it felt a bit lazy, almost as if they just wanted to get to the point.  

For a show that revolves around alternate dimensions, Stranger Things seems oddly unconcerned with consistency. The plot holes left fans with questions that can’t be answered, an unprofessional and disappointing way to end such a prestigious series.

Image Credit: Netflix