SERIES REVIEW – So, it has come to this… as strange as it is to say it out loud… Stranger Things is over. The final season, released in three parts, has ended, we’ve made it through the emotional shock, and with that the big adventure that started nine years ago has come to a close. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say this was Netflix’s first real explosion, and to this day still its biggest title (based on the viewing numbers, almost certainly), so the Duffer brothers carried a massive responsibility. Did they live up to it? Weeeeeell…

The closing shots of season 4 made it clear that we had stepped onto the road to the finale. The gates to the Upside Down tore all of Hawkins apart, and then, over the past year and a half, the military “welded” them shut, set up camp, put Hawkins under quarantine and…. basically nothing happened. Vecna has vanished since the last clash, and our heroes are trying to track him down, unaware that darker things than ever are being set in motion.

Big on Spectacle, Shakier in Spirit

From the very first moment, it hits you in the face that neither the creators nor Netflix spared any expense. They knew exactly that this was a prestige series and they couldn’t afford to half-measure it. And they didn’t. No season of Stranger Things has been this spectacular and this fast-paced. The locations, the monsters, Vecna, the lighting and the overall mood are all far above average – and not just by TV standards. It still feels good to sink into this universe and spend time with these characters. And yet, now that we’ve reached the end, I’m left with mixed feelings about season 5, the finale, and the series as a whole.

Familiar Loops, Fading Momentum

Somewhere along the way, you can feel that even the creators don’t quite know what to do with the same situations anymore. They couldn’t always move this many characters in a meaningful way or give them enough space. Sadly, that’s still true here, and it’s made worse by the fact that Mike’s sister Holly gets an unjustifiably large amount of screen time – even compared to the main characters.

For a season that was promised to be one big wrap-up, it unfortunately isn’t. At the end of season 4 it was almost as if Hell itself had opened in Hawkins, yet nothing happened for 1.5 years, and even now the first seven episodes mostly set the table for the final episode’s big showdown. Vecna remains a perfect villain, played flawlessly, yet apart from one or two scenes he’s kept on a low flame throughout the season. The plot doesn’t deliver truly huge surprises – as spectacular and as brisk as it is, most of the twists don’t ultimately land as hard as we thought they would.

Uneven Performances, Painful Drop-Offs

The best word that comes to mind for the acting is “uneven.” There are performers who bring a consistently high level (Max, Steve, Dustin, Hopper), there are those who are nothing above average, and it’s noticeable how unmotivated and drained some feel. Even more painful is that this happens to the lead, Tizi. I’ve had no issue with Millie Bobby Brown’s work until this season, but now I honestly don’t understand this obvious dip in quality. Will’s big confession scene unfortunately didn’t work for me, no matter how much they wanted it to… I’m sorry.

Especially because this was supposedly what he “needed” to tap into his power, yet beyond the crying I don’t see how he actually became stronger in any meaningful way. This didn’t need to happen like this. Still, despite all its flaws, what needs to work does work – and even with some slight grimacing… in the end, I feel we got a “decent” conclusion. And honestly, I can live with that. So what did Stranger Things give us overall? Now that it’s over, the question comes up: did it deserve to become an instant pop-cultural phenomenon, and will it remain one after this? Where do we go from here?

A Farewell to a World That Keeps Going

I think there’s no point even guessing – this universe is only now starting to open up for real. Even though we’re letting go of this story and these characters, we already know a spin-off series and an animated show are in the works. I loved this series, its atmosphere pulled me in, but I think this was exactly enough – and it’s the perfect time to start moving in another direction. The series had flaws, which started to show up mostly around seasons 3-4.

At the same time, it’s undeniable that, despite all its wobbling, we’re saying goodbye to a special series – far more imaginative, more exciting, more entertaining and, not least, more spectacular than the average – and overall I’d give it an 8 out of 10.

-Sonny Cavalera-