The Netflix original show Stranger Things aired its final episode on Dec. 31, 2025. The Emmy-award winning show hooked the interest of people of all ages, but hit home with teens. The finale fired off discourse among fans split between praise for emotional moments, harsh criticism for rushed endings and character development issues. So, did Stranger Things conclude The Rightside Up? Or, The Upside Down?
The show continued for nearly a decade, with 45 hours of screen time between five seasons and 42 episodes. Season five earned a rough 56% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to season four with 89%. Fans pointed out that season five had extreme plot holes and a rushed, undescribed ending, making it one of the worst rated Stranger Things seasons.
“I don’t think the plot holes were enough to ruin the show, but I don’t believe they met the standard for a show based on tiny details and coincidences,” Freshman Markin McHugh said. “I hated Will’s coming out scene. Most of the people didn’t need to be there. The “and me” dialogue felt so cliche and the repetition paired with lack of character reactions was very underwhelming for such an important scene.”
There are multiple scenes throughout the season viewers felt were incomplete. The infamous scene of main character Will Byers admitting his sexuality being the most popular. After years of speculation around his sexual orientation, the scene received negative feedback.
“Are we forgetting this is the 80s? It’s so unrealistic it’s not even funny. Everyone supported him? Just hugged him after like it was just nothing? Nope. I don’t believe it. And as a queer person myself, it’s sometimes hard for me to talk about it with people I’m close with and already know. I absolutely hate talking about it with my family, and this is 2026,” Sophomore Sophia Douglas said. “I can’t even imagine that in front of 12 people, whom half I’m not even that close with. No way. It just says to me that there was not a singular queer person in that writing room.”
Aside from the poor character development, the plot of the story completely took a turn. Stranger Things was originally written about the disappearance of Will Byers, but later uncovered a secret government lab and a parallel dimension called the Upside Down, where Will is trapped. Eleven, a mysterious girl with psychic powers escaped the lab and helps them fight monsters from the dimension. As the seasons progress, the story becomes clustered and confusing to follow, losing its original plot.
“It was a show about outcasts for outcasts, and that made it special to me, because I’ve never really felt like a normal kid that belonged. It told a story about kids, whose “nerdy” interests saved their lives,” Douglas said. “Everything that made them different was put into light, and never was the reason for deeming them as weak. For me, this message kind of felt lost especially after volume 2. The show preached that conformity was killing the kids, but in the end, everyone just became a conformed version of themselves.”
Stranger Things hooked its viewers for its acknowledgement of the “outcasts” and following the adventure of finding Will. With the show deterring from its real purpose and losing the spark it once had, it disappointed thousands of fans, who have anticipated the ending since it began.
“I was so disappointed, and I wish I could have a regular reaction, but I’m too in depth with this show that it physically hurts me. I had so much faith in this season, but it felt like it was written without detail, without care, and without understanding for their own show.” Douglas said.
