Stranger Things Season 5 Finale Review: A Bittersweet Goodbye to the Series

Stranger Things—my favorite TV series—closed its final chapter yesterday, and I’m still sitting with a mix of emotions I don’t quite know how to untangle. Part of me wishes the show would never end, simply because I love these characters so much. Saying goodbye to them feels like saying goodbye to people I grew up with.

Joe Keery once said that Stranger Things is about a group of outcasts coming together. That idea perfectly captures what the series has always stood for. It reminds us that these characters didn’t become powerful because they were special—they became powerful because they found each other…

As someone who often felt like an outsider, that’s exactly why this series pulled me in so deeply. It wasn’t just about monsters or the Upside Down—it was about belonging. About finding people who truly see you. In many ways, I didn’t just watch these characters; I connected with them.

For the past 10 years, Stranger Things was the one series I always looked forward to. I even took a day off work whenever a new season dropped—just to binge it in one go (except for Season 5, Vol 1). That’s how obsessed I was. No other show has ever made me feel that way. So yes, I cried last night realizing it was truly over. I know it’s just a show, but this ending left me feeling strangely empty—as if a chapter of my life quietly closed along with it.

What Happened in the Finale

I went into the finale expecting more… and maybe that’s exactly why I walked away feeling a little frustrated. It wasn’t bad. Not at all. But it wasn’t great either. And for a show that delivered one of the strongest seasons ever with Season 4—especially that unforgettable finale—I truly believed the ending would hit me with the same level of excitement, tension, and emotional payoff.

Season 4 set the bar incredibly high. The stakes felt massive. The emotions were raw. Every moment mattered. Each character had their own battle, and it all felt epic. Naturally, I expected the series finale to carry that same intensity. Instead, the final battle in Season 5 felt surprisingly short—and honestly, a bit too easy. I even rewatched it just to be sure, and the core battle lasted only about 6 minutes. For a threat that had been built up for years, it didn’t feel as epic as it should have. It could have been more—and I truly believe the Duffer Brothers were capable of more.

What made it more disappointing was the absence of elements that could have added real weight to the fight. The demogorgan and demobats, for example, were nowhere to be seen. Nowhere at all. They’ve always been terrifying, chaotic, and a perfect representation of how dangerous they are as Vecna’s army. Including them could have made the battle feel more desperate, more earned, and far more impactful.

Then there’s the military subplot. Those scenes felt unnecessary and disconnected, contributing very little to the story in a meaningful way. Unless the intention was for them to assist in the abyss, the scenes could have been removed without changing the outcome. I had hoped they would eventually play a role in helping, but in the end… nothing. That screen time could have been better spent deepening the emotional core of the finale or building more tension for the final battle.

Similarly, in Volume 2, Will coming out as gay in front of everyone felt drawn-out and lacked the personal intimacy it could have had with just his mom or his gang. No hate—it’s an important moment—but in the context of the finale, it slowed the story down. In a nutshell, the scene lasted longer than the battle. It wasn’t a surprise when the episode ended up as the lowest-rated in the entire series.

That said, the epilogue provided a sweet closing to the story. Some moments in the finale also worked beautifully. The scenes with Murray, Hopper, Eleven, and Kali at the Upside Down laboratory (HNL) were excellent—especially the moment when Eleven killed Lt. Akers. That scene genuinely satisfied me. The way the Duffers teased Steve’s possible death also worked incredibly well. Steve is a fan favorite, and that moment had everyone holding their breath. Seeing Mr. Clarke in the series finale was another highlight. I just wish they had expanded his role a little more, considering how influential he was to the kids back in Season 1.

The final scene was brilliant too, with the group playing D&D. Later, while going upstairs, Mike watched Holly and her friends, quietly reminiscing about his own childhood and the days when everything began. He closed the door, and the episode ended. That moment really hit me.

I appreciated that the Duffers chose not to kill any major characters—but I still wish the finale had shown real consequences. They didn’t have to die, but seeing some of them badly injured would’ve added realism and emotional weight to the ending.

Dr. Owens is another character who deserved better closure. His journey mattered, and it felt incomplete to leave him behind without a proper resolution—especially in a show that usually does such a great job honoring its characters. He’s one of the best characters the Duffers created. And one question still bothers me: where was Max’s mum? At the very least, she should’ve been there at graduation when all the other parents were present.

Scenes That Broke Me

Everyone else seemed to get their version of a happy ending.

Everyone… except Mike.

Watching him carry the weight of his story, battling his emotions and being forced to accept what had happened was the scene that genuinely shattered my heart. It hurt because it felt undeserved. Mike has always been the emotional backbone of the group. His journey has been central to the heart of the show from the very beginning. He deserved better.

I just wish he had said, “I love you too,” to Eleven during their final scene together.

The finale leaves us with an ambiguous ending. And while I want to believe that Eleven is alive, Mike’s theory has holes that are hard to ignore. It leaves us with hope—but also doubt. Maybe that was intentional. Still, as a fan, it left me feeling conflicted rather than fulfilled.

Even if Kali did help Eleven, there are still so many unanswered questions—especially about the timing, considering Kali was already injured by the gunshot and was shown to have died in that scene. Maybe she was actually still alive somehow and managed to connect telepathically, knowing exactly when to use her power one last time—or maybe she used an illusion to fake her own death. I don’t know. I just wish Dr Kay had died in the abyss instead of Eleven having to go. But yeah, Kali deserves an apology from all of us, since we all thought she was working with Vecna. Haha.

Even the music choices in the finale didn’t hit as hard as in previous seasons. Stranger Things has always excelled at using music to elevate its most iconic moments—“Ray of Light” (Season 2), “Separate Ways” (Season 4), and “Running Up That Hill” (Season 4) are perfect examples of how a song can define an entire scene. Because of that legacy, I expected the finale to deliver something just as powerful. Tracks like “Who Wants to Live Forever” by Queen or “Child in Time” by Deep Purple—both used in the trailers—would have added emotional weight and grandeur to the final battle. Nothing against Prince, but the series finale deserved music that felt bigger, heavier, and truly unforgettable.

Some Of the Acting Was Truly Brilliant

One thing that deserves to be highlighted is the acting, because so many performances in Stranger Things were genuinely outstanding.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna was phenomenal. I honestly wish he would receive an award for this role. The way he carried Vecna’s rage, pain, and quiet menace was chilling. His performance wasn’t just scary—it was layered, emotional, and unforgettable. He commanded every scene he was in and absolutely deserved a standing ovation.

The younger cast also deserves massive praise, especially Holly (Nell Fisher). Her performances were incredibly strong, delivering emotional depth that felt natural and raw rather than forced.

Millie Bobby Brown received criticism in Vol 2 for her more restrained, almost static expressions. But in the final episode, she proved just how capable she is. Her emotions felt fuller, more vulnerable, and more human—especially in the moments where words weren’t needed.

Finn Wolfhard also stood out. Even without saying much, his face alone conveyed pain, fear, and emotional exhaustion. You could see the weight Mike was carrying, and Finn captured that quietly but powerfully.

Beyond them, performances from actors like David Harbour (Hopper), Winona Ryder (Joyce), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Noah Schnapp (Will), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), and Joe Keery (Steve) remained consistently strong. While some of them struggled with emotional scenes, each still brought emotional grounding to the story, making the relationships feel real and earned—even in the most supernatural moments.

And Still…

Though the series finale left plenty of plot holes and unanswered questions, none of this erases what Stranger Things has meant to me.

So congratulations to the Duffer Brothers. For the past 10 years, this series managed to do something rare—it made me obsessed. It made me care deeply. It became my favorite series of all time. Even with its flaws, Stranger Things will always hold a special place in my heart. The characters were purely original, the villain felt truly unique, and the ’80s atmosphere—from the music to the costumes—was crafted with so much care. Most importantly, the cinematic quality of the series, especially in the final scenes, was jaw-dropping. No matter what, Stranger Things remains one of the best series ever made.

And I’ll never forget the journey it took me on.

I’m looking forward to the spin-off, but it’s sad to know it will feature completely different characters. Knowing that I’ll never see the Stranger Things group together again is something I’ll never fully get over.

—Auri Duham🌸