After nearly a decade of Demogorgons and bicycle rides in Hawkins, “Stranger Things” drew its story to a close with season 5 dropping in stages, from Nov. 26-Dec. 31. The season feels a bit overwhelming with its multiple storylines but does a great job of leaving fans with a heartfelt closure they’ve all been waiting for. Though some fans were disappointed with this last season, I felt like it was a great ending to the series. Beware, spoilers ahead.
The Netflix series “Stranger Things” has reached popularity since its first release in 2016. Since the first release, it’s been about a little boy named Will Byers who disappears, prompting his friends to search for him, where they end up discovering the parallel universe of Hawkins called the Upside Down. Secret experiments in the Hawkins National Laboratory (run by the Department of Energy) lead to opening portals from the real world to the Upside Down. The group of friends finds new mysteries in the Upside Down.
The show has gained millions of fans and has been recognized for its suspenseful plot and storylines. It’s a show that covers the themes of coming of age, suspense, and emotional storytelling. The reason it reached millions of people is that it dives into the mystery of Will disappearing, rather than waiting for the right moment. Each season builds on the others, also allowing us to grow with the characters rather than knowing who they are until the suspenseful plot points.
Season 5 wasted no time in explaining and getting things started; we dived deeper into the mystery, and Will Byers became a more developed character as he embraced his identity and sexuality. The season felt more developed in bringing Vecna and his place to life more realistically. Even with the hard-hitting plots, the last episode, the scene when Vecna gets killed, the emotions get higher with the pain and anger that fades away with Vecna’s death. One of the strongest parts of the season was character development, especially Eleven’s journey from being a frightened little girl, finding her way just to survive, into someone who will be there to protect others. Each character became fully developed by the end, especially Eleven. The actors do a really great job of bringing the characters to life. The scenes are very expressive, which also brings the moments to life.
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There were some parts in the season that fell short, like the plot being rushed or a lack of momentum. Some of the emotional scenes could have used more time for the viewers to process. One of the biggest strengths in season 5 was how the danger felt more real than in the other seasons, as they kept finding out more about what was to come.
Though the final season wasn’t the perfect ending, it still made for a memorable conclusion to the show. With the strong friendships that bonded over multiple seasons, we were brought closer to the show. In addition to the 1980s music, which makes it feel nostalgic, the setting feels more realistic.
