Stranger Things 5 finale review:

There is a certain charm attached to the 'world-is-ending-and-only-the-chosen-ones-can-save-it' trope. Even when the threats feel watered down, and the story predictably ends with the world saved, you remain hooked until everything is set right again, like rolling the dice one last time and hoping for a natural 20. Early on in the final episode of Stranger Things 5, Erica asks Clarke how it feels to be a part of saving the world, to which even he replies, “It feels pretty swell. Pretty goddamn swell.” Over nine years off-screen and five seasons on-screen, if the Duffer Brothers have managed to do one thing consistently, it is to make the audience feel like they, too, have had a hand in saving Hawkins, Indiana, and, by extension, the world. If the satisfaction and closure of reaching the end is the only emotion you expect from the finale, the series does justice. But after a near-decade-long investment in the gooey, shadowy Upside Down, the payoff feels a little too run-of-the-mill, almost like a campaign that ends sooner than expected.

The plan is in motion the moment the finale begins, with one gang entering the Upside Down to breach Vecna’s mind, while another climbs a towering structure to access the abyss. To give credit where it’s due, the Duffer Brothers have crafted a visually magnificent space in The Abyss. The spider-like structure evolves into something far more grotesque, even as the group fights tooth and nail to stave off doom. The tower itself, acting as a fragile bridge between worlds, is wonderfully constructed, making our stomachs churn as the characters nearly slip from dizzying heights. The finale never makes us want to check the time, pause midway, or wonder when it will end, and by that virtue alone, it is one step ahead of Volume 2.

As promised, almost none of the popular fan theories come true in the conflict resolution. The characters largely survive the ordeal, with just one ultimate sacrifice—or not (no spoilers here). This unpredictability is both the boon and the bane of the finale. Does it surprise us? Absolutely. But does it feel gratifying enough to justify such a long and arduous battle? Not quite. For a threat built up across multiple seasons, the defeat of Vecna, the Mind Flayer, the demodogs, and the demogorgons feels oddly… easy. Pistols, flare guns, and spears, and suddenly the endgame boss doesn’t seem all that invincible. When the world is saved, it oddly resembles much ado about nothing, as if the Upside Down was never truly that upside.

Several loopholes remain unresolved. For instance, we never learn why Joyce doesn’t identify or even mention Vecna as her former classmate, Henry Creel. Similarly, the finale offers no explanation for why Max isn’t more surprised by Hopper’s miraculous resurrection. These may seem like small details, but when you’ve been conditioned by four near-perfect seasons of layered writing, such inconsistencies sting like a missed saving throw, especially for viewers who’ve loyally stuck around since bikes, walkie-talkies, and Christmas lights ruled the screen.

The main conflict wraps up right in the middle of the episode, leaving nearly an hour to spare. As we wonder what else remains to be said or shown, the makers redeem themselves through emotional arcs that land far better than expected. These final moments offer both the characters and the audience much-needed closure. Unlike the verbose Volume 2, where emotions often felt stretched thin, the sentiments here feel earned. It slowly dawns on us that this particular party will never reunite in the same formation again. Giving every major character a meaningful conclusion is no easy feat, but the Duffer Brothers pull it off, delivering a farewell that lingers, much like an ’80s synth track you can’t get out of your head.

For those to whom Stranger Things is more than just another show, the finale delivers a bittersweet ending without testing patience. For others, it remains engaging at best and middling at worst. Thankfully, the series avoids an open ending, choosing closure over cliffhangers. The real magic lies in the final ten minutes, as the boys return to their basement for one last D&D campaign. While the nostalgia was expected, it’s the execution that surprises. As Mike concludes the game by saying the character lives with “comfort and happiness”, Max quips, “Comfort and happiness? Can you be more trite? Aren’t you a master storyteller?” The line feels meta, almost as if the audience is questioning the Duffers themselves. Yet Mike’s explanation about the beauty of mundanity becomes the thesis of the ending. In the end, Stranger Things saves the world the only way it knows how, not by reinventing the game, but by reminding us that even the most predictable victory can still feel like home, especially when the dice finally stop rolling.