Review by RubyScanlan

On New Year’s Day, I switched the channel from the local New Year’s Eve countdown to Netflix and settled into my basement with blankets, snacks, and tissues galore. I laughed, yelled and cried my eyes out (many, many times), over the next two hours and eight minutes.

The “Stranger Things” finale was a roller coaster for me, with nail-biting, heart-stopping and comedic moments wrapping up the beloved show. I was surprised to see that the fan base was split on the quality of the ending; I think it was perfect for such an iconic, decade-long series.

 One common point of disagreement is that the final fight was too easy. Five seasons of blood and death led up to this moment, and with Joyce’s killer last words, I believe the final battle and death of Vecna was satisfying. 

The graduation of the main five was a real tearjerker. As a senior, this moment deeply resonated with me since that will be me in a few months, walking across the stage and accepting my diploma. It made the show feel complete, having the main characters, who made this show so lovable, graduate and go off into the world to accomplish their dreams. 

Love is in the air for Lucas and Max, who got their dream movie date, and Hopper and Joyce, who got engaged and planned for their future beyond Hawkins. Hopper suggested that they move to Montauk, a clever nod to the original name for the show.

The final endings of the main cast felt like they matched each character perfectly. Mike went on to pursue his love of creative writing while Will was able to express himself freely in the emerging queer community. 

Although Eleven’s ending is not clear, it feels nice knowing that she could be out in the world, living the ending she truly deserved. I liked how the writers allowed fans to speculate and choose which ending they like the most. 

Despite the differing opinions, “Stranger Things” is a show that has cemented its place in pop culture. After 10 years, it feels special knowing that we grew up with the actors, watching them grow in their careers and lives. It will continue to be loved even after its final minutes, reminding viewers of the years past as we grow up and continue our lives.

Review by AnnaKubat

The final goodbye. The end of our childhood. As I finished “Stranger Things” Season 5, I sat in awe — and not in a good way. 

 “Stranger Things” was written and directed by Matt and Ross Duffer, and produced by Netflix beginning in 2016. It stars a wide range of talent including Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo. This season alone was given a $400 million budget and has become the most viewed in the nine years the show has been running. 

What started as a group of four nerdy kids playing a game turned into a universe of characters battling a complex villain to save the world. However, this universe became one of over twenty people to keep track of. 

The show tried to follow too many backgrounds, leaving a feeling that it wasn’t even about the main characters anymore. As the party works towards defeating Vecna, there is an intense amount of subplots, with some of them never getting completed. The ending was so drawn out by Netflix with the finale being released over a series of two months, but it felt extremely rushed when watching. The Duffer brothers even admitted to filming the last episode without a complete script in their new documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.” 

Along with the loose ends, the ending leaves a feeling of disappointment as seen through the online fans who were convinced a secret episode was going to be released. This stems from the poor writing that forgets key details. Fans being so upset that they create their own ending speaks volumes about volumes one and two, as well as the finale. 

The final battle felt short and underdeveloped — these characters are battling for their lives and face no major consequences. It was unrealistic for the entire party to survive, even though I can’t imagine any of them gone. 

I do still love the show in total and will forever remember the nostalgia, but it makes it hard to respect it when there was so much potential. 

“Stranger Things” 5 will forever be famous, though not for all of the right reasons.