The fifth and final season of Stranger Things was released in three volumes, with the first four episodes on Nov. 26, the next three episodes on Dec. 25 and the series finale on Dec. 31. It was followed by behind the scenes or “making of” documentary released on Jan. 12 about the creation and production of the show.
The show’s first season began in July 2016, viewers first watching because of Winona Ryder’s already established popularity, but as time went on, it gained an increasing viewership as fans grew loyal to the young cast.
Stranger Things 5 came out three and a half years after its previous season, continuing the plotline with an 18-month time jump. The show opens with all the main characters trapped in Hawkins, Indiana, which was placed under quarantine by the military, MAC-Z, a military control zone, harbors the gateway to the Upside Down which the military was guarding. The party goes into the Upside Down multiple times on “crawls,” although they are unsuccessful and pointless. This setup in the first episode creates unnecessary suspense which leads to nothing.
However, the heavy emphasis on the military throughout this season distracted from the main antagonist. Rather than developing the conflict with the Mind Flayer, the constant presence of the military felt like an added setback that pulled attention away from the real threat the characters were meant to resolve.
The season sets up the plotline of the Abyss, the connection between the Upside Down and the alternate dimension, which Vecna wants to use to merge worlds, centered around Holly Wheeler. Wheeler was played by twins Anniston and Tinsley Price in the previous four seasons, but recast this season as 14-year-old Nell Fisher. This recasting opened more opportunity for the Holly Wheeler plotline as Fisher flawlessly portrayed the emotions of her character.
Holly Wheeler meets the comatose Max Mayfield when she is captured by Venca in his mind . Mayfield strikes a friendship with Holly Wheeler, a unique new dynamic mirroring Dustin Henderson and Steve Harrington’s bond fans loved in the previous four seasons.
Additionally, the character Derek Turnbow was introduced this season who was largely responsible for the comedic relief throughout the season. Actor Jake Connelly was able to connect directly with the audience by providing comedic relief, especially with his witty interactions both with Henry Creel and the military.
The main flaw of this season is the inconsistencies between seasons. Although there are bound to be minor plot holes in a complex show that has been running for 10 years, the Abyss’ lack of monsters and the accessibility and non-toxic environment of the Upside Down is incomparable to the setting we saw in season one.
There has been intense criticism on the setup of the final battle between Vecna and the party, as it had been highly anticipated but turned out to be short and predictable. Regardless of this letdown, the show’s ending was more metaphorical as it was closing a chapter for both its characters’ and many viewers’ childhoods as all the kids watching and in the show have grown up.
In the midst of fans’ dissatisfaction with the finale, they began noticing hints that pointed to “Conformity Gate,” speculating that the finale was not the true ending and the real finale would later be released. Instead, a documentary was published, following the Duffers’ writing and filming process. The documentary disproved fan theories, revealing that the Duffers began filming before they finished the script and provided a possible explanation for the many plot holes throughout the season.
Overall, the season was thrilling, captivating and wholesome. We were able to watch Mike, Dustin, Will, Lucas, El and Max grow as individuals and get a glimpse into their futures through Mike, the storyteller. Even though it is officially over, we believe this isn’t the end of the party.
