Stranger Things Final Season Review

Stranger Things – The End of an Era

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was hyped… and not hyped at the same time when the final season was announced.

Three years for a final season is wild. Somewhere along the way, I kind of lost interest. But then the trailer dropped—and yeah, they pulled me right back in. The new Vecna design looked insane, Eleven’s new powers teased something bigger, Will’s acting stood out, and a few key scenes instantly reminded me why this show mattered in the first place.

So I rewatched the previous season to get back into it. And I’m glad I did.

Overall Thoughts on the Stranger Things Final Season

Overall, I liked the final season.

Especially how they expanded on the different dimensions, the idea of bridges between them, and the overall lore. The Mind Flayer design was strong, and finally seeing Will’s powers fully come into play was epic. I honestly didn’t see that coming.

Will’s Character Arc and That Emotional Moment

One thing none of us really expected:
Will coming out.

And honestly? That worked.

It added emotion, depth, and growth to his character. Him coming out also means Vecna can no longer use that inner conflict against him—and that matters narratively. To people who hate this part and call everything “woke”: grow up. That word has lost all meaning. This was handled respectfully and created awareness without forcing anything.

That said, I did have an issue with how that moment was handled. Joyce should’ve been the first one to react. She should’ve hugged him, reassured him, then let his friends step in. That emotional beat felt slightly off.

On top of that, Joyce barely had screen time this season, which felt strange—especially considering how important she was in earlier seasons.

New Characters and Character Development

One of the strongest additions this season was Delightful Derick. Incredible character. Fully developed in just one season, which isn’t easy. Same goes for Holly—smartly written, well-executed characters.

The final season also did a solid job with overall character development.
And the Dustin–Steve bromance? Still gold. That dynamic never misses.

The Biggest Problem: No Real Consequences

Now… here’s where it fell short for me.

No main character deaths.
Not a single one.

The final battle with the Mind Flayer was massive—pure chaos—and somehow everyone survives? Come on. Even Eleven didn’t really die. Showing she was alive almost immediately took away all emotional weight. At least let the moment breathe.

Someone like Steve or Nancy dying with honor would’ve elevated the finale to another level. The Duffer Brothers had that opportunity—and missed it. The final episode could’ve been perfect, but it played things a bit too safe.

Is the Stranger Things Final Season Worth Watching?

Still, let’s be clear:
Stranger Things is one of my favorite shows ever.

One imperfect finale doesn’t erase what they achieved. They created a full-blown pop culture phenomenon—from zero to Eleven—and that deserves respect. And yeah, I’m definitely open to spin-offs.

Stranger Things – Final Season: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great ideas, strong moments, but a safer ending than it deserved.
Still legendary—and still worth watching.