Stranger Things has finally come to an end, but its legacy will live on in a world where plot holes and character arcs are merely an afterthought. The finale's decision to "bat it straight down the middle" - no grand twists, no epic showdowns - is both a testament to the show's creators' confidence and a cop-out that left some viewers feeling meek.
By stripping away the extraneous narrative threads that had become increasingly entangled over the years, the show's writers managed to streamline its storytelling, making it feel more focused. The final battle, in particular, was satisfyingly high-stakes and visually stunning. Winona Ryder's character, Joyce Byers, even got a moment of triumph after being relegated to the sidelines for most of the series.
The decision to include flashbacks of the characters as children also served as a poignant reminder that this show was initially about kids - something that has been lost in the increasingly complex world-building. The finale's use of an 18-month time jump allowed the actors to play their characters closer to their real ages, adding a layer of authenticity.
However, the show's ending can be overwhelming - so many plot threads resolved in such a rapid-fire manner that it feels like a marathon rather than an episode. There were simply too many endings to unpack, leaving some viewers questioning the true nature of Eleven's fate (did she really die?).
For die-hard fans, though, this finale felt earned. After all, they've invested their lives into this show, watching as it has grown from a single-season curiosity into a global phenomenon. The fact that new episodes are already in development only serves to underscore the franchise's enduring appeal.
Ultimately, however, Stranger Things' final episode doesn't constitute a true "landing" - it's merely a temporary reprieve before the next chapter begins. As the show's creators have confirmed plans for spin-offs and an animated series, it's clear that this concept won't be allowed to rest on its laurels anytime soon.
By stripping away the extraneous narrative threads that had become increasingly entangled over the years, the show's writers managed to streamline its storytelling, making it feel more focused. The final battle, in particular, was satisfyingly high-stakes and visually stunning. Winona Ryder's character, Joyce Byers, even got a moment of triumph after being relegated to the sidelines for most of the series.
The decision to include flashbacks of the characters as children also served as a poignant reminder that this show was initially about kids - something that has been lost in the increasingly complex world-building. The finale's use of an 18-month time jump allowed the actors to play their characters closer to their real ages, adding a layer of authenticity.
However, the show's ending can be overwhelming - so many plot threads resolved in such a rapid-fire manner that it feels like a marathon rather than an episode. There were simply too many endings to unpack, leaving some viewers questioning the true nature of Eleven's fate (did she really die?).
For die-hard fans, though, this finale felt earned. After all, they've invested their lives into this show, watching as it has grown from a single-season curiosity into a global phenomenon. The fact that new episodes are already in development only serves to underscore the franchise's enduring appeal.
Ultimately, however, Stranger Things' final episode doesn't constitute a true "landing" - it's merely a temporary reprieve before the next chapter begins. As the show's creators have confirmed plans for spin-offs and an animated series, it's clear that this concept won't be allowed to rest on its laurels anytime soon.
I think they hit a bit of a middle ground with the finale, but some people might say it's just kinda...safe? 
Like they didn't wanna rock the boat or anything. But at the same time, you can tell they're still really proud of what they've accomplished and the impact it's had on fans. I mean, who wouldn't love a show that takes nostalgic value to a whole new level? 
It was great seeing Joyce finally get her moment in the sun – Winona Ryder totally nailed it! 
But yeah, some plot threads got kinda lost in the shuffle...all those unresolved questions still keep me guessing. Will Eleven really be gone for good or what?! 
Anyway, I'm all about new content now – can't wait to see what's next for Hawkins and its crew! 
don't get me wrong it was still super satisfying to see all these characters come together for one last battle, but can we talk about how they wrapped up some of the plot threads? like, what happened to hawkins and his family?? 
i know they said they were gonna focus on the kids' stories more in the spin-offs but still it's hard not to feel a little left hanging 
. and don't even get me started on eleven's fate... did she really die or was that just a whole season long twist we're never gonna see again? 
at least winona ryder got some nice moments tho, love her as joyce 
. anyway can't wait for the next chapter in this universe, even if it means they're gonna pull another marathon of an episode outta us 
. The flashbacks were a nice touch too - it's crazy to think about how far we've come from that first season. But at the same time, I feel like they rushed through some of the plot threads 
. I mean, did Eleven really die? or was she just... transported somewhere? 
And don't even get me started on the ending - it felt like a whole other episode rather than one finale 
. But at the same time, there were just so many plot threads left untied that it was hard to keep track. Like, what's really going on with Eleven? Did she actually die or not? 
. It just goes to show that this world isn't done with us yet!
It's not fair to the fans who invested so much of themselves in her journey. The pacing was all over the place and some plot threads were just glossed over like they didn't matter. I mean, what about Steve and Dustin?! They deserved better than a few fleeting moments to wrap up their storylines 
... all those flashbacks to when they were kids just felt like a crutch to make us forget how convoluted things got over time. I'm still trying to process it all and my brain is just mush 
. plus, eleven's fate was so up in the air... did she even die?! 