it may not be for everyone (but it is for me)

I love Stranger Things. If you pinned me down and asked me for my favorite TV show, it's what I would say 99 times out of 100. It's not perfect but it's pretty close to it. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a science fiction/monster/mild-horror show that takes place firmly in the 80s (moving in to early 90s) and follows a DnD group of kids as they work against the odds to try and save the world. If that description is at all intriguing to you - stop reading and go check it out!

On Dec 31 2025, the finale started airing. My wife and I actually headed to the theater to catch the limited release (and I'm so glad we did - it was a really fun experience!). As it's officially and fully over now, I thought I'd try to collect some of my thoughts.

I didn't watch Stranger Things when it first came out. My wife thought it looked too scary and I generally shied away from horror. I heard from several people though that it was worth a try and they were definitely right! I was hooked from the first episode. I think Season 1 is still probably the best to be honest. It does such a great job of capturing these middle schoolers wrestling with how to engage an ever encroaching darkness around them. Expect a jump scare in each episode but other than that there is lots of intriguing world building, adventure, mystery and fun! It felt like it was written as if they'd get just one chance.

But they didn't get just one chance. It was a huge success and got more seasons and pretty early on said they were ending it with 5. Season 2 for me is the least effective. The introduction of Eleven's sister felt forced and I'm not sure Will needed to be sidelined yet again. Season 3 tonally was fun. It leaned into the "fighting a big monster" thing and was all the better for it. Dustin and Suzy singing the Neverending Story song while the team is being chased will stand out as just one of the more fun parts of the show.

Season 4 stood out in a way that 2 and 3 didn't (again for me). It got dark and serious, fast. Episode 4 of this season will forever be my favorite episode of the series (and maybe my favorite of any series). Season 4 gave the viewers Vecna - a once-human-now-monster villian that really began to piece disparate plot points together.

Season 5 stands on it's own as a mostly solid attempt to wrap it all up as there have been various hanging threads of plot that needed some sort of attention. Eleven's sister comes back into focus. Will gets to step into who he is confidently. Eleven gets to choose how her life turns out. And the team at large mostly gets their happy endings (because it was never meant to be another Game of Thrones).

Season 5 did a particularly good job in drawing us into the emotional states of the main cast. Eleven's struggle with engaging the world on her terms was executed well. Max's drive to both exit the trance but protect the other kids was really well done. Will's struggle to accept himself was particularly poignant as well because his fears could have been reality. And beyond that - the final battle with the mind flayer was just really cool.

As I said in the opening lines above, it wasn't perfect (but what show is?). The stakes felt too high for the number of happy endings we got. There were various plot points that I thought could have used a lot more development like, "what all is going on with Dimension X?" or "What happens to the toxic military scientist and team?". There's almost too much unsaid about the 18 months between action and the closing scenes in the finale. But it was all still very satisfying.

I'll miss the anticipation of a new season but I look forward to periodic re-watches. My 13yo (who loves DnD) loves it already and my 9yo is begging to watch it at some point (he'll probably need a year or three as its a bit too scary for him still). Well done on the run to everyone who made Stranger Things possible!