After almost a decade in the making, the original Netflix hit Stranger Things has finally come to a bittersweet conclusion. Over the span of one week, from Christmas to New Year’s Eve, the final four episodes of Season 5 have been dropped. Volume 2 contained 3 episodes that provided some much-needed answers to the interdimensional hellscape that is the Upside Down, and the Series Finale ties up all loose ends as much as possible forever with a massive runtime of two hours and eight minutes. A final battle that is just as intense as the rest of the show, and an epilogue that is heartwarming and hopeful, caps off the journey about a group of children, teens, and adults banding together to ward off a vicious threat to their town of Hawkins, Indiana, while navigating their separate paths in life during the 1980s. Everything about the final half of the final season fits in consistently with what was presented back on November 26.

Since we last saw the Party back in November, they faced a major setback as Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) planted another obstacle as the day of reckoning drew near. But with a couple of new reinforcements on their side, the Party begins to come up with one last mission to stop Vecna’s latest scheme, rescue Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) and the other missing children, and put an end to the madness involving the Upside Down forever. In addition, we get more shocking revelations concerning the nature of the Upside Down as Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) and the teens head to the Hawkins Laboratory, the supposed epicenter of the dimension. Also, various resolutions are given out concerning the comatose Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) and the return of Kali Prasad/Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), who had not been seen since Season 2. All the plot points come to a head as the Party engages in the final battle with Vecna with the aid of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Jim Hopper (David Harbour), and maybe even Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). Eventually, things will reach a satisfying, if yet bittersweet, conclusion to the nostalgia-filled town of Hawkins and the people within.

As everything comes to a close with this series, my ever-growing excitement for the final episodes has been completely satisfied. The Duffer Brothers pulled all the stops in terms of production to make this the most ambitious finale in streaming history. Starting with Volume 2, the buildup for the final episode brought
much tension as things grew dire in the search for the missing children, and the relentless chase for answers bring forth the truth as to where Vecna is truly residing and what dark secrets lie in the depths of his mind back when he was Henry Creel. Not only that, but we also get some resolution on Max’s condition, which was inflicted on her in the previous season finale, and Henry’s mind prison gets explored in depth so that characters can find a way to escape it. Volume 2 amps up the tension perfectly with top-notch writing and cinematography that perfectly encapsulates the Duffer Brothers’ directing style. It even goes beyond that
for the Series Finale, as the cinematics get turned up to eleven for the two hours of action and resolution between the Party and Vecna for the fate of the world. Even showcasing the epilogue from a calmer, more heartwarming perspective as the Party’s dynamics come to a close, along with the 80s timeframe. What
makes a great show is having moments that help bring all of the emotions throughout the runtime, from horror to sadness to happiness. After having spent my New Year’s Eve watching the finale, I can confidently say that it was the best conclusion and the best episode of a show I have ever seen.

Everyone in the cast has brought out their fully developed performances as their characters give their last hurrah. Special mentions should go to Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown for their phenomenal performances throughout the latter half of Season 5. With Will being fully developed as an eleventh-hour ally who overcomes his inner turmoils to help the Party ever since he was first taken into the Upside Down, and Eleven for becoming strong and skilled enough to assist everyone, both in the mindscape and in reality, to bring down the source of all the chaos that plagued the story. She even gives us a couple of bittersweet moments as her character arc reaches a close, concerning how the world and her friends will continue without the Upside Down. As for the newer faces, I once again have to give props to Nell Fisher and Jake Connelly for their iconic roles as Holly Wheeler and Derek Turnbow. Holly receives the best development among the new characters, growing into a strong leader-like role within the missing children, a trait also evident in her siblings, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Nancy (Natalia Dyer). And Derek became more of an icon in a far cry from his first episodic appearance when he was tormenting the other children in the school playground. As Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) showed, all it took was encouragement from someone who believes in him for him to become a better person. And as it turns out, with almost record-breaking development, his prior abrasive demeanor can be used in the best laid plans to help out Holly and the missing children. And I have to give an honorable mention to Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, who, for her brief moments in this season, showcased moments of bravery and cleverness that would make her kids proud. Our eclectic cast of characters has had lots of moments to shine, and all of the action and dynamics they brought to the show are nothing short of perfection.

Of course, what is a perfect show without a perfect production behind the scenes? Every angle of physical production remains as vibrant and gritty as possible for the latter half of the season, from lighting to locations. But the biggest compliments I will give will go to the story writing and the visual effects department. The Duffer Brothers spent decades keeping the story well-developed and under wraps until the right time. The character arcs are nicely done, the dialogue is profound, the backstories are well-made, and every trope you can find in 80s works is pulled off perfectly. In terms of visual effects, every element is made with enough care to the utmost cinematic quality. The best result of that effort will have to be the Abyss, Vecna’s lair that was briefly seen near the end of Season 4. One look at the barren landscape will have you mistaking it for a setting from Dune or Monster Hunter at first. The most notable landmark of the landscape was Vecna’s lair, which the creators dubbed the “Pain Tree” for a time outside the finale. It was the most gruesome thing ever conceived by the Duffer Brothers, and the purpose it served tops all of the horror presented in this show.

And you can’t have a strong season without a strong soundtrack and audio design from Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The two deliver perhaps their best work yet in making a nostalgia-heavy aesthetic through a mix of synthwave, orchestra, and popular singles to capture all the emotions perfectly. Once again, the
series finale gives the most hits that drive the action home, including hits from Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Pixies, Iron Maiden, Cowboy Junkies, and David Bowie. Every single song presents the scenic vibe perfectly and provides something that reflects the characters well. Even the uplifting orchestral remix of
Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” will bring a tear to your eye. Though with all the pleasantries comes the more startling parts, which are the nightmarish sounds of the alternate dimensions. From the ethereal sounds of exotic matter and shadow particles to the monstrous roars provided by creatures like the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer. No matter what the occasion calls for, the sound design checks all the boxes when providing a great season.

All in all, the saga of a group of children rescuing a missing friend has spiraled into the greatest interdimensional adventure ever to be seen in modern streaming. The Duffer Brothers have made the perfect magnum opus of a franchise that I don’t know if the hype could ever be replicated. Fantastic characters, clever writing, thrilling visuals, and epic soundtracks all bring together the iconic sci-fi horror title that ushered in the new era of Netflix. Nine glorious years were spent chronicling the lives of several small-town inhabitants as they became the heroes nobody truly knew they needed when the fate of the world hung in the balance. As everyone now moves on to bigger and better things, one can only imagine how things will go for each individual involved in the cast. For the creators, we might not see the last of them, as the Duffer Brothers teased a brand-new standalone show just over the horizon. One can only imagine how anything can live up to the modern classic that is Stranger Things, but time will tell, as they say.