After nearly a decade filled with demogorgons, friendship, and the Upside Down; Netflix’s Stranger Things has finally reached the end. With the season finale leaving fans emotional and wanting more answers.
On Dec. 31, the last episode “The RightSide Up” debuted and because it was the season finale the episode was showing in over 600 theaters across the United States. The box office reported that over 20 million dollars in revenue was earned from the season finale.
Fans from all over the world are processing the dramatic ending of one of Netflix’s most influential TV series. Even though some people were satisfied with this season’s conclusion, many fans believed the finale was rushed and left unanswered questions.
Lucca Swartz 26’ mentioned, “ I think it wasn’t as bad as lots of people have said but I think the final boss fight could’ve been much better. There should’ve been more danger and tension leading up to the final battle and there were also some plot holes that made the writing feel rushed.”
Many long-time viewers of the show feel that this season carries a lot more responsibility and pressure than previous seasons and is no longer the mysterious new show fans watched 10 years ago. People all over the world were first drawn to this show because of its nostalgic ‘80s feel and the simple yet mysterious plot it once was.
Gia Toms 26’ expressed, “This season was worse compared to the other seasons because the plot was all over the place and kind of hard to follow. There were also a lot of things that were not addressed in this season which should have been. My favorite season was season three because it was actually the first season which I watched with my parents and that is how I really gained interest in the show.”
The final season of the infamous Stranger Things series, has the most complicated and emotional energy than the last seasons and focuses on the theme of growing up. Audiences have grown up with the cast of Stranger Things and have watched their favorite characters grow emotionally throughout the show.
Almost all characters in the series have experienced trauma and have grown up into adults by the finale. However, Swartz commented about one specific character, “ Steve definitely grew the most. He went from a school bully to a great guy that cared for the kids and contributed a lot even though he didn’t need to.”
Even though there was controversy about the ambiguity of Eleven’s death and questions left unknown, Stranger Things has had a huge lasting impact for people all over the world and has been one of the most noteworthy TV series in the last decade. Stranger Things has helped shape modern pop culture and has emotionally touched audiences with the remarkable story and relatable characters.
Lola Medrala ‘26 announced, “I think the show had such a lasting impact on the world because it was such a creative show – unlike any other, the cast is widely known and loved, and it didn’t all come out at once, so it gave the fan base all around the world some anticipation and something to look forward to throughout the years. I feel like another thing is that the world grew up with the cast. The cast was just a bunch of little kids when the show first came out, and now they are adults.”
The end of Stranger Things doesn’t just symbolize the conclusion of a tv series, but instead the culmination of a shared journey. What started out as an innocent small town mystery has turned into a worldwide sensation that will be remembered forever.