Stranger Things, the critically acclaimed show known for its 80s nostalgia, complex relationships and outstanding production, just finished releasing the final episodes of Season 5, marking the end of its 10-year journey. On this journey, this top-listed Netflix show, which was created by Matt and Ross Duffer, has accumulated 1.2 billion views just from Seasons 1-4. Season 5 was released in 4 volumes, with Volume 1 being released on November 26th, 2025. This got over 102.6 million views within its first four weeks of being released, whilst the long-awaited finale was aired on New Year’s Day. To avoid any spoilers, I would advise saving this article for later, as I will be taking a deep dive into the show’s ending, looking into statistics and fan theories, all with the aim of finding out if the Stranger Things finale really did meet fan expectations.
As an avid Stranger Things watcher myself, I know first hand the rollercoaster of emotions that came with the finale. It starts off showing us ‘the party’ getting ready for the final battle with Vecna (or Henry, or 001, or Mr. Whatsit - whatever you choose) in the Upside Down. Throughout the episode, there are many painstakingly tense moments us viewers have to endure, like when Steve (played by Joe Keery) falls off the WSQK tower and is saved by Jonathan (Charlie Heaton). Or when we are tricked into thinking Hopper (David Harbour) had killed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). All of these moments seem to be worth it after Vecna’s torturous reign finally comes to an end and the Mind Flayer is ultimately stopped. Just as we think we can finally take a breath and that victory is in sight for our characters, the worst happens (cue Purple Rain by Prince). If you’re like me, you were crying your eyes out as Mike and El shared their last goodbye, as Hopper screamed for his little girl, and how after everything, Eleven “died.” If we skip to 18 months later, we are shown the aftermath of this tragedy - the class of 89’ finally graduating after all they have gone through, living their lives and passing their legacy onto the next generation. However, the end of the story is left unclear as we are left to wonder if Eleven truly did die or if she found peace on her new adventure.
After this open-ended finale, there have been many mixed reviews, with people either loving or hating the ending. Some viewers were extremely disappointed, arguing that it was played too safe, with no characters dying and the fight scene being too rushed, whilst others felt that there had been some questions left unanswered (I would love to know what happened to Vicky). Many fans also started theorising that the ending wasn’t real, with many coincidental similarities, such as some items being the wrong colour or some lines not matching up with the rest of the storyline, leading fans to believe another episode was going to be released. These similarities pointed towards this episode being released on January 7th and that it would be what the fans dubbed ‘Conformity Gate’. This concept is the idea that the show’s overall happy ending was actually an illusion created by Vecna, who had instead locked the characters inside of his memory and had tricked them into thinking they were in the real world. However, on the 7th, these fans were left disappointed as it was made clear by Netflix that all episodes had been released.
Despite this criticism, it is extremely evident that the grand finale was immensely loved, and I’m not just talking about the storyline. Since Season 1, the show has wowed us with exemplary song choices, ranging from bangers such as ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police or ‘Running Up That Hill’ by Kate Bush. This was no different for Season 5, with the finale song choices blowing up on Spotify in the week following the release, with streams for ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince increasing by 608% and streams for ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie increasing by 185%. Not only this, but ‘End of Beginning’ by Djo (also known as Steve “the hair” Harrington) hit No.1 on Spotify Global Charts following the airing of the finale, despite not even playing in the show.
Just from these statistics, we can see the groundbreaking, global effect this show has had on the world, with its characters correlating with people’s own emotions and experiences, allowing a sense of community to be created, not only within the cast but also within the fandom. The show also offers valuable life lessons, like the idea that change is possible and that you should never give up, with the power of friendship helping you along the way. This is what makes the show so inspirational and is why its grand finale was loved by many, including myself, who were left astounded at the raw, beautiful emotion that the ending contained. Along with this appreciation, there was also a sense of deep, immense sadness at the show ending, especially within the cast. For example, Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler) stated that “When I first read the ending, I felt sad. It was a melancholy way of reading, because I thought it was the perfect way to end. But at the same time, I was sad to say goodbye to the show.” A lot of viewers have grown up with the cast, and so this series finale, which symbolises the end of childhood, growing up, and moving forward into adulthood, is bittersweet. However, it also leaves us with the idea that the memories made in our childhood will forever be with us and that there is always hope in the unknown.
Therefore, I would say that despite controversy, the Stranger Things finale was an empowering ending for the 10-year-old show, allowing for the audience to gain emotional closure as we see most of the characters get their perfect ending. No matter if you believe Eleven is alive or not, Stranger Things will always be a never-ending story.