By: Maya McComb
After five thrilling seasons, the iconic show Stranger Things has officially come to an end. All anticipation is over, so let’s break down the world’s reaction to the conclusion of the beloved series.
Viewers’ opinions of the long-awaited release varied from calling it a “masterpiece” to labeling it “extremely disappointing.” As the world anticipated the release of the finale, fans were already theorizing which of the core characters would not make it. When only Vecna/Mind Flayer died, the majority of the audience was confused and felt the writers relied too heavily on plot armor. Some described the final battle between Vecna and the Mind Flayers as underwhelming, especially when compared to the brutality of previous seasons.
Killing Vecna and destroying the Upside Down in the first hour of the finale was meant to provide more time to explore the characters as they move on and to allow closure for the audience. The little kids who began this journey in sixth grade finally graduated from high school, bringing tears to viewers’ eyes — especially those who grew up watching the show and are a similar age to the recent graduates.
The long-awaited needle drop in the finale fit the moment perfectly. Even after watching it back, I still get chills when the first chord of “Purple Rain” plays, capturing the final moment between Eleven and Mike.
From the moment El chose to “leave,” I was concerned about the impact it would have on Mike. At first, Mike was a wreck, but later he accepted her choice to move on after a discussion with Hopper. Mike also chooses to believe that Eleven is alive and well, and after explaining his reasoning, the Duffer Brothers left her fate up to the audience’s interpretation.
Overall, people were so disappointed with the season finale that rumors of unreleased cuts and a new episode began circulating. This scandal, called “Conformity Gate,” took the media by storm, and many fans were eager for the release of a new episode that would “fix” the finale. Of course, “Conformity Gate” was not real, but it highlighted fans’ disappointment with the ending.
Although some scenes felt rushed, I truly enjoyed the ending of the series because it felt like a well-deserved “reward” for characters who have endured too much throughout the journey. I am sad to say goodbye to the characters, because I cannot think of a more impactful show of this generation.
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