Stranger Things: The Final Chapter

After five seasons of synth-soaked suspense to monster mayhem, the story of Hawkins finally comes to an end.

Where do I even begin? This finale season sent me spiralling through a whirlwind of emotions, one moment I’m underwhelmed and minutes later, I find myself on-the-edge of my seat. Heck, it felt like running up a hill.

Stranger Things — the iconic, showstopping, number one most-watched Netflix series – finally released their long-awaited finale season on New Year’s Eve.

Created by the Duffer Brothers and produced with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen, the series is a perfect blend of American science fiction, coming-of-age drama and horror with an added twist of thrilling mysteries.

Synopsis Of The Show

For readers who haven’t ventured into the Upside Down pop culture, here’s a rundown.

Set in the 1980s, the story follows the residents of the small, fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. A young girl with psychokinetic abilities, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), unwittingly opens a gateway to a dangerous alternate dimension, known as the “Upside Down”. Eleven later meets various characters throughout the season, who come together to defeat the evil threats that emerge from the “Upside Down”.

In this finale season, the group unites to battle against a strong villain — Vecna. and interferes with his catastrophic plans in an attempt to save Hawkins.

The Characters

As a die-hard fan of the series, who watched the young actors grow up on the show, it felt amazing seeing how their characters have progressed. Even with the addition of new characters on the show, the main cast’s acting skills became ever so natural, and their chemistry was off the charts! #ate-and-left-no-crumbs.

But according to Eleven, friends don’t lie and I’ll be honest… this season will tug at your heart strings. I can’t count how many times all the characters kept arguing and reconciling this season. Nonetheless, several of them went through significant character development. Allow me to highlight the three notable ones.

1. Will Byers

Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) started out as a timid, introverted boy from the first season. His life changed entirely after experiencing traumatic events in the “Upside Down”. This season, he finally confronts his deepest fears and embraces his own strength and identity — watching him claim his sense of self felt incredibly heartwarming to see. I’m proud of how far he has come.

2. Holly Wheeler

Holly (Nell Fisher) begins the season as a sweet, innocent girl, who freezes in the face of danger. As the plot thickens, she learns to stand strong for herself and for those around her. Her bravery, intelligence, and grit to go against Vecna felt refreshing to watch. However, for the finale, I felt that the storyline was too focused on Holly. It would’ve been nicer if more screen time was dedicated to the original cast members and Vecna.

3. Eleven

Eleven, also known as El or Jane Hopper, is one complex character. El didn’t grow up normally, like most kids. In the earlier seasons, she’s marked by intense hardship that has left her traumatised and socially withdrawn. Her journey to healing was remarkable and tear jerking to watch. She learned to trust, love and find her true self despite her extraordinary nature. This season, I saw her grow into a strong, resilient young woman who learns to control her powers and fight for her loved ones. Such a girlboss.

The Pace and The Plot

Amongst all the seasons, I personally think the pacing for this season was not the best. Especially in part one, there were too many filler scenes of Max and Holly at the Camazotz, or the hospital scene with Will and Robin — low-key got boring. Thankfully, the pace started picking up in the later episodes.

Additionally, there were some plot holes that left me confused. Just to name a few, where were the terrible visions that Will saw which eventually led him to embrace himself? What exactly happened to the military and Dr Kay? Why is El under water in the “Upside Down” when water doesn’t even exist there? I could go on and on, but basically the writing for this season didn’t feel carefully thought out. A slight letdown.

Effects and Music

On the bright side, I’m a big fan of their cinematography, from the distinct colour palettes of their outfits, hair, makeup, to the street and cars — everything screams 80s cinematic. The use of warm lighting, soft grain and carefully crafted shots, gives off that nostalgic old-school feel. In contrast, the eerie visual effects of the “Upside Down” consists of the floating particles, shadowy landscape, vine textures and colour grading — creating that unsettling spine-chilling mood.

Photo Credit: Spotify, IMDb (Left to Right)

And the soundtrack? I'm obsessed. My top two all-time-favourites are, Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush — a synth pop classic, with an addictive drum beat. And Upside Down by Diana Ross — a funky catchy disco tune, with lyrics fitting for the show. Both songs experienced massive chart resurgence and they topped the Billboard Hot 100.

With its top-notch cinematic styles and carefully curated soundtracks, it is no wonder that this nostalgic 80s sci-fi, supernatural horror series became a blockbuster.

Now for the question you’ve been wondering, did I love the ending? Yes! I totally loved it! Despite some of the plot holes, it was an inconclusive bittersweet ending with room for audiences to leave it up to their own interpretation. No spoilers! But you should definitely stand by some tissues for the ending.

Meaning Behind The Show

"If we are both going crazy, then we will go crazy together." — Mike

Watching Stranger Things has taught me some valuable lessons about the strength of teamwork, friendship and chosen family. It also highlights the importance of hope, courage and resilience in the face of confronting personal trauma, inner struggles and loss. Reminding us that, as the saying goes, “we are a mosaic of everyone we ever loved”.

Overall, Stranger Things Season 5 captures the heart of its characters beautifully with heart-pounding suspense — it’s funny, emotional, and deeply intense. I must say, I will miss the bantering and their funky nerdy iconic lines.

Have a blast streaming Stranger Things Finale on Netflix! And maybe grab some Eggos to munch on while you’re at it. #Its-the-last-hurrah