The Final Season of Stranger Things Is Being Unfairly Criticized (And I Can Prove It)

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After nearly ten years, a TV show becomes more than just something to watch – it becomes a significant part of the lives of those who’ve watched it grow. Stranger Things has always been that show, blending 80s memories with thrilling mysteries and supernatural creatures. Now that the final season has arrived, it’s running into a common problem faced by long-running series: harsh and often unfair criticism. Many viewers are acting as if the ending ruins everything they enjoyed before, drawing comparisons to the final season of Game of Thrones. Common complaints include plot inconsistencies, characters vanishing without explanation, overly convenient plot devices, excessive exposition, and choices that some viewers disagree with.

People seem to be overlooking something important: Stranger Things was never meant to be flawless. The show always had imperfections, but it was so enjoyable that most viewers didn’t mind – or even notice them. It’s not that the show suddenly got bad; it’s that our expectations and how we view it have changed. Let me break it down.

Stranger Things Was Never a Perfect Show

Remember discovering Stranger Things on Netflix back in 2016? It was instantly captivating, and most people couldn’t stop watching until they finished the first season – and then immediately wanted more. Season 2 drew in even more viewers, with everyone recommending it. By Season 3, the show had really taken off, reaching a wider audience and sparking passionate fan theories online. That season also felt different – brighter, more colorful, and full of ’80s vibes, which many fans loved. By Season 4, Stranger Things had become a global phenomenon.

Let’s be real: every season of the show had its issues – things like technical problems, plot holes, uneven pacing, sudden changes in storylines, too many characters, and things that just didn’t make sense. But honestly, did any of that really bother us? Not really. What people cared about was having fun, feeling like they were on an adventure, spotting hidden references, and getting spooked. The show wasn’t trying to be perfect; it was trying to create an emotional experience and be enjoyable.

Viewers were surprisingly okay with the strange things that happened in the show – like monsters appearing suddenly, storylines being abandoned, and not everything needing a logical explanation. For instance, after Season 2, some fans noticed Kali’s story felt unfinished, but the issue quickly faded, and no one really protested. That was part of what made the show so appealing: it wasn’t perfect, but it was incredibly engaging. I always believed its biggest strength was that you could simply enjoy it without needing to dissect every detail.

Let’s face it: the first part of the final season was generally well-received. But as soon as the second part came out, people started focusing on minor flaws and claiming the whole season was bad based on just a few episodes. It’s okay not to love everything – you can’t please everyone! – but the complaints about things like Karen and Joyce surviving difficult situations or Lucas getting a lucky shot felt overblown. Similar things happened throughout the show without anyone batting an eye, so to suddenly criticize those moments feels unreasonable.

Unlike shows like Game of Thrones with big budgets and intricate details, Stranger Things gained popularity through word-of-mouth. People assumed the hype meant it was flawless, but that’s not really accurate. Over the past decade, viewers have become more critical and expect more from their favorite shows. This, combined with fond memories, has created an overly positive image of Stranger Things. While the show always had its flaws, viewers were willing to overlook them when it was first released. Now, those same flaws seem much bigger because the show is remembered as being almost perfect.

It’s strange to see fans focus on a small costume mistake while overlooking major events like a mall being destroyed! It makes you wonder if people remember what the show was always about. This insistence on perfection really harmed the final season. Everything was held to an unrealistic standard, and things that were always just part of the story – convenient plot points – were suddenly seen as flaws. It seems like people preferred a version of the story they imagined, rather than the one that was actually presented.

The Final Season Has Its Problems, but It Still Delivers

Okay, I admit the latest season isn’t perfect. It definitely has some flaws. It’s tough to say whether those issues are due to the creators’ decisions or changes made by Netflix, especially considering fans found deleted scenes that seemed important. Also, the way people watch TV now – often while distracted by their phones – might be changing how shows are made. We’re seeing more dialogue explaining everything, less opportunity for viewers to think for themselves, and that’s frustrating some longtime fans.

Despite some criticism, the final season of Stranger Things isn’t a failure. While certain parts, like some of Robin and Dustin’s dialogue or the timing of Will’s coming-out scene, could have been improved, these issues don’t ruin the season as a whole. It remains engaging, funny, frightening, and emotionally resonant – which is why people are still invested in seeing how the story concludes.

Ultimately, it’s not about whether the show has flaws, but how you interpret them. Even with some confusing parts, I found myself captivated. The pacing isn’t always smooth, and some character decisions might seem strange initially, but the story still feels emotionally satisfying as a whole. What some see as excessive explanation actually builds towards the ending and deepens the show’s overall lore. It can be a bit frustrating at times, but it generally works. Despite any plot inconsistencies, the show excels at creating powerful, surprising moments that make you genuinely invested in the characters and their fates.

The final season isn’t actually bad, even if it doesn’t live up to how fondly we remember earlier parts. It’s easy to look back and only focus on the flaws, but no show is perfect. Thankfully, this ending feels consistent with the story we were initially told. If you can separate your expectations from reality, you’ll find that the latest season of Stranger Things is still enjoyable, despite its imperfections. Overall, I’m finding it more entertaining than frustrating.

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2025-12-30 16:41