Throughout its run, Stranger Things has been a huge success for Netflix, consistently setting new records. The fifth and final season continued this trend with strong viewership and a significant cultural impact. However, this success is now paired with a first for the series: after its release, the season received a wave of negative reviews, seemingly intended to harm its reputation.
Throughout its run, Stranger Things has consistently received positive audience scores and hasn’t faced negative review bombing campaigns. However, a recent surge of very low ratings – mostly one and half or one star reviews – has caused the audience score to drop significantly. It’s now at 56%, the lowest the show has ever received on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why Is Stranger Things Season 5 Getting Review Bombed?
Looking at the negative reviews – those with one or two stars – a few common themes emerge. Many reviewers use words like “propaganda,” “gender,” “ideology,” “political agenda,” and “woke.” These comments often focus on specific scenes involving the characters Will and Robin, and how the show explores their identities and relationships.
I’ve been seeing a lot of debate about the latest season. Some people are criticizing the story choices or how the new characters are being used compared to the originals, but honestly, a lot of the really harsh reviews – the ones giving it half a star or less – seem to be focused on Will’s storyline. He’s had a complex arc over the last four seasons, and this season really dives deep into his self-discovery. While I, for one, have really appreciated seeing Will get so much development, it’s clearly not sitting well with everyone.
It’s become common for TV shows or movies that touch on politics or issues of sexual and gender identity to receive a wave of negative reviews. Even just including these topics, even if they aren’t the main focus, can upset certain groups and lead to a sudden surge of one-star ratings.
The Stranger Things series finale will stream on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.
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2025-12-29 03:43