After a wait that felt like an eternity for fans, Stranger Things has finally returned with its fifth and final season, marking the beginning of the end for Netflix’s flagship series. Volume 1, containing the first four episodes, landed on Netflix on November 27, 2025, and the hype surrounding its arrival has been nothing short of immense. With the show’s conclusion now in sight, emotions are running high—not just among viewers, but for Netflix itself, which faces the loss of its most marketable original property and a defining piece of its cultural identity.
Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has been more than just a hit; it’s been a phenomenon. Mixing coming-of-age drama, sci-fi horror, and a healthy dose of 1980s nostalgia, the show quickly carved out a unique place in the streaming world. According to The Independent, the series “captured the public’s attention like no Netflix series before it,” and for nine years, it’s been a reliable constant amid Netflix’s often fluctuating fortunes. While other Netflix originals have struggled to maintain momentum after breakout seasons, Stranger Things has managed to grow its audience with each new installment—a rare feat in today’s crowded TV landscape.
But does Season 5 live up to the sky-high expectations? The answer, as it turns out, is complicated. On Rotten Tomatoes, Volume 1 of Season 5 currently holds an 86% critics score—the lowest in the series’ history—but a 92% audience score, which is the best since the first season. As ComicBook.com points out, “the reviews are actually still very good, just less so than in previous seasons.” Fans seem to be embracing the new episodes, even as critics flag some recurring issues that have grown more pronounced as the series approaches its conclusion.
Chief among these criticisms is the show’s sprawling narrative. As Marco Vito Oddo wrote in his review for ComicBook, “the series keeps falling into the same traps that have been repeatedly criticized in previous installments, often splitting the party too thin, refraining from putting the main characters in any real danger, and refusing to edit lengthy episodes that run a little too long.” ScreenRant echoed this sentiment, noting that the split narratives make the show feel “too convoluted.”
There’s also been talk of stagnant character development. Variety observed that the show “has not reflected its stars’ obvious maturation with an accompanying complexity,” while Slate described it as a “show now sealed in an airless, impenetrable bubble of stagnant characters and snarled lore.” These problems aren’t new, but they’ve become harder to ignore as the stakes rise and the series nears its end.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom. The first episode of Season 5 is packed with the sense of fun and emotional resonance that has always been the show’s hallmark. As Decider put it, the show works “because of the humanity still underpinning its increasingly absurd story.” There are moments of genuine heart, strong performances, and, as always, dazzling spectacle and worldbuilding. The mythology remains rich, and the show continues to deliver epic moments that remind viewers why they fell in love with Hawkins in the first place.
It’s also important to note that only half of Season 5 has been released so far. Volume 2—covering episodes 5 through 7—will arrive on December 25, 2025, while the series finale, Volume 3, is set to drop on December 31, 2025. This release strategy, splitting the final season into three parts, is a departure from Netflix’s original binge model. As The Independent observed, this hybrid approach is “a way to prolong its relevance, its presence in our lives, and therefore its audience.” It’s a move that reflects not just changing industry trends but also Netflix’s own evolution as it faces growing competition from the likes of Apple TV and Disney+, which have found success with weekly release models.
The timing of these releases, however, has raised eyebrows. Volume 2’s Christmas Day debut at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT means it lands right in the middle of holiday festivities—a time when even the most devoted fans might be otherwise occupied. And the decision to release the series finale on New Year’s Eve, a night famous for parties and plans, has sparked skepticism. As ScreenRant noted, “New Year’s Eve seems like the worst time imaginable to release a series finale on a streaming service.” The choice is puzzling, especially considering the cultural significance of the show’s ending, which brings nearly a decade of storytelling to a close.
Despite these quirks, the show’s popularity is undiminished. In the week leading up to Season 5’s premiere, all previous seasons of Stranger Things climbed into Netflix’s top 10 most-watched titles. The anticipation for each new volume is palpable, and the series continues to be a major driver of conversation online and off. The addition of new characters, like Linda Hamilton’s chilling Dr. Kay and the memorable Derek, has helped keep things fresh, while fan favorites like Will Byers and Karen Wheeler still command attention and affection.
Behind the scenes, the Duffer Brothers and their creative team have tried to balance nostalgia with innovation. The show’s final chapters are set against the backdrop of holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s—mirroring the show’s core themes of family, friendship, and community. It’s a fitting send-off for a series that has always been about more than just monsters and mysteries.
As The Independent succinctly put it, “Stranger Things is a coming-of-age story: its run has coincided with Netflix’s own maturing arc.” Now, as both the show and the streaming giant face the future, questions linger: What will fill the void left by Stranger Things? Does Netflix need another tentpole series to keep its edge? Or has the era of the streaming mega-hit passed, replaced by a more fragmented, unpredictable landscape?
For now, fans can savor the final ride through Hawkins and the Upside Down, knowing that the story’s last twists and turns are just around the corner. Whether Season 5 ultimately sticks the landing remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the impact this series has had—not just on Netflix, but on the broader world of television. With its mix of heart, horror, and nostalgia, Stranger Things bows out as one of the defining shows of a generation.
