After nearly four years following the release of season four in May 2022, Stranger Things season five has now arrived. Although not all the episodes have been released, many people have already given their opinion, since it has been the most anticipated release of the year, reaching No.1 on Netflix in just one day.
Many super fans of the show have been extremely excited for the new release, including HHS senior Olivia Locke who says, “I haven’t been this excited for something since Christmas 2013. I grew up with this show and I cannot wait to see what happens.” The released episodes have had watchers moving in their seats, as many are anticipating a death.
Watchers and critics have reviewed the quality of the season so far, noting that it has ambitious and “epic” action scenes, something previously never seen. Episodes are also being called emotionally powerful and demonstrating a great ability to captivate viewers. To compare season one to season five, the quality has increased by a landslide, due to budget, expectation, and fandom.
Additionally, fans have also noticed stronger characterization for Will Byers, who has been receiving more focus on the show, making his character appear more relevant, which fans had commented on in the past.
However, mixed opinions quickly started to pour in. Many people argue that season five has been generally weaker as it feels like the directors and writers are overstuffing the plot and are eager to just end the show as quickly as possible.
Junior Lindsey McManus says, “I believe the season has been just as good, but it is impossible to please everybody and their expectations.”
Some critics also believe that the season has been “cringey” and characters who used to be in the spotlight have regressed and lost the touch that connected them with the audience. For example, one user on a Reddit review forum of the new season said, “The writing seemed a bit rushed. A lot of the things weren’t addressed properly. It feels like they’re reading lines straight from the script just for the sake of acting it out.” This user illustrates one public opinion that the season has been slightly weaker in dialogue and not as beefy compared to previous seasons.
It is evident that there is a division of opinion. Stranger Things premiered in 2016, unsure of if it would be a hit. However, it reached success instantly. Fast forward to now, 2025, it has been almost 10 years since the beginning. Many fans have grown up with the show, causing a crossover with nostalgia versus growing up. Many people wish the show was still aimed towards kids finding the truth in a small town, where now it has become adults who lack innocence, finishing the job. Nostalgia has influenced viewers’ opinions because they want actors to continue playing a role the same way that they did when they were 13 years, which has significantly distorted realistic expectations.
Ultimately, viewers are still going to watch the show, despite complaints. It is also true that superfans like Olivia Locke will be loving every second of each episode. Everybody should watch the season and form an opinion when it closes, as they may just change their minds. Happy watching!
