Stranger Things Finale Review: I want to start with something I didn’t expect to care about as much as I did: the runtime. When this final episode clocked in at over two hours, I was ready for something massive.
And to be fair, it is massive. But once the credits rolled, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this episode didn’t need all that time. Not because it was boring, but because the story it tells is actually simpler than the runtime suggests. More on that in a bit.
First, let’s talk about what really works here, because a lot does.
My Rating: 4.5/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Web Show Name | Stranger Things |
| Genre | Sci-Fi, Horror, Supernatural, Drama |
| Created By | The Duffer Brothers |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
| Original Language | English |
| Total Seasons | 5 |
| Total Episodes | 42 |
| First Release Date | July 15, 2016 |
| Final Season Release | 2025 |
| Episode Runtime | 50 minutes – 2 hours (Finale) |
| Production Budget | Approx. $480 Million (Final Season) |
| Status | Completed |
When the World Feels Like It’s Ending, Stranger Things Is at Its Best
If you’ve watched the final episode, you already know this: things go dark. Proper dark. Two worlds are on the verge of colliding, and for the first time in the entire series, it genuinely feels like there’s no safe option left. The villain has reached a level of power that makes every previous threat look like practice.
And the scariest part? By this point in the series, you already understand how impossible it should be to stop him. That sense of doom hangs over almost every scene. And that’s where the episode shines.
The Emotional Payoff Actually Lands
This is the show respecting its own history. The friendships, the family bonds, the sacrifices, everything that started way back in Season 1 finally matters here. The final episode doesn’t rush past those connections. It sits with them. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes painfully.
There were moments where the room just went silent for me. Not because something loud happened, but because the show made you wait. You’re constantly bracing yourself for the worst, thinking, “This is it. This character is gone.” And Stranger Things plays that card again and again.
There are at least three or four moments where you genuinely believe someone won’t make it. Your breathing slows. You prepare yourself. That tension is real, and it works because the show has earned it over five seasons. A couple of scenes hit especially hard, the kind that don’t scream for tears, but sneak up on you instead.
The Villain: Terrifying… Until He Isn’t
For most of the episode, the villain is terrifying. More powerful than ever. Doing things that make you think, “Wait, he couldn’t do that before.” The performances sell it completely. Every actor feels locked in. This honestly might be career-best work for several cast members. No weak links here.
But then we reach the final stretch. And this is where I felt a little let down. Not because the villain is defeated, that part was inevitable, but because how it happens feels too clean. Too simple. For a threat that felt almost unbeatable, the resolution comes together with fewer complications than expected.
I kept thinking about Avengers: Endgame, not in scale, but in struggle. Thanos didn’t go down easily. Everyone paid a price. Here, the villain feels slightly softened at the exact moment he should’ve been at his most dangerous. That’s the biggest missed opportunity of the entire episode.
Production Value: You Can See Every Dollar on Screen
When the characters finally step fully into the other world, there’s a moment, just one specific visual, where you immediately understand where the money went. The scale, the detail, the atmosphere… It’s all there. Reports say around $480 million went into this season, and honestly? It shows.
This doesn’t feel like a TV show stretching its budget. It feels like a cinematic experience that just happens to be episodic. Even earlier episodes this season looked great, but the final episode goes all in.
So, Why Does the Runtime Still Feel Long?
The episode explores a lot, but it doesn’t complicate things as much as it could have. Some ideas are introduced, touched, and resolved faster than expected. That creates a strange imbalance, long runtime, but relatively straightforward resolution.
If the villain had been pushed further… if the ending had demanded more sacrifice… this length would’ve felt justified. As it stands, trimming 15–20 minutes wouldn’t have hurt the story at all.
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Good & Bad In Stranger Things
| What Works | What Holds It Back |
|---|---|
| Powerful emotional payoff from Season 1 bonds | The Villain feels weaker in the final act |
| Constant tension and fake-out death moments | Resolution feels too simple |
| Career-best performances from the cast | Runtime longer than necessary |
| Massive production value and visuals | Missed a chance to fully complicate the ending |
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Ending, Even With Flaws
Despite my complaints, I really liked this episode. More importantly, I respect it. Ending a show like Stranger Things is almost impossible. Expectations are insane. Fans want everything. And while the finale doesn’t take every risk it could have, it delivers something meaningful, emotional, and memorable.
As for the future, I don’t think we’ll see a direct continuation anytime soon. But make no mistake: Stranger Things is now a full-blown franchise. A spin-off or reboot will happen eventually. It’s just too big not to.
The Duffer Brothers’ next supernatural sci-fi project is already on the way, and I’m curious to see what they do without the weight of Hawkins on their shoulders.
Final Rating For Stranger Things
Season Rating: 4.5/5. Yes, the final episode has flaws. Yes, the villain could’ve been stronger. But when you look at the entire five-season journey, the characters, the emotions, the memories, this is a damn good ending.
And honestly? That’s more than most shows ever manage. I’ll take it.
