Stranger Things Season 5 Finale: A Showcase of Hawkins’ Highs and Lows
Be warned: this article contains full spoilers for the Stranger Things series finale, ‘The Rightside Up.’
Finales carry a heavy burden. A series can have multiple standout seasons and episodes that are hailed as some of the best ever, but if the ending misses the mark, fans will debate it endlessly. Whether it’s a baffling choice about who claims the Iron Throne or the infamous “they were dead the whole time” twist, a poorly executed finale can tarnish a show’s legacy.
Release date: December 31
Available on: Netflix
Showrunners: Matt and Ross Duffer
Episodes reviewed: 1 of 1
So, how does Stranger Things fare? With a final season that has already sparked division among fans and a narrative that crammed years of character growth into a decade of real time, expectations were sky-high. Theories about hidden episodes and missing footage ran rampant online, making it clear that “The Rightside Up” had a tough job ahead. Ultimately, the over two-hour episode tries to hit every note possible, showcasing both the highs and lows of Hawkins.
The first hour of the finale is a chaotic mix that feels more like a serious action flick than the beloved coming-of-age story we started with. At one point, the group finds themselves in space on another planet after navigating the Upside Down, which turns out to be a dimensional wormhole to a place called The Abyss. Their best quip? A nod to Neil Armstrong.
While it’s understandable that characters need to evolve, seeing Mike (Finn Wolfhard), who has never been in the Upside Down, react so casually to the bizarre situation highlights how far we’ve strayed from the series’ roots.
To summarize the plot: the gang ventures into the Upside Down and The Abyss to stop Vecna/Henry Creel (Jamie Campbell Bower) from merging his realm with Earth, which would turn it into a Demogorgon playground. They succeed, defeat Vecna, and destroy the Upside Down, but not without a potential sacrifice from Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven. The last 40 minutes serve as a wrap-up, revealing the fates of the characters 18 months later.
The structure of the finale feels like a buildup that never quite lands, followed by a slow return to normalcy. There are certainly highlights in the first hour; Bower delivers a compelling performance as a villain, especially as we learn more about Henry’s backstory and his lack of control over his fate, echoing themes from classic tales.
Watching him stalk a group of kids, with Holly (Nell Fisher), the youngest Wheeler, stepping up to fight back, brings back the essence of the original kids-versus-monsters dynamic that the finale otherwise lacks. Additionally, a journey through Eleven’s mind and then Henry’s features some striking visuals, from the iconic dark, wet space to a scene set in a nightmarish play from Henry’s high school days.
However, the climactic battle takes place in an uncanny valley that feels reminiscent of 1960s Star Trek, albeit with modern digital effects. A showdown with a massive kaiju Mind Flayer lacks the terror it should evoke, recycling plot points from earlier, stronger seasons. Despite the characters’ growth—Nancy suddenly channeling a mix of Ripley and Rambo—it strains credulity that they could stand against a towering spider monster.
The final confrontation between Eleven and Vecna mostly consists of them tossing each other around a sandy cave, lacking the emotional weight of a similar battle in Season 4 that unfolded during a Hawkins Middle School dance.
And let’s not even get started on Vecna’s gruesome demise. Earlier, Hopper (David Harbour) delivers a heartfelt speech to Eleven about breaking the cycle of violence, which seems to contradict Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) brutally dispatching Vecna with an axe. It’s meant to be cathartic, juxtaposed with scenes of his past misdeeds, but instead, it feels sadistic.
Adding to the frustration is Eleven’s seemingly unnecessary “death,” a classic finale trope that feels cheap, especially if it’s undone by the end of the episode. If she’s alive, why not return to her friends? This echoes a similar plot point from Season 2.
The subplot involving the U.S. government’s attempts to create more psychic super-soldiers, while a recurring theme, feels like a letdown after the kaiju fight, especially with the villain Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) whose motivations seem lackluster.
This reflects the less favorable aspects of a show that started as an homage to ‘80s action flicks but has now fully embraced that style. However, the final 40 minutes shine as the best of Stranger Things. The tone shifts as the show remembers that we love these characters and that allowing them to be human is what makes it enjoyable.
The emotional depth that the first half lacks finds its way into the second half, with moments of humor, heartfelt conversations, and a charming proposal scene between Hopper and Joyce during their long-awaited meal at Enzo’s.
Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) delivers a memorable graduation speech, culminating in the reveal of a “Hellfire Lives” shirt—a more fitting tribute to Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) than the earlier, more violent moments. A rooftop scene with the older “kids” is endearing and begs for a spinoff. The finale wraps up with the characters playing D&D, bringing the story full circle in a satisfying emotional way.
In conclusion, the note that Stranger Things leaves us on is gratifying, showing that these kids have evolved—not drastically, but enough to suggest they can grow into happy, healthy adults despite their experiences.
“The Rightside Up” may or may not be viewed favorably in the long run—only time will tell, and discussions about Eleven’s fate will continue. Yet, the finale also showcases the best of Hawkins, even if it starts with some of the worst. It may not be a perfect roll, but when Dustin champions “Chaotic Good” in his graduation speech, it encapsulates what made this show resonate. Particularly in this final episode, it was indeed chaotic, but at times, it was also very, very good.
