The second volume of Stranger Things season 5 has brought the nearly ten-year-long Netflix series to an end. Episodes 5 through 8 wrap up the fights across Hawkins, while fans get to say goodbye to their favorite characters who have grown up over the years. Instead of a big, loud finale and final episode, the production focused on character development, emotions, and the consequences of events from the prior seasons.
One of the things I noticed about the second half of season 5 was the change in tone from prior seasons; it was more serious, heavier, and more mature, which makes sense with the time frame and adversity these characters have faced. The constant feeling of danger remained in Volume 2, but it was better balanced, with more scenes filled with grief, fear, and hope. The producers demonstrated an understanding that not every finale has to end in defeat; it can end by showing how the characters handle what comes after.
Character development was one of the strongest pieces in episodes 5 through 8. Eleven’s journey was the most special, developing from a little girl at the beginning of the series who knew nothing about the real world to someone who has been able to embrace her powers and discover her identity. Will Byers also had a similar arc, going from a scared boy who thought he was too different to a fearless force to be reckoned with. His emotional scenes, such as getting powers, help tie the final season back to the first season, with his initial connection with the Upside Down in Season One when he was taken, and a continued sensitivity to Vecna throughout the series. All culminating in his discovery of his powers in the last season.
The rest of the cast, or otherwise known as the “party,” also had meaningful moments. The original friendships that defined Stranger Things still remained at the center of the show, but showed their growth in age and in maturity, with the friends getting into relationships, moving away, and graduating. Whether they were facing battles or just hanging out together, the show always acknowledged how much these characters would stay connected.
Visually, the final episodes are very dark and intense, with an uncertain future. The Upside Down felt more dangerous and unsettling than other seasons. We get to see more sci-fi elements than ever before, like Dimension X, Black Matter, the wormhole, and the Abyss. All of these things, along with the great special effects done by the production team, combined with the amazing acting, made this season feel more emotional and heightened the stakes. Also, the song choice set the mood and helped build tension; the mix of nostalgic and dramatic songs shows the show’s identity, because it blends the 1980s culture with intense and emotional storytelling. The combination of these things shows how the series was able to balance a coming-of-age story and a supernatural thriller.
The finale’s pace felt slower to some viewers, compared to earlier seasons, which relied on more action than emotion. However, this change of pace worked because episodes 5 through 8 take time for storylines to resolve and progress to happen, unlike early seasons when they had a little more freedom to end on cliff hangers and unanswered questions. While still not answering every question in the finale, many viewers were satisfied with the emotional ending. This way, the ending didn’t feel rushed and gave all of the characters a proper ending, whether going off to college, passing away, or moving on with their new lives.
Overall, I think Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, had a successful finale, ranking it at number nine on Netflix’s all-time most popular shows and surpassing 105.7 million views. Staying true to what made the show popular in the first place, the final episodes had friendships, fights, questions, emotions, and a ton of action. As the future of Hawkins comes to an end, the series leaves behind unforgettable memories that viewers like me who have grown up with the show will never forget.