When Stranger Things was first introduced by Netflix in 2016, few could have predicted its future success and impact on pop culture. For nearly a decade, millions around the world grew up alongside Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas in Hawkins, Indiana, watching them transition from wide-eyed children into empowered survivors. It bridges generations of viewers, as its setting in the 1980s creates a nostalgic feel. It’s a show that captivates the viewer, so much so that audiences let it consume their Christmas day, as well as their New Year’s Eve. With the announcement of its final season, a long awaited resolution was finally released, commemorating the end of an era in television history.
The fifth season of Stranger Things picked up a year after the chaos of the prior season. Hawkins is placed under military quarantine, and the government is actively hunting down Eleven, forcing her to hide away. Earlier episodes focus on the characters regrouping and using “Crawls” in order to find and stop Vecna, whose plan to merge the Abyss, a desolate dimension in which creatures like the Mind Flayer and Demogorgons originate, and the real world had yet to be revealed. As the season progresses, Holly Wheeler, who is reintroduced as a pivotal character, disappears, motivating the group to move quicker. They split into smaller crews, each tackling a different piece of Vecna’s plan. New developments and surprises are littered throughout the storyline as well, such as Mr. Whatsits’ identity, the rediscovery of Kali, and the military’s attempts to replicate Dr. Brenner’s original program to weaponize supernatural abilities. Ultimately, the group succeeds in defeating Vecna and the Mind Flayer. Even though they resolved major conflicts, Eleven’s ambiguous fate left a hole in the show’s end, allowing fans to question whether the series finale truly provided closure.
“I thought it was unsatisfying and it left the audience with more questions than answers. Additionally, the final battle was underwhelming and rushed,” said junior Cecile Kulla.
Despite the overwhelming love for Stranger Things as a series, many walked away from the finale feeling disappointed. Common criticism centered on the belief that the Duffer Brothers had gone soft, particularly in their reluctance to kill off any major characters. Another cause of dissatisfaction might have been how quickly the show’s most formidable threats were vanquished. The Mind Flayer, a horrifying monster that had terrorized the show’s characters for nearly six years, and Vecna, the villain responsible for Eddie Munson’s death and Max’s coma, were both defeated in a remarkably short span of time. After building up their significance to the narrative for so long, their downfalls felt rushed and underwhelming.
“Some parts of it definitely felt rushed, like how all the kids beat Vecna and the Mind Flayer way too quickly. It just felt kind of rushed and unrealistic,” said sophomore Yerin Park.
Finally, Eleven’s alleged death felt flimsy as well. Rather than providing catharsis, the mystery of whether or not she is still alive came off as a bit lazy, viewers felt. This lack of a true conclusion, combined with some loose threads in the plot, brought the “Conformity Gate” fan theory to social media.
Supporters of the theory argue that what audiences watched was not the real ending at all, but an illusion created by Vecna designed to give viewers a false sense of victory. Some fans believe that another ninth episode will be released with the actual ending of the show. Evidence includes the character’s postures and hairstyles at the Hawkin’s High Graduation being reminiscent of Henry Creel’s (Vecna), as well as their graduation robes being orange, symbolizing imprisonment as they might still be trapped by Vecna. Fans were further fueled by more subtle details such as the numerous “Whatzit?” board games scattered around the room during the final Dungeons and Dragons session. Lastly, the game Derek had been playing during his introduction, Ghosts ‘N Goblins, gives a clue towards a different conclusion. Ghosts ‘N Goblins is a game where players think they have beaten the final boss, but it’s actually revealed as an illusion, which forces them to play the game on a harder difficulty. These connections helped the “Conformity Gate” theory gain traction and attention, trying to prove a point that some of these “coincidences” might be hints.
On a more positive note, the soundtrack of the final season was absolutely phenomenal. Songs like Diana Ross’s “Upside Down,” Prince’s “Purple Rain,” ABBA’s “Fernando,” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” were not just iconic choices but resonated with the themes portrayed throughout the show. The soundtrack elevated the storytelling, allowing for unforgettable cinematic experiences.
“The way Stranger Things uses nostalgia to bring in audiences of other generations as well as captivates the new viewers is really extremely special. I admired the music used and the style of the show itself and how they sort of helped each other to stand out,” said sophomore Rowan Danow.
Even with its imperfections, Stranger Things remains an achievement in television history, a series that is unmatched in its ability to blend cultures across many decades. The finale may not have delivered the closure fans hoped for, but the deep emotional connection and investment viewers have in the characters cannot be found elsewhere. Leaving Hawkins and the Upside Down behind is bittersweet, but the difficulty of saying goodbye only emphasizes the profound mark the show has left on people to a global extent.