JustUpdateOnline.com – For nearly a decade, Netflix’s Stranger Things has been a gold standard for streaming television, consistently garnering critical acclaim and high viewer ratings. However, the show’s invincible reputation has taken a significant hit with the debut of its fifth and final season, as audiences voice their frustration over recent narrative choices.
The backlash intensified following the Christmas Day release of Season 5, Volume 2. Specifically, the seventh episode, titled "Chapter Seven: The Bridge," has secured the unenviable title of the lowest-rated installment in the show’s history on IMDb. Earning a mere 5.8 out of 10, it fell below the previous record-holder, Season 2’s "The Lost Sister," which holds a 6.0 rating.
This downward trend is also visible on Rotten Tomatoes. The show’s audience score has plummeted to 56%, a stark contrast to the series’ earlier triumphs. For comparison, the first season boasted a near-perfect 96%, while subsequent seasons consistently maintained scores between 86% and 90%.
Many viewers have labeled the new episodes as "forced" and lacking the excitement that defined the show’s earlier years. A major point of contention involves a lengthy monologue by Will Byers (played by Noah Schnapp). While the scene features a long-awaited character revelation, fans felt the timing significantly slowed the story’s momentum just as the confrontation with the villain Vecna was reaching a boiling point.
Professional critics have echoed some of these sentiments. Variety’s lead TV critic, Alison Herman, suggested that the series is struggling to provide meaningful growth for its characters as they age. She noted that the production seems to rely heavily on standard Hollywood sci-fi tropes—such as redeemed bullies and nostalgic 80s soundtracks—rather than fresh storytelling.
Despite the wave of negativity, the series still has one final opportunity to redeem itself. The series finale is scheduled to premiere on December 31, 2025. The stakes are high for creators Matt and Ross Duffer, who are under immense pressure to deliver a satisfying conclusion—a feat that famously eluded other massive hits like Game of Thrones, which also saw a decline in its final hours.
The final episode will see Eleven, Jim Hopper, and the rest of the Hawkins crew engage in their ultimate confrontation with Vecna to save humanity. Whether the show can recover its standing or will end on a divisive note remains the biggest question for the global fanbase.