3 Valid Reasons Fans Disliked Stranger Things Season 5

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While the final season of Stranger Things had impressive visuals, many viewers felt it didn’t live up to the quality of previous seasons. A common criticism was that the show tried to pack in too much. Fans had high expectations, especially after a three-year wait, but were immediately disappointed by the altered appearance of Will Byers in the first episode, which pulled them out of the experience.

Despite some strange visual effects, the fifth season of Stranger Things disappointed many longtime fans. A big jump in time from season four left several interesting storylines unresolved. While an animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, is coming soon, it doesn’t seem like it will offer much that’s new. Many viewers were unhappy with the season – did the creators, the Duffer brothers, actually use artificial intelligence to write the script?

5. Stranger Things Season 5 Abandoned Too Many Storylines From Season 4

Image via Netflix

Okay, let me tell you, Season 5 of Stranger Things just didn’t feel like the show I’d come to love. A lot of us fans were really disappointed that so many storylines from Season 4 were just dropped, and characters seemed way too okay after everything that happened. I mean, Hawkins was practically torn apart by what felt like an earthquake, and the town should have been reeling! But it felt like they just brushed over that huge cliffhanger from the end of Season 4. Remember all that ash falling, the dying plants, the Upside Down bleeding into our world? That should have been a major part of Season 5, a constant threat hanging over everything. Instead, it felt like they just used it as set dressing, a background detail. It was a real letdown, honestly.

After nearly dying in Season 4, Max’s recovery became a central question. Season 5 primarily shows Max in a coma, her mind trapped within Vecna’s world. While her body is unconscious, we still see a lot of her as she battles for survival inside Vecna’s mental landscape. Season 5 offers fans another rescue storyline, but this one is unique – it’s a fight for her mind, rather than a physical rescue.

4. No One Except Dustin Mourns Eddie Munson’s Death

Let’s discuss the lasting impact of Eddie Munson. He quickly became a beloved character in Stranger Things Season 4, especially through his strong friendship with Dustin. His death was deeply upsetting for viewers. Many fans hoped the final season would further honor Eddie’s memory – perhaps by showing Dustin coping with his loss, how the town remembered him, or simply through references to his importance in the story.

In Season 5 of Stranger Things, Dustin pays a touching visit to Eddie’s grave, where he shares his feelings of guilt about surviving while Eddie didn’t. While the scene itself is well-done, many fans felt Eddie’s impact on the story should have been greater following his death, given how much they loved his character.

3. Stranger Things Season 5 Was Criticized for Weak and Unconvincing Acting

Some fans felt the acting in Season 5 of Stranger Things wasn’t as strong as in previous seasons. Common complaints included performances that felt forced and unnatural, disrupting the show’s intended ’80s vibe and supernatural atmosphere. The dialogue, particularly in group scenes, was criticized for being out of sync with the serious tone of the story – it didn’t feel authentic.

Across social media and online forums, many viewers have commented that the dialogue in the latest season feels overly descriptive and unnatural. The Stranger Things cast has visibly matured due to the show’s long breaks and time jump, but their lines don’t reflect that growth. Fans believe the writers didn’t adequately consider the actors’ ages when crafting the scripts, resulting in dialogue that feels out of sync with their current maturity.

2. Scenes Like Will Coming Out Are Poorly Written and Feel Like AI Writing

Many viewers suspect the script was partially written by AI, which might explain why some of the dialogue felt stiff and unnatural. The scene where Will came out, in particular, received a lot of criticism – not because of the storyline itself or how LGBTQ+ characters were portrayed, but simply because the acting felt off. The negative reaction was so strong that viewers flooded the episode, “Chapter Seven: The Bridge,” with negative reviews.

1. Stranger Things Season 5’s Ending Left Many Fans Feeling Disappointed and Unfulfilled

Fans of Stranger Things were excited, hoping Netflix would surprise them with an extra episode – a bit like when a band pretends to finish a concert before returning for an encore. Unfortunately, they were disappointed. Instead of a new episode, Netflix released a documentary about how Stranger Things was made.

Fans were deeply disappointed with the ending. After years of investing in the show and its characters, they felt the storylines and relationships weren’t resolved in a satisfying way. This led to numerous online petitions and theories, like “ConformityGate” and “Cutgate.” The widespread belief that Netflix had either withheld parts of the show or that crucial content was missing highlights just how unhappy viewers were with the Stranger Things finale.

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2026-02-01 07:34