Things That Went Wrong With Stranger Things

It’s undeniable how popular Stranger Things has become. The show quickly gained a following with its nostalgic, 1980s horror feel, reminiscent of Stephen King. Its success was so significant that it even influenced other media, like the Strangerville game pack for The Sims 4. Since those early seasons, Stranger Things has become a cultural phenomenon, launching the careers of many of its stars.

Okay, so the fifth season marks the end of the show, which is a little bittersweet. It’s been almost ten years since the first season came out, and honestly, you start to see some bumps along the road when a series runs this long – a little drop in quality here, some delays there. I don’t want to just tear the show down, because it’s been popular for a reason, but I think it’s fair to look at how the newer seasons stack up against those amazing early ones. It’s not about saying they’re worse, just pointing out a few things that have changed over time.

This list was written before Stranger Things season 5, part 2.

The Subtle Sense Of Mystery Is Gone

The Big Bad Is Out Of The Bag

The first two seasons of the show really captured a feeling of mystery, with strange events unfolding in Hawkins. This sparked a lot of fan speculation, which was great for the story. After all, horror thrives on unanswered questions and the fear of what you can’t see. Revealing too much about a monster or its powers actually makes it less scary.

Season 5 marks a noticeable change in the show’s style. While we’re familiar with the Upside Down and Vecna, and some mysteries remain, it’s lost some of the playful, intriguing atmosphere of earlier seasons. The show has become more focused on action and horror, which is understandable given where the story is going and the need to resolve plot points, but it’s not quite as captivating as the first two seasons were.

Strange Writing In Later Seasons

The Dialogue Feels Awkward At Times

Recently, people have been discussing the writing quality in certain Netflix series. The term “second screen writing” has emerged, referring to how some shows are written to accommodate viewers who are distracted by their phones or other activities. This often results in characters explicitly stating their intentions – essentially narrating their actions – in a way that feels unnatural and doesn’t resemble realistic dialogue.

It’s not certain if this is true for Stranger Things, but the dialogue in recent seasons sometimes feels unnatural and contrived. Many scenes follow a predictable pattern: characters talk while simultaneously doing something else, seemingly to build character development. Or, characters might state what they’re doing, deliver cheesy lines, or make surprisingly immature jokes, like the awkward “I like Dick” line in season 5. These kinds of moments seem to be happening more frequently as the series progresses.

Actors Being Too Old For Their Roles

An Awkward Reality

When a show features young actors and runs for many years, those actors are bound to mature. Since this show began in the summer of 2016 and spans about three or four years within its storyline, it’s fun to notice how much the actors – and their characters – have grown and changed over time, especially in the later seasons.

This issue is particularly noticeable in season 5, where the actors sometimes feel miscast, making it hard to fully invest in their roles. It’s easy to forget how young the characters are meant to be. While avoiding long delays is important, the show actually was delayed, and for a compelling reason we’ll discuss shortly.

Multiple Delays

From A Pandemic To Writer Strikes

Over its almost ten years on air, Stranger Things has faced several production delays. There was about two years between seasons 2 and 3 because the creators wanted to make season 3 much larger in scope. Also, after the first two seasons, the show’s main actors became very busy with other work, which likely made it harder to coordinate everyone’s schedules.

Those weren’t the biggest challenges for the show, though. Production was significantly impacted by two major events: the COVID-19 pandemic around 2020, and the later SAG-AFTRA strikes. Many other shows and movies also faced delays due to COVID restrictions. In fact, production on the fourth season of Stranger Things was paused for over half of 2020 because of the pandemic alone.

The 2023 writers’ strike, which protested unfair contracts, had a significant impact on streaming services and caused delays for many productions, including the fifth season of this show. These delays can diminish initial excitement, leaving a show reliant on its core fanbase. Personally, after so much time since the first season, I found it harder to recall the finer points of the story.

Inconsistent Character Development

Too Many Out-Of-Character Moments And Rushed Arcs

Over the course of the show, the characters have not only changed how they look, but some have also gone through periods of growth and then fallen back into old patterns. While this is something that happens in real life, it can be disappointing to see characters like Hopper and Eleven undo their progress, like when they argue during their scenes in the Upside Down in the latest season.

However, the quick friendship between Robin and Will felt a little unnatural. While it makes sense that they needed to connect and discuss their identities, it happened too quickly. Several other characters, like Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan, still have unfinished storylines, and with so few episodes remaining, it’s unclear how those stories will get the satisfying conclusions they deserve.

An Ever-Expanding Cast

The Pressure To Deliver For All Characters Is Mounting

As a longtime fan, one thing I’ve noticed with Season 5 is the show’s pattern of introducing new characters to take center stage. We saw it with Max, Billy, Steve, and Robin, and while I love them all, the cast is getting huge. It makes me wonder if the original characters will actually get the satisfying conclusions their stories deserve before it’s all over.

Recently, the show has given Holly, a character who used to have a small role, a much larger one. While this creates a more personal connection for Mike and Nancy, it feels unnecessary, as the story could have progressed without introducing a completely new focus. Now, the narrative also follows Holly’s journey of self-discovery, inspired by Mike, which unfortunately means less time is dedicated to exploring the development of other characters and their relationships.

Tonal And Visual Switch Between Season 2 And Season 3

Things Don’t Look Nearly As Strange As They Used To

When Stranger Things first started, it had a unique, almost independent film feel, reminiscent of classic horror movies. It was endearing, brought back memories, and felt very retro. Now, the show has become much bigger, relying heavily on computer-generated effects and looking more like a typical, large-budget Hollywood movie with its bright, polished visuals.

Okay, let’s talk about the visuals in the latest season. Honestly, the de-aging CGI on Will in the opening scene was…a choice. It felt unnecessary, especially since so much of the show doesn’t take place in the Upside Down. And it’s more than just the effects; the whole show feels…too polished. Remember that gritty, slightly rough-around-the-edges look of the first few seasons? That’s gone. I’m not sure when things started to change, but even comparing seasons 2 and 3, the color palette is dramatically different. It’s lost some of that initial retro charm, and it’s definitely noticeable.

2025-12-19 01:05