Key Highlights
- The first half of Stranger Things’ final season has been released on Netflix.
- Reviews are mixed, with some critics praising the show while others find it past its prime.
- The show’s fifth season currently has an 86% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
- New episodes will continue to be released leading up to the finale in December and early January.
Welcome Back: Stranger Things Returns with Mixed Reviews
The highly anticipated return of Stranger Things, a beloved sci-fi series on Netflix, has left critics divided. The first four episodes of season five have been met with both glowing praise and sharp criticism as the show approaches its climactic conclusion.
Glowing Reviews Abound
Several reviews highlight the rich entertainment value of the new episodes. The Times’s Ed Potton, for instance, gave it a four-star rating, praising the “richly entertaining stuff with proper jeopardy and bags of emotion.” Similarly, Jack Seale from The Guardian described the show as “this luxurious final run” that will have viewers “standing on a chair, yelling with joy.”
Not Everyone Agrees
While some reviews are overwhelmingly positive, others are more critical. According to USA Today’s Kelly Lawler, the show “seesaws between thrilling and annoying.” The Atlantic’s Sophie Gilbert, on the other hand, found most of it “largely joyless and grim.”
The Streaming Service’s Performance
Netflix faced a brief technical issue when releasing the new episodes. The service briefly crashed in the US on Wednesday and early Thursday in the UK but quickly resumed normal operations within five minutes. The company addressed this in an interview with Variety, assuring users that everything was back to normal.
Viewers’ Reactions
Early viewers reacted enthusiastically. Eve Edmunds, a 25-year-old fan, shared her excitement: “I did want to get up earlier but I slept through my first alarm. I didn’t take my eyes off the screen and I’m really glad I made that decision.” The episodes, she said, are “incredible” and “absolutely worth the wait.”
Other fans echoed similar sentiments. Vicky Jessop from The Standard wrote: “It’s classic 80s adventure fare, in the best way: kids outsmarting adults, lashings of humour and a surprising amount of heart.” Laura Martin from BBC Culture also praised the show’s thrilling fourth episode as “Stranger Things at its best.”
Challenges Ahead for the Show
While the first half of season five is off to a strong start, some critics point out that the show may have hit its peak. Sam Adams from Slate noted, “The cast keeps growing up, but the show hasn’t.” He added, “It’s not just Hawkins that feels cut off from the world. It’s Stranger Things itself, a show now sealed in an airless, impenetrable bubble of stagnant characters and snarled lore.”
Experts also raised concerns about character development.
Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter commented, “By declining to enrich its characters as they age, Stranger Things traps itself in arrested development.” Similarly, Michael Walsh from Nerdist declared that season five “leaves you wanting less,” suggesting the show could have benefited from a more streamlined narrative.
The next three episodes will be released on Christmas Day in the US and Boxing Day in the UK. The finale is set for New Year’s Eve in the US and New Year’s Day in the UK, marking the end of an era for many fans who have followed the show since its inception in 2016.
