**Stranger Things** The season 5 finale, titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up” (Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes), premiered on December 31, 2025 on Netflix and in select theaters, ending the series after nine years. Directed by the Duffer Brothers, it picks up directly from Volume 2, featuring a fierce battle against Vecna and the Mind Flayer.
The first hour is packed with high-stakes action: the group breaks into the Upside Down, and faces off against Vecna in a spectacular visual showdown. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) takes the lead, with Will (Noah Schnapp) helping her by using the hive mind. The scene includes major CGI threats and moments of teamwork, but some critics found it formulaic – relying on explosions and predictable beats rather than fresh horror.
The second half moves towards a heart touching ending. Characters grieve, reminisce, and graduate, with special scenes for Hopper and Eleven, as well as an emotional payoff for Mike. The epilogue (set 18 months later) shows the kids moving on: Eleven survives (perhaps by faking her death with Kali’s help), Hawkins recovers, and the scene of the D&D “passing the torch” to the younger kids is a nod to the show’s roots. Many praised the bittersweet premise, but others felt it dragged on due to the lengthy nostalgia and unresolved threads (e.g., Vecna’s entire backstory).
– Eleven: Sacrifices herself but survives.
– Core Group (Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max): Survive and move forward.
– Vecna/Mind Flayer: Defeat.
– There were no major deaths in the main cast.
It’s a solid, emotional sendoff that gets the character arcs in place but falters in pacing and spectacular visuals. It wasn’t the groundbreaking ending some people were hoping for, but it still captures the heart of the show. **Rating: 3.5/5** – A good hit for the fans, although not perfect.
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