“Friends don’t lie.” So, I’m gonna be completely honest when I say that I loved the final episode of “Stranger Things.” As I sat on the couch listening to the iconic intro for the last time, I knew I was in for a wild ride full of laughter, tears, anger, fear, and, most importantly, closure. The Season 5 finale wrapped up a beloved, iconic five-season franchise.
I was in seventh grade when I started watching “Stranger Things,” the same age as “the party” — Dustin, Lucas, Will, Mike, and Max. And now, I get to graduate with them. I loved it. It may not be everyone’s favorite episode, but it’s impossible for it not to please everyone.
The characters are what make the show what it is, and Season 5 focused on concluding each character’s storyline while wrapping up the complex plot that had been building up for ten years. Some argue that the slaying of the Mind Flayer and Vecna, the main villains, happened too quickly. I disagree. There was a significant buildup in the earlier episodes of the season, so by the time Nancy, Steve, and their crew arrived at Dimension X and faced off the now weakened Mind Flayer, which they already knew how to beat from Season 3, its well-deserved slaughter went by quickly.
Some also argue that Vecna’s death was overly exaggerated. But as I said earlier, this episode was about the characters. As Joyce chops his head, each character is reminded of the pain and hurt Vecna caused. His death provides closure and serves as a reminder that he can’t hurt them anymore.
Speaking of death, El’s demise was one of the most heartbreaking moments. Fans think that El’s last moments in the void should’ve been with Hopper, her adopted father, because of her lack of chemistry with Mike. Yes, it would’ve been sweet, but she chose to spend her last moments with the person who first showed her love and acceptance. Mike was the first and last person El saw after escaping the Hawkins Lab. What makes this moment so special is that Mike and El first met in the rain, and during their last moment, the song “Purple Rain” was playing in the background, reminding audiences of the innocence and purity of their relationship. When you think about it, El represents childhood; you can’t have it forever, but it will always be there.
The last 45 minutes of the show probably caused the most debate between fans. We jump forward in time as “the party” gets ready to graduate. While some argue that Max shouldn’t have graduated and Dustin was too busy saving the world to be valedictorian, I think it’s the perfect way to wrap up their storylines.
On the topic of controversy, the scene with Jonathan, Nancy, Steven, and Robin is definitely not the best work from the Duffer brothers, but it shows the audience that even though everyone goes their own way, they’ll always have a place at home.
And the final scene. The Duffer brothers ended the show as it started. The camera pans to the sprinkler in the front lawn of the Wheeler house, then cuts to “the party” playing
Dungeons & Dragons in the basement. Of course, they win their campaign, but then Mike tells each of their characters’ endings, providing closure for the characters and fans. He ends with the mage’s story of how she escaped and is finally going to have her happy ending in a place with three waterfalls. I love this part because each fan gets to choose El’s fate.
Then, each party member puts their D&D binders away, symbolizing the end of their childhood, but also that they’ll always be “the party.” “Stranger Things” showed me that it’s okay to want to move on even when it’s hard to say goodbye. That’s why I loved the finale. “The party’s” five binders will always be on the shelf, just like how the show’s five seasons will always be on Netflix, just like how no matter where I go in life, I’ll always have a home to come back to.
