Last stramge adventure
Jan. 6th, 2026 06:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowhiveSo I was gonna try and do this yesterday but lost focus (same with comments) oop.
So this is the post about the Stranger Things finale (I had meant to do icons today but alas didn’t have the focus + headache).
So I couldn’t see it on the release night cause it was New Year’s Eve and then New Year’s Day I was watching stuff (and mold went down) so I couldn’t see until Saturday. With vil 1+2 I tried to avoid spoilers (failing sometimes but still) but for this I saw the general vibe that it… wasn’t great.
Personally I didn’t think it was quite as bad as people say but there’s no denying there’s a lot of wasted potential and plotholes. (I feel my assessment is kinda cause of Doctor Who season 2 ending in two character assignations, an infuriating regeneration, two characters people wanting back being wasted and a bunch of other things. That is a terrible finale and this wasn’t at that level)
So!
First off the things I liked, cause there were things I liked.
Henry, he was so scary in this one. Especially when he chases the kids, overpowering his fear to enter the cave and then the mine. The scene of him in the mine, bloody and crying is just so… he loooks so hot. And yeah he was so scary (it’s a shame he didn’t get to do more)
Also on the Vecna side, I loved the scene of him with Hopper where he taunts him, goading him into shooting him… only he’s not there and the bullets hit eleven’s tank instead. That was SO effective, I honestly wished he’d done more of that with the others.
I logged thee shots of them going through Henry’s memories and the stage scene especially was so atmospheric, I just wish that there were more of them. And I loved how the spires of Vecna’s base turned out to be legs.
I loved the tower climb, that Mike and Will had a nice lil scene (but more on them later) and then I squeed at Jonatahn saving Steve. In fact their whole vibe together was so good. I love that Steve admitted he was over Nancy (which makes his bickering with Jonathan funny cause he was just doing it for the love of the game). And speaking of Jonathan I love the thought of him doing a cannibalism film I wanna see it. And I also loved Jonathan with a flamethrower (I wish there were more shots on that)
I was so surprised Joyce was the one to kill Vecna, that was so unexpected but it did feel fitting.
Towards the end I loved that Dustin got to have a speech on the stage and that he channeled Eddie and wore a hellfire tee. That was so sweet, and how proud Steve was of him.
And I did love that Joyce and Hopper got their happy ending, despite it being odd for him to propose on graduation day.
But I did like the last scene was the party having a dnd session (then being swapped out with Holly and Derek doing there’s that was cute)
The end credits with Heroes and all the art of everyone was so cool, I did love that.
And now we get to the things I didn’t like which is a mix of things done badly, plotholes and wasted potential.
A large part of what didn’t work was around the big fight. Someone timed it and it was shorter than Will’s coming out seen last ep, which just felt crazy. It just felt it was over too soon. And not only that it just felt… the mind Flayer was all mysterious and smoky and stuff, so it felt odd that now it was fleshy and vulnerable to conventional weapons. For why??
The whole fight would’ve been much more effective if it also included more of Vecna’s illusions. Imagine him bringing up Eddie to fuck with Dustin and Steve, or conjuring up other things for the others?
And where were the demos? This abyss place was their home and yet there wasn’t a single one around. (It’s even commented on when they enter) so where are they? It’s a shame the series iconic looking monsters don’t appear in finale even once. (It would’ve been much better if the lab was attacked by them instead of the military)
In fact the military was another issue. Because they just felt like an unnecessary threat/obstacle. Maybe it would have worked better if there was a final confrontation with them and Dr Kay but instead they just… leave Hawkins after the Upside Down is destroyed. (And with seemingly no consequences for anyone even though Nancy and Hopper especially kill their men)
And related to that why did Vickie just vanish completely? Her scenes with Max of her worrying were sweet but then when the military came she just… went. And there’s not even any scenes of her and Robin. to the point where it’s ’open To interpretation’ if they’re still together. And I’m sorry that just feels like bad writing. All it would take is a small scene of them together (or a line of them not) but no.
And speaking of a similar issue. Why was Will and Mike built up so much only to (other than the tower scene and final game) come to nothing? Like honestly it felt like it was building up to it, with the way Mike looked at Will (multiple times!) and Will asking Robin how do you know someone likes you. I genuinely thought that avalanche line would come up, with Robin clocking them and saying that to Will so he knows that Mike likes him. But nooo for some reason they couldn’t have them as a thing even though it’s so obvious.
Instead we get a scene of Mike and Eleven who, up until that, felt like they were just friends again. They honestly didn’t feel like a couple at all and they had such negative chemistry it’s crazy. Like that scene of them in the void did make me cringe so hard it was so so bad.
Dustin’s speech was cool, but also had an issue of him mentioning that ‘everyone came together’ which ??? That blatantly didn’t happen that was a whole issue with season 4 and the start of this season with him being beaten so bad he was bleeding. That felt so odd.
And speaking of Maxbeing fully fine and graduating with the others felt so strange. What’s the protocol for someone graduating when they were in hospital like that so missed a year? (And where was her mum?)
And also it really bothers me they kidnapped the turnbows and there wasn’t even a line saying what happened there with them, which has felt so odd to me. (Especially since they got Derek onside, you’d think enduring they’d be safe would be part of that).
(And theres probably a few of other things too)
It is funny too that a lot of people thing that there’s some mystery extra ep out there, that Vecna didn’t lose but win. (Which would make some of the inconsistencies make sense) but it does feel like a wild thing for them to reach for.
I think it hasn’t helped that the creators long bigged up the finale and saying it was planned for awhile (and to pay attention) only for it to be like… that and with so many plotholes at times you could drive Steve’s car through them (rip). It hasn’t helped by post release their standard answers have been to shrug, not know or say things happened off screen which… doesn’t help.
But overall I liked it well enough. I’d have loved it if it was more than it was, like it felt like it would be. But at least I’m not insanely mad about it (see above Doctor Who mention)
So this is the post about the Stranger Things finale (I had meant to do icons today but alas didn’t have the focus + headache).
So I couldn’t see it on the release night cause it was New Year’s Eve and then New Year’s Day I was watching stuff (and mold went down) so I couldn’t see until Saturday. With vil 1+2 I tried to avoid spoilers (failing sometimes but still) but for this I saw the general vibe that it… wasn’t great.
Personally I didn’t think it was quite as bad as people say but there’s no denying there’s a lot of wasted potential and plotholes. (I feel my assessment is kinda cause of Doctor Who season 2 ending in two character assignations, an infuriating regeneration, two characters people wanting back being wasted and a bunch of other things. That is a terrible finale and this wasn’t at that level)
So!
First off the things I liked, cause there were things I liked.
Henry, he was so scary in this one. Especially when he chases the kids, overpowering his fear to enter the cave and then the mine. The scene of him in the mine, bloody and crying is just so… he loooks so hot. And yeah he was so scary (it’s a shame he didn’t get to do more)
Also on the Vecna side, I loved the scene of him with Hopper where he taunts him, goading him into shooting him… only he’s not there and the bullets hit eleven’s tank instead. That was SO effective, I honestly wished he’d done more of that with the others.
I logged thee shots of them going through Henry’s memories and the stage scene especially was so atmospheric, I just wish that there were more of them. And I loved how the spires of Vecna’s base turned out to be legs.
I loved the tower climb, that Mike and Will had a nice lil scene (but more on them later) and then I squeed at Jonatahn saving Steve. In fact their whole vibe together was so good. I love that Steve admitted he was over Nancy (which makes his bickering with Jonathan funny cause he was just doing it for the love of the game). And speaking of Jonathan I love the thought of him doing a cannibalism film I wanna see it. And I also loved Jonathan with a flamethrower (I wish there were more shots on that)
I was so surprised Joyce was the one to kill Vecna, that was so unexpected but it did feel fitting.
Towards the end I loved that Dustin got to have a speech on the stage and that he channeled Eddie and wore a hellfire tee. That was so sweet, and how proud Steve was of him.
And I did love that Joyce and Hopper got their happy ending, despite it being odd for him to propose on graduation day.
But I did like the last scene was the party having a dnd session (then being swapped out with Holly and Derek doing there’s that was cute)
The end credits with Heroes and all the art of everyone was so cool, I did love that.
And now we get to the things I didn’t like which is a mix of things done badly, plotholes and wasted potential.
A large part of what didn’t work was around the big fight. Someone timed it and it was shorter than Will’s coming out seen last ep, which just felt crazy. It just felt it was over too soon. And not only that it just felt… the mind Flayer was all mysterious and smoky and stuff, so it felt odd that now it was fleshy and vulnerable to conventional weapons. For why??
The whole fight would’ve been much more effective if it also included more of Vecna’s illusions. Imagine him bringing up Eddie to fuck with Dustin and Steve, or conjuring up other things for the others?
And where were the demos? This abyss place was their home and yet there wasn’t a single one around. (It’s even commented on when they enter) so where are they? It’s a shame the series iconic looking monsters don’t appear in finale even once. (It would’ve been much better if the lab was attacked by them instead of the military)
In fact the military was another issue. Because they just felt like an unnecessary threat/obstacle. Maybe it would have worked better if there was a final confrontation with them and Dr Kay but instead they just… leave Hawkins after the Upside Down is destroyed. (And with seemingly no consequences for anyone even though Nancy and Hopper especially kill their men)
And related to that why did Vickie just vanish completely? Her scenes with Max of her worrying were sweet but then when the military came she just… went. And there’s not even any scenes of her and Robin. to the point where it’s ’open To interpretation’ if they’re still together. And I’m sorry that just feels like bad writing. All it would take is a small scene of them together (or a line of them not) but no.
And speaking of a similar issue. Why was Will and Mike built up so much only to (other than the tower scene and final game) come to nothing? Like honestly it felt like it was building up to it, with the way Mike looked at Will (multiple times!) and Will asking Robin how do you know someone likes you. I genuinely thought that avalanche line would come up, with Robin clocking them and saying that to Will so he knows that Mike likes him. But nooo for some reason they couldn’t have them as a thing even though it’s so obvious.
Instead we get a scene of Mike and Eleven who, up until that, felt like they were just friends again. They honestly didn’t feel like a couple at all and they had such negative chemistry it’s crazy. Like that scene of them in the void did make me cringe so hard it was so so bad.
Dustin’s speech was cool, but also had an issue of him mentioning that ‘everyone came together’ which ??? That blatantly didn’t happen that was a whole issue with season 4 and the start of this season with him being beaten so bad he was bleeding. That felt so odd.
And speaking of Maxbeing fully fine and graduating with the others felt so strange. What’s the protocol for someone graduating when they were in hospital like that so missed a year? (And where was her mum?)
And also it really bothers me they kidnapped the turnbows and there wasn’t even a line saying what happened there with them, which has felt so odd to me. (Especially since they got Derek onside, you’d think enduring they’d be safe would be part of that).
(And theres probably a few of other things too)
It is funny too that a lot of people thing that there’s some mystery extra ep out there, that Vecna didn’t lose but win. (Which would make some of the inconsistencies make sense) but it does feel like a wild thing for them to reach for.
I think it hasn’t helped that the creators long bigged up the finale and saying it was planned for awhile (and to pay attention) only for it to be like… that and with so many plotholes at times you could drive Steve’s car through them (rip). It hasn’t helped by post release their standard answers have been to shrug, not know or say things happened off screen which… doesn’t help.
But overall I liked it well enough. I’d have loved it if it was more than it was, like it felt like it would be. But at least I’m not insanely mad about it (see above Doctor Who mention)
