Watched it last night with my eldest, a fairly satisfying concussion and the ending is decent, which is probably praise on itself given how many series just fall flat on the finale.
A few things I would pick at though
"The first half of season 5 was lazy writing, in regards to the character lines. It was literally just "sh1t" and shouting out another characters' name after the first episode, until almost the last episode or two where the speeches came thick and fast."]
I suppose those kids are already facing a lifetime of therapy, but I question Joyce's parenting instincts by deciding to behead Vecna in front of a bunch of 9 year olds."]
Henry's fear at going onto the cave was not fully explained, or at least didn't fit well. Here's a guy who's happy to slaughter kids and babies, and he can't step foot after some defenceless kids because he didn't want to see his memory or him bludgeoning a scientist to death with a rock? They should have played much more on that being the moment he lost his innocence or chance of a normal life"]
Where did all the demogorgons, demodogs and flying bird things that killed Eddie go? I thought the upside down was supposed to be full of monsters? Was there even one that made an appearance on the finale? Did I miss something? Did they form a union and go on strike?"]
That nurse character, not sure there as any point in that character? To push Max's wheelchair?"]
They decided to pretty much drop any 80s references on season 5, except for a couple of Prince songs shoved into the finale. That angle made the series very popular, a bit more would have been well received."]
All his hoohaw over gayness and woke this and that.I get why Will had to overcome that fear and Vecna threatened to use it against him, and it's a good one to use emotively and from an 80s angle with the misinformation and fears over aids, but wouldn't it be nice to just have a series that for once that didn't have to put sexualities and love front and centre? I can guarantee you for sure that if I was hanging on for dear life thinking the world was ending, and someone proposed to me or decided to come out, I'd be questioning their timing and asking them to focus"]
Yes, I'm a critical middle aged fart. You should see me talking about something I didn't actually enjoy!
Henry's fear at going onto the cave was not fully explained, or at least didn't fit well. Here's a guy who's happy to slaughter kids and babies, and he can't step foot after some defenceless kids because he didn't want to see his memory or him bludgeoning a scientist to death with a rock? They should have played much more on that being the moment he lost his innocence or chance of a normal life"]
This was kinda covered by Ell's speech to him.
That the Mind Flayer had implanted intense fear in Henry to prevent him remembering the memory of him being taken over
Neither outstanding nor terrible. I think the final showdown had a lot more potential than it offered up. Basically 2-3 seasons of building up these almost undefeatable monsters to have them succumb 4 minutes into a showdown.
