Stranger Things - The Finale

[TinFoilHat]

Good wrap up of a very enjoyable series

I was sceptical at first with the amount of time dedicated to main characters after the story had ended.

Thinking back I can see why it was done. They all worked together for 10 years and it was a bit of love letter for working with each other.

 

[TinFoilHat]

My only gripe with the finale was I would have liked the showdown of Eleven and Vecna to have lasted longer and with less 'slip and slide' moments because the Mind Flayer was up and about.

Think it wrapped most if not everything up but the execution could have been a little better, it was pretty much an hour of wrapping things up when it could have leaned into more time with the tension of the first half.

Shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the absolute pile of shite that was Game of Thrones and the like with their endings/final seasons.

Agree.

I assumed that would be the reason for the length of the episode.

Not wrapped up in 75 minutes with the rest dedicated to life afterwards.

 

[OB1]

Yep, your last line, I loved that too. But I guess I just thought a combination of the actors getting older and the increasing sci-fi weirdness of the story meant it was/would lose a bit of its charm if it kept going on and on … but you’re tempting me, think I will go back and pick up from S3

My daughters introduced me to S1 when they were 14. They loved it because it was a cool adventure featuring kids and I loved it because of the 80’s references and the very obvious influences of the likes of John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. It’s something that we have watched together since S1 so that makes it extra special for me.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

My daughters introduced me to S1 when they were 14. They loved it because it was a cool adventure featuring kids and I loved it because of the 80’s references and the very obvious influences of the likes of John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. It’s something that we have watched together since S1 so that makes it extra special for me.

Same here, my kids, not your daughter's obviously - that would be a matter for the police.

 

[bluetonium]

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

Spoiler: spoiler

"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."]

Spoiler: spoiler

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."]

Spoiler: spoiler

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"]

Spoiler: spoiler

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?"]

Spoiler: spoiler

That nurse character, not sure there as any point in that character? To push Max's wheelchair?"]

Spoiler: spoiler

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."]

Spoiler: spoiler

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!

 

[TinFoilHat]

Spoilers show if you quote poster. So I've edited them out.

All good points.

I'd add:

Spoiler: Questions

What happened to Murray?

Robyn final scenes didn't really work for me. They even dressed her as your stereotypical lesbian. They could have at least had her and her partner dining at Enzo's the same time as Hopper and Joyce.

The cum room scene was longer than the final battle. It was rushed a bit. Probably so they could spend the rest of it giving everyone happy endings apart from Mike.

Dustin and Steve could do an 90's sex comedy road trip spin off

:)