The Stranger Things finale. The last-ever episode of the series. An emotional masterpiece in the eyes of many, while others see it as a failed plot that has fallen short of high expectations. The whole world has awaited expectantly the Duffer Brothers’ release of this final season in its treasured chunks of four episodes on November 2 and three on Christmas Day. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the long-awaited epilogue was delivered. In anticipation of the finale, social media platforms predicted countless plot twists, unexpected deaths, and an ending that would bring all viewers to their knees, while having survived a heart attack paired with heartache. However, as a personal viewer, I am disappointed to declare that this finale only brought me disappointment and an unscratched itch.
A significant portion of this disappointment stems from the final battle against the Mind Flayer. This whole series revolved around the dismantlement of Vecna. In order to do this, the kids were forced to craft a risky plan to bring down the Mind Slayer. Vecna has been strengthening and extending its power through underground tunnels as well as gaining control of humans’ minds, especially children. If Vecna has been dedicating all his time and effort to killing, suffering, and destruction to construct and feed this colossal spider-like being, one would predict that after five seasons, it would be unstoppable, particularly when faced against a group of teenagers. Mind you, these kids have nothing but slings of ammo, guns, and spears, which have proved in early episodes to be deemed useless in the terminating of demogorgons and Vecna himself. Furthermore, when the military was raining down on Vecna with top-grade weapons, bullets simply ricocheted off his protective exterior. This brings into question why they chose to use guns against a being so massively larger and more powerful than Vecna, especially knowing he was already immune to such weapons.
Additionally, Nancy Wheeler lures the massive entity into a valley and begins shooting its mouth. Inexplicably, this is taking a toll on the creature, causing it to throw his head around screeching in pain. This caused great confusion in my already muddled mind as I watched the Mind Flayer affected to this extent by mere bullets. During the battle, Steve and Dustin stab the Mind Flayer’s underbelly with spears and seem to seriously injure it. However, this moment does not line up with earlier plot details and raises the question of why defeating such a powerful creature appears so simple for the kids.
Although the choice of weaponry that the kids ended up using was mostly unaligned with previous plot occurrences, recognition should be given for incorporating the fire and gasoline pairing them with flamethrowers and flare guns. This is because in the early seasons, fire has been revealed to be the demogorgon’s kryptonite; therefore, it would make sense to expect that it would have a major effect.
Ending on a positive note, I enjoyed the overall scene and networking of everyone’s role in the battle. Intentional or not, the writers did a great job highlighting strengths in a way the audience could easily recognize. With Nancy used as the “bait,” her fearlessness was accentuated as she sprinted with the giant beast tailing her. This was not surprising because of the many instances throughout the episodes where her determination was portrayed. As Steve and Dustin attacked from below, screaming, “This is for Eddie!” their everlasting companionship and ongoing support for each other were shown. At the climax of the fight, the Mind Flayer raised its massive talon above Dustin, who remained in shock when Lucas suddenly snatched him out from under. This highlighted Lucas’s selflessness, especially when it comes to the people he loves. Last but definitely not least, Will played a crucial role in the defeat of Vecna as he finally embraced his true self with confidence and independence that he had lacked in the other seasons.
While many of the physical elements used in this scene were questionable, the Duffer Brothers had succeeded in underlining every one of these beloved characters’ elements. Overall, the series proved to be an incredible watch, resonating emotionally with many viewers who felt a meaningful connection to the show and the characters. For this to be the last episode to ever air is a true heartbreak for Stranger Things lovers, but many individuals are certain that the directors have a concealed final finale in their back pocket… I remain hopeful.
