Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2    Deadline


Stranger Things Closes the Most Successful TV Show of the Decade


BY NAYSA MITTAL

JANUARY 31, 2025, 9:16 AM


With the release of Season 5, Volumes 2 and 3, Stranger Things officially closes the door on one of the most successful television series of the past decade. The final chapters, charged with suspense, plot twists, and character development, aimed to balance emotional resolution with meaningful closure. 

Volume 2 focused on the aftermath of Hawkins’ near-total collapse, shifting the series to full-survival mode. The supernatural is no longer hidden, and the group is forced to deal with the consequences of fighting something that everyone knows about rather than doing it in secret. Rather than relying solely on action, these episodes also examined friendships, unresolved trauma, and silent heroes. Characters like Eleven and Will were given moments that emphasize growth, reinforcing the show's coming-of-age theme, despite the unnatural pressures that this team faces. 

Volume 3 shifted direction toward a conclusion. With only two hours left, the pacing quickened as storylines merged, leading to a final confrontation that drew heavily on past easter eggs. Fans recognized deliberate parallels to Season 1, particularly the ending scene where the group reunites to play D&D one last time. For many viewers, this idea of full-circle storytelling was one of the finale’s best parts. 

“It felt like a true ending. It showed how much the characters changed since the beginning and how they could still be happy after everything that happened,” EBHS Junior Shipra Patil said.

However, the challenge of ending such a meaningful show was what posed the biggest obstacle. With so many storylines to resolve, not everything received equal attention. Many plot holes were left unresolved and certain endings were quite abrupt. Simran Arora, a sophomore at EBHS, said the ending was “very underwhelming. We didn’t know what happened to at least half the characters.” Fan theories have been blowing up about a possible episode 9, leaving the Duffer brothers questioning whether the story was truly finished or if there is more to come.

Despite the criticisms, the values remained prevalent throughout the final volumes. The production created a world that seamlessly blended “real-life” Hawkins with the fictional Upside Down. The soundtrack, a largely important component of the show, enhanced the emotions of the fans watching the final moments. The finale focused on characters, relationships, and emotions, providing a human touch in an unseemingly supernatural show. While some artistic choices made by the Duffer Brothers left viewers unsatisfied, the series ends with its core message intact: friendship and courage always prevail over the unknown. 

Ultimately, Stranger Things Season 5, Volumes 2 and 3 weren’t flawless conclusions, but they signified the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy and characters that made the world of Hawkins unforgettable.