Spoilers Stranger Things - Season 5

[eschaton]

Been thinking about my disapointment with Stranger Things. I've come to the realization that although general audiences think they want "everything explained" they never really do. I can't think of a single series that closed well without leaving unanswered questions.

It's kind of like how if someone could come down on high and give you the answers to all of the existential questions of life - even give you good answers (i.e., there is meaning/purpose, there's an afterlife and it's awesome, etc.) you'd still feel a vague sense of disappointment. Because ultimately it's more about the human desire to know the unknowable, rather than actually be handed the answer.

Basically, don't give the audience what they say they want. They're better off continuing to be hungry. Because they'll think about the unanswered questions and come up with their own headcanon which will make them much happier than whatever you can possibly throw at them.

 

[Kor]

I'll be honest, in some ways watching the fifth season (and the fourth) almost felt like a chore due to the release model, the excessive length of the episodes and my desire not to be spoiled.

Having said that, despite going into S5 with a "Well I suppose I'd better watch it" attitude I really enjoyed it. Not sure the episodes needed to be as long as they were, especially the last episode, though I did enjoy the goodbyes to all the characters.

Am I likely to ever revisit the show? Not sure, I suspect not, did I enjoy it overall, yes I did.

Personally, I'm more likely to just revisit seasons 1 and 2 since they're the only ones that got physical media releases.

Kor

 

[JD]

Jennifer Marshall, the actress who played Max's mom is frustrated that she wasn't in season 5, since it would have meant she could get that her union health insurance to help with her cancer treatments. She has also pointed out that it is a little odd that we never saw her with Max in the hospital or at her graduation. I have to admit, I had forgotten that she even existed, so I didn't really think about her not being around in Season 5.
https://ew.com/stranger-things-jenn...eturn-health-insurance-cancer-battle-11880651

 

[JirinPanthosa]

So I'm behind, I just now watched episode 1.

The biggest thing I have to note is, in season 1 they were kids getting caught up in something over their heads. In this season they're not kids, they're commandos and even the adults don't make the distinction. No kids or adults anymore, just soldiers.

 

[oktay]

Stranger Things creators shut down the idea of a sequel series, saying it would be 'a gross cash grab'

Could we ever get a Stranger Things sequel series? The Duffers have officially weighed in on it. The series finale of Stranger Things, a feature-length episode

winteriscoming.net

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

instead of this bloated Marvel thing it had turned into. The non stop CGI was making me think back to the terrible Ant Man Quantaummania movie.

Good point: it did feel bloated, suffering from that "Biggest EVeerrrr!!!" MCU vibe, and that's used so often that its underwhelming.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Another wonderful behind-the-scenes video on the finale, this time focused more on the epilogue and everyone's farewells:

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I was particularly touched by Cara Buono's and especially Winona Ryder's tearful reactions to watching these kids grow up on this show. Ryder's words about them growing up "normally" really touched me and I've rarely seen her get so emotional.

Jennifer Marshall, the actress who played Max's mom is frustrated that she wasn't in season 5, since it would have meant she could get that her union health insurance to help with her cancer treatments. She has also pointed out that it is a little odd that we never saw her with Max in the hospital or at her graduation. I have to admit, I had forgotten that she even existed, so I didn't really think about her not being around in Season 5.
https://ew.com/stranger-things-jenn...eturn-health-insurance-cancer-battle-11880651

That is a bit disappointing and, while I see her criticism about Susan's absence (especially in regards to Max's time in the hospital), we have to also acknowledge her character never really played much of a role in the show in the first place, much like Dustin's mom and Lucas and Erica's parents, all of whom were absent until the graduation...and yet it is also weird Susan was absent there, too.

Stranger Things creators shut down the idea of a sequel series, saying it would be 'a gross cash grab'

Could we ever get a Stranger Things sequel series? The Duffers have officially weighed in on it. The series finale of Stranger Things, a feature-length episode

winteriscoming.net

Good. I love this show, undoubtedly more than most people here, but I don't want a sequel series. Closing the series on that basement D&D session was the perfect ending for these characters and I don't need anymore. Their story is over.

Do I want to see more of the Upside Down? Absolutely and we're going to get that from both the animated series and the spin-off. But I don't need more of the Hawkins characters.

 

[Jayson1]

Been thinking about my disapointment with Stranger Things. I've come to the realization that although general audiences think they want "everything explained" they never really do. I can't think of a single series that closed well without leaving unanswered questions.

It's kind of like how if someone could come down on high and give you the answers to all of the existential questions of life - even give you good answers (i.e., there is meaning/purpose, there's an afterlife and it's awesome, etc.) you'd still feel a vague sense of disappointment. Because ultimately it's more about the human desire to know the unknowable, rather than actually be handed the answer.

Basically, don't give the audience what they say they want. They're better off continuing to be hungry. Because they'll think about the unanswered questions and come up with their own headcanon which will make them much happier than whatever you can possibly throw at them.

I am not even sure what their was to really explain. I mean all you need to know is The Upside Down is this scary spooky dimension. The baddie was some kid experimented on by the government. Ele has her powers because of those experiments. Will Beyers has some from his abduction. Not sure what else we need to know. The rest should just be character oriented stuff, along with some fun action beats from time to time and a few scary moments.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I think I've benefitted from watching each of the series as they came out and haven't rewatched since. A lot of the details are fuzzy enough not to focus on. I think watching them back-to-back now for the first time would probably be a jarring experience.

From what I've read, last night's Raw and Stranger Things collaboration was terrible. No themed ring outfits, no themed matches, no one from the Stranger Things cast, they just made a minor aesthetic change.

I miss the old days when Chucky and Robocop would threaten the wrestlers in promos. Granted that was WCW not WWE but WWE absorbed them so it's all the same in the end.

 

[oktay]

Good. I love this show, undoubtedly more than most people here, but I don't want a sequel series. Closing the series on that basement D&D session was the perfect ending for these characters and I don't need anymore. Their story is over.

Do I want to see more of the Upside Down? Absolutely and we're going to get that from both the animated series and the spin-off. But I don't need more of the Hawkins characters.

Aside from the Stranger Things animated show and their planned live-action show, Netflix will likely make a new TV show or movie based on Eleven without the Duffer brothers in a few years, produced by Millie Bobby Brown, and also an animated show focusing on Holly and her friends. Or, they might do none of that and just make a live-action or animated show featuring all the characters, set after season 5. In any case, the franchise doesn't belong to the Duffer brothers. Even though the Duffer brothers say there won't be a sequel, Netflix will definitely continue the story.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Netflix will likely make a new TV show or movie based on Eleven without the Duffer brothers in a few years, produced by Millie Bobby Brown,

I think Duffers own part of the show, so I'd think they have a say in it's future. I suppose Brown might be a future producer, but she seems more interested in setting herself apart from ST with unrelated projects

 

[oktay]

I think Duffers own part of the show, so I'd think they have a say in it's future. I suppose Brown might be a future producer, but she seems more interested in setting herself apart from ST with unrelated projects

Millie Bobby Brown, in a recent podcast appearance, stated that there's much more that could be done with Eleven. Considering current Hollywood trends, we shouldn't take the Duffer brothers' and the actors' reluctance too seriously. A new 'Buffy' series is a possibility years from now. And these kinds of things depend on money and vision. Even if the Duffer brothers don't want a live-action version, after season 5 they could make an animated series or films appealing to both adults and children with a narrative style similar to K-pop Demon Hunters and similar animations.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

The new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series is coming 23 years after the original series concluded. Of course, there are other examples of revivals, both good and bad, and most of those happened many years and the good revivals benefited from that long period of time.

Yes, there's potential for more for Eleven (assuming she's even alive) but that potential is best saved for a much later date.

Regardless, I maintain the show is much better off with its conclusion intact (and the Duffer brothers clearly agree) and I much prefer the ambiguity of Eleven's survival, left open to interpretation.

 

[JD]

Aside from the Stranger Things animated show and their planned live-action show, Netflix will likely make a new TV show or movie based on Eleven without the Duffer brothers in a few years, produced by Millie Bobby Brown, and also an animated show focusing on Holly and her friends. Or, they might do none of that and just make a live-action or animated show featuring all the characters, set after season 5. In any case, the franchise doesn't belong to the Duffer brothers. Even though the Duffer brothers say there won't be a sequel, Netflix will definitely continue the story.

I think Duffers own part of the show, so I'd think they have a say in it's future. I suppose Brown might be a future producer, but she seems more interested in setting herself apart from ST with unrelated projects

Yeah, depending exactly who owns what, and what kind of contracts they signed, there is a pretty good chance that Netflix might not be allowed to do anything Stranger Things related without the Duffers involvement. The fact that they seemed to be pretty definitive when they said there won't be a sequel series, makes me think they have at least some kind of control over it.

 

[Jayson1]

I would rather see a show about Steve and Dustin on one of their adventures. Or a show about Mr Clarke becoming what amounts to a nerdy vampire.

 

[Firebird]

Personally, I'm more likely to just revisit seasons 1 and 2 since they're the only ones that got physical media releases.

Kor

I think the Duffers have said that a physical release of the rest of the seasons would be coming once the series was over. My preference would be for individual releases of seasons 3 through 5 so I don't have to repurchase the first two again. Plus, if they keep the same VHS aesthetic, they'll look much nicer on the shelf that way instead of a big box.

 

[Mage]

Three episodes into the final season. It's still a good show, but....
As has been stated, it might have at its best during season 1. Seeing these kids using military grade tactics is.... out there. It requires the mind to just accept it. I mean, sure, it's show dealing with monsters from an parallel dimension to ours and stuff. But still.

I feel I sound too negative. I really am having fun with it. I also pause an episode for 30 minutes to do other stuff. To me, kinda says something.

 

[theenglish]

Three episodes into the final season. It's still a good show, but....
As has been stated, it might have at its best during season 1. Seeing these kids using military grade tactics is.... out there. It requires the mind to just accept it. I mean, sure, it's show dealing with monsters from an parallel dimension to ours and stuff. But still.

I feel I sound too negative. I really am having fun with it. I also pause an episode for 30 minutes to do other stuff. To me, kinda says something.

Season 1 was unique and different. Nice call back to the eighties. On my rewatch, I discovered that I really enjoyed the first three seasons, with the third season being my favorite as I feel that that is where they characters were most well defined. Season 4 was all over the place with several characters not really having any purpose. After time and consideration, I now feel that Season 5 has some moments, but I did expect a lot more from it.

 

[Michael]

My wife and I just finally finished watching the last episodes tonight, binging the season over the last few days. And I have to say, we loved it! I had heard about the mixed to negative reactions the finale was getting online and was watching the entire season waiting for when it would finally be going bad, but what do you know, it just never did. We thought the last episode was basically pitch perfect, hit all the right notes, emotionally and in term of giving every character a satisfying send-off. There’s a lot of beauty in the way the exact fate of Eleven is left up to the viewer to decided (or rather, believe in).

I haven’t gone through the thread yet, getting a feel for what people didn’t like about it. And although I’m sure there’s lots of plot holes and not everything from the extensive body of lore and minutia has been answered to everyone’s full satisfaction, overall I felt the story held up really nicely. I was very underwhelmed by season 4, but this season for some reason really worked for me.

My favorite aspect of season has to be Will’s coming-out story, which was beautifully and believably told. But I also liked how the whole logic of the kids and Max being able to walk through Henry’s memories worked and was wondering if the writers perhaps let themselves be inspired by “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. The one thing that was maybe a bit off is how Kali’s story was handled. And the fact that it seems like the writers basically forgot about all those (presumably innocent) pregnant women lying in that military camp in the Upside Down. And the fact that now we probably will never learn why Barb had to die back in season one.

But other than that I was positively surprised how good this was. Will try to watch the documentary in the coming days.

 

[Nerys Myk]