REVIEW | End Of Beginning: The Nostalgic Finale Of Stranger Things
Photo Credit: Netflix via Business Insider
Stranger Things, one of the defining science fiction series of the last decade, released its finale on Dec. 31, 2025. Since then, the show has spent seven consecutive weeks on the top 10 most popular charts on Netflix, and received an outpouring of both support and criticism from the public. Some fans believed that the finale was a perfect farewell, while others say it was an utter disappointment, with a rushed, low-stakes plot.
I felt that the storyline was well-connected to the past seasons; the creators even mentioned how they wanted to capture the essence of Season 1 and include that feeling in the new season.
There were also a lot of mini-heart attack moments that nearly made me faint, but that’s just the fun of the show. Those moments made me remember the fear and anticipation I had when Stranger Things first came out as a new Netflix series. There was a lot going on with the finale, and it’s the kind of show that makes you scream at the TV.
Additionally, there were a lot of funny moments that you would never expect, especially with the context of the show.
However, if I had to criticize the new finale, it would be related to the writing and the plot. The writing could have been better in a number of ways.
The creators seemed to add new elements last minute, which ended up rushing the ending. The buildup to the final battle also dragged on for so long, while the actual battle itself was quick and easy.
I also felt that the main characters had too much plot armour, as if they used side characters as human shields. More could have happened to the main characters.
However, the rest of the plot was beautifully and emotionally executed. The end provided closure for the fans, specifically by explaining what will happen next to the characters, seeing as they’re now moving on with their lives.
It made for a sentimental ending, knowing that, even though the characters are separating to their own chapters in life, they’re still going to be connected to each other. The final chapter uses nostalgia and high anticipation to dramatize the elevated stakes of the ending, which I quite enjoyed. Overall, I thought that the finale was heartfelt, nostalgic, funny, and high-stress, with only a few bumps in the writing.
Although the show is finished, it has started a reign of influence on music charts around the world. Joe Keery, the actor for Steve Harrington, wrote a song called “End of Beginning” under the pseudonym Djo, which was dedicated to the show. As of early 2026, his song has spiked globally to the #1 song on the Billboard Music and Spotify charts after the release of the finale, likely due to emotional attachment from fans who simply cannot let the show go.