Why People Didn’t Like Season 5 of Stranger Things

By Angeline Cordono

March 18, 2026

Photo by https://variety.com/lists/stranger-things-5-cast-characters/

The amount of time that “Stranger Things” fans waited for in order to watch the 5th season was 3 years. Some might say that’s a good thing or a bad thing: 3 years of fanatics coming up with different scenarios about what the 5th season was going to be about. Some fans were angry with series creators the Duffer Brothers for the long wait, and they were wondering what the long wait was for. What were they doing all 3 years?

Junior James Martinez was one of those fans. He stated, “Waiting all those years for a new is absurd, I don’t even remember everything that happened last season.and I don’t think I’m that excited for what’s next.”

On the other hand, some fans don’t mind waiting such a long time like junior Heather Martinez who stated, “I don’t really care that they’ve been taking so many years to even start making the new season because with all this time they’re taking, they should produce a very enticing season that’s going to keep me on the edge of my seat.”

Reasons why people didn’t like the 5th season

Many fans expressed their disappointment with the 5th season. Many agreed that the Duffer brothers rushed the season rather than the past ones which took their time for the plot to play out. Others believed that it lacked suspense such as sophomore Valentine Cantos, a 15 year old, who stated, “At times it got boring, and it feltlike they were focusing on things that weren’t even mentioned in prior seasons.” Some would also argue that some characters like Will had very cringy lines or some relationships between characters did not evolve.

Comparisons between the 4th season & 5th season

Season 4 of “Stranger Things” was very liked, and some might say it was their favorite season. Many viewers felt that Season 4 gave off a cinematic emotional feel.In contrast, Season 5’s tone was seen by some as less entertaining, feeling at times like an extension of the previous season rather than a fresh narrative with its own identity. Daisy Martinez, 22, said, “I feel like I didn’t really have a connection with any of the characters like with the past season. I believe that they only focused on the new characters rather than the main characters.”

Another comparison point was emotional engagement: Season 4’s intense horror elements, high stakes, and dramatic payoff left many fans excited for what would come next, while some felt Season 5 didn’t escalate tension to the same degree. Additionally, Season 4 carried a sense of building momentum towards the end of the series, something Season 5 struggled to replicate amid its staggered release and mixed reception.

Explanation of why the show is important to others

“Stranger Things” is one of those shows that impacts a lot of people because it’s more than just a scary or entertaining show; it feels real and relatable. Even though it’s a show that’s set in the 1980s, the friendships, crushes, family problems, and feeling like you don’t quite fit in are things people still go through today.

A lot of viewers connect with the characters because they’re just normal kids trying to handle crazy situations together as a family. The show also mixes suspense, humor, and emotional moments, which makes it exciting but also heartfelt for many. For many fans, it’s comforting to watch a group of friends stick by each other no matter what and also to grow with the characters because they watch the show at such a young age and within each season it’s like them and the characters are growing together.

5 facts about “Stranger Things”

The phone number that came out in one of the episodes is a real number that anyone could call and it’s Hawkins police talking on the other side of the line.