Stranger Things has returned for its final season, and early reviews show a strong but slightly weaker response compared to previous years.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, Season 5, Volume 1 holds an 84% Certified Fresh rating from 45 critics. While this score is positive overall, it is the lowest rating in the franchise’s history.
The show’s past seasons all performed higher:
- Season 1 — 97%
- Season 2 — 94%
- Season 3 — 89%
- Season 4 — 89%
The new score suggests a small decline, though this may change as more reviews come in.
What Critics Are Saying
Some reviewers describe the new episodes as “joyless”, “grim”, or showing little growth for certain long-running characters. Others argue that the show’s tone feels heavier than before.
However, many critics praise the large-scale production, strong performances, and the way the story builds toward the finale. Reviewers also note that the cast finally shares more scenes together after several seasons of split storylines.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Additional episodes will complete the story later this year.
