Stranger Things Season 5 (Final Season) Review by Ryan Balkwill

Premise:  After the events of the fourth season, in the fall of 1987, the group seeks to find and kill Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) following the opening of rifts throughout Hawkins. Their mission becomes more complicated when the military, now under the command of Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton), establishes a quarantine in town and begins hunting Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). As the anniversary of Will Byers‘ (Noah Schnapp) disappearance approaches, the group must unite for a final battle against a new deadly threat.

Part 1:

Part 1 of Season 5 was Good (Spoiler Alert).

Pros: I’m glad it doesn’t waste anytime getting to the matter of the drama involving Vecna and the upside down. It feels good seeing everyone back on my screen. I like a lot of how they used the camera angels through 4 episodes. It’s intrigued how using Holly Wheeler to get in Vecna / Henry’s memory. Every bit of intensity & drama felt really intensified when everything hits the fan & What they did with Will was insane.      

Cons: I wasn’t a fan of them using the military involved again. Robin’s behaviour was awkward. Seeing the growing up cast still trying to acted as kids does feel weird to watch at times & it does takes it’s time to get there. 

Part 2:

Part 2 was good.

Pros: It began when part 1 left off and part 2 never stopped hitting the ground. I feel for each character having their emotional payoffs. The jump scares make me affected so far. It tides a lot of loose ends that been left over from past seasons. Vecna continued being terrify and intimidating. I was into all that been going throughout each episode and I surprised of the many of new reveals about the upside down and Hawkings.

It got me hype up for the finale coming New Year Day.   

Cons: The ten children didn’t do that much except for key moments. Linda Hamilton’s Dt. Kay didn’t for me or add contest so far. Some moments did scratch my head & It’s a bastard I had to wait for a few weeks for the finale.     

Part 3:

Part 3 was Amazing.

Pros: I feel the white for this finale was worth it. It succeeds of resolution for lot of the main characters Joyce, Jim, Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve & Robin. This finale did feel intense, heart wrenching & emotional. Holly mange to get the other kids safe. Everything in this finale did felt closure to the all series and their final conversation with Vecna was epic.    

Cons: Linda Hamilton’s Dt. Kay didn’t have any lines. There were plenty of anticipated deaths that didn’t happen or didn’t need too. & it does live some unanswered questions.        

Genre: DramaSci-FiHorrorMystery & Thriller

Created by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

Showrunner: Karl Gajdusek, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Linda Hamilton, Cara Buono, Jamie Campbell Bower & Nell Fisher.

Music by Michael Stein, Kyle Dixon

Executive producers: Karl Gajdusek, Brian Wright, Cindy Holland, Matt Thunell, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, The Duffer Brothers, Iain Paterson, Curtis Gwinn

Cinematography: Tim Ives, Tod Campbell, Lachlan Milne, David Franco, Ricardo Diaz, Caleb Heymann, Brett Jutkiewicz

Editors: Dean Zimmerman, Kevin D. Ross, Nat Fuller, Katheryn Naranjo, Casey Cichocki

Production companies: 21 Laps Entertainment, Upside Down Pictures (season 5)

Network: Netflix

Casts & Characters:

Main

Also starring

Recurring

Guest

  • Clayton Royal Johnson as Andy
  • Hunter Romanillos as Chance
  • Carson Minniear as Thomas
  • Gianlucca Gazzo as Glenn
  • Eden Stephens as Debbie Miller
  • Hope Hynes Love as Mrs. Harris
  • Chantell D. Christopher as Doris
  • Caroline Elle Abrams as Tina Turnbow
  • Kelly Collins Lintz as Mrs. Turnbow
  • Gray Hawks as Ken Turnbow
  • Kyle Riggs as Private Chapman
  • Birdie Borria as Rebecca
  • Aiden Armstrong as Danny Harrington

I highly recommend watching this season from the beginning to the end, right now when they are now all together on Netflix.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars

Ryan Balkwill:

Resident TV reviewer,

Level Best Art Cafe

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