After a decade of twists, turns, and otherworldly adventures, Stranger Things is finally coming to an end. As the series reaches its conclusion, students are divided on whether the show truly lived up to the hype surrounding it.
For sophomore Jocelyn Dick, the suspense of the show is what initially drew her in. Her boredom during the 2020 lockdown led her to start watching the series with her parents, and it quickly became a staple of her free time.
Rumors of a secret ninth episode have been circulating, corrupting everyone’s screens and leaving many fans questioning whether the rumors are true or not. Dick remains skeptical, noting that similar rumors in past seasons turned out to be false. Although she loved Stranger Things overall, she admitted that certain scenes, mainly those involving “The Hellfire Club,” made her cringe. Despite this, she rated the show a strong 9.5 out of 10 and had one wish for the finale.
“If I could change one thing, I would make it so Mike and El get their fantasy ending with the three waterfalls,” Dick said.
While Stranger Things has built a massive fanbase over the years, not everyone is convinced it deserves its popularity. Freshman Claire Johnson believes the show is overhyped. She expresses strong disinterest in the series, comparing it to Outer Banks, another show she believes is popular due to its trendiness rather than its actual quality. Johnson recalled watching the first episode with a friend in fourth grade and growing a strong hatred for it. Her opinion highlights how first impressions play a major role in whether viewers give a show a chance.
“I thought it just wasn’t realistic enough to be an option,” Johnson said.
For freshman Keaton Outley, Stranger Things is more than just a popular TV show; it’s a series that has grown with him since he first started watching it with his dad in 2018. Although Outley finds that the show only gets half the hype it deserves, he still has negative opinions on the finale. He said the final battle felt rushed and lacked the build-up he expected after several seasons of anticipation. Even with these criticisms, Outley rated the show a 100 out of 10, and strongly recommends the show to others.
“I feel everyone could connect to it personally in some way,” Outley said.
Sophomore Rylan Roach has been a huge fan of the show from the beginning, often finding comfort in watching the series with her family. One of her favorite aspects of the show was its attention to 1980s details, which she felt remained consistent throughout most of the series. However, these impressions lasted up to the finale when she described it as unfinished and rushed compared to earlier seasons. She felt that many of the details that made the first four seasons memorable were missing in the end. Regardless of her disappointment, Roach still rated the show a 9.5 out of 10, still recommending it to others.
“If you need something like drama, a little bit of horror, and maybe a place that was set back a long time ago, then Stranger Things is the show you need to watch,” Roach said.
