Entertainment
‘Stranger Things’ Reviews Turn Upside Down as Rotten Tomatoes Score Reveals a New Low
Stranger Things is back, and it’s inescapable for most people. Netflix’s biggest smash hit, which is a certainty to be number one across the world, has returned for its final season. But the question is — was it worth the wait? Well, if Rotten Tomatoes is to be believed, then yes, but with a note of caution. At time of writing, the fifth and final season’s first part (yes, we’re doing that again), is sitting at a Certified Fresh 84% from 45 reviews. Now, 84% is a decent score and should satisfy fans regardless, but that also happens to be the lowest score for the franchise by a small margin, and with time going on, that may change. For comparison, here’s how the four previous seasons stacked up. One might say it highlights a law of diminishing returns.
- Stranger Things 1 — 97%
- Stranger Things 2 — 94%
- Stranger Things 3 — 89%
- Stranger Things 4 — 89%
Some criticisms include the show feeling “joyless”, “grim” and characters who feel “stagnant” after so many years, while praise has gone to the scale and performances of the cast.
Is ‘Stranger Things 5’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s own review of the first chunk of episodes rewarded the Duffer Bros’ work with an 8/10 score. Robert Brian Taylor hailed the “patience” shown by the pair in refusing to bow to fan service, while criticizing the lack of action Mike is given — a common complaint from, oh, all the way back to Season 2?
Taylor was also pleased to see that the main cast were all working uniformly as a team this time, having been separated constantly in the past — Russia, anyone? — in a way that makes the show feel like it’s back on safe ground. Taylor summed up:
There are one or two reveals here that likely won’t be universally beloved by the fanbase, but they feel right for the story, all the same. Because of that, these four episodes make a statement that the Duffers are ending their series on their own terms, even while they serve as a culmination of everything that has come before. That’s a good thing, and if Stranger Things can maintain that balance the rest of the way, the back half of the final season should be able to deliver the type of remarkable ending the residents of Hawkins and the viewers watching at home all deserve.
Stranger Things 5 is now streaming on Netflix.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
