😡 WARNING: STRANGER THINGS FANS ARE FURIOUS – Season 5 Volume 2 Is A TOTAL BROKEN MESS and the proof is EVERYWHERE!
No real stakes… zero deaths… endless boring monologues while the world ends… plot armor thicker than ever… Will’s coming out dragged out awkwardly… Eleven sidelined and powerless… rushed lore dumps that make NO sense… and that cringe-filled pacing?!
Fans are calling it the biggest letdown since Game of Thrones S8 – review-bombed to hell, audience scores crashing hard! Is this how Netflix ends its biggest show? A complete disaster?
The finale drops TOMORROW on New Year’s Eve… but after this mess, who’s even hyped anymore? Drop a 🤬 if Volume 2 ruined the series for you!
Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2, consisting of episodes 5 through 7 and released on Christmas Day, has sparked intense debate among fans and critics, with many labeling it a “broken mess” due to pacing issues, lack of stakes, and emotional beats that fell flat. As the series heads into its supersized finale on New Year’s Eve, the three-episode drop has led to a sharp decline in audience scores and widespread disappointment online.
Volume 2 picks up immediately after Volume 1’s cliffhanger, delving deeper into Vecna’s plan to merge the Upside Down – revealed as a wormhole to the chaotic Abyss – with the real world using trance-induced children as amplifiers. Key moments include Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) awakening from her coma, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) confronting his sexuality in a group confession, and the party formulating a risky plan involving explosives and psychic infiltration of Vecna’s domain, Camazotz.
While some praised standout performances – particularly Sink and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) in emotional scenes – the volume drew fire for feeling like filler. Critics and fans alike pointed to lengthy exposition dumps, repetitive character monologues, and a lack of meaningful consequences. No major characters died despite high-tension sequences, leading to accusations of “plot armor” shielding the core ensemble.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the season’s audience score plummeted from over 90% after Volume 1 to around 65-77% following Volume 2, marking the lowest in series history. Social media platforms exploded with complaints: users decried “cringe writing,” “boring setups,” and emotional reveals that felt obligatory rather than organic. Will’s coming-out scene, in particular, divided viewers – some called it overwrought and poorly timed amid apocalyptic threats, while others debated its representation.
Reviewers echoed similar sentiments. Publications noted the volume’s reliance on setup for the finale, with one calling it “overstuffed” and dependent on future payoffs. Comparisons to disappointing finales like Game of Thrones Season 8 surfaced frequently, with fans fearing the Duffer Brothers had “fumbled” the landing after years of buildup.
The staggered release strategy – Volume 1 on November 26, Volume 2 on December 25, and the standalone Episode 8 (“The Rightside Up”) on December 31 – amplified frustrations. Many argued the split allowed too much time for scrutiny, turning anticipation into nitpicking. Reddit threads and X posts highlighted issues like sidelined characters (Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, received criticism for reduced agency), convoluted lore additions tying into the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, and pacing that prioritized dialogue circles over action.
Defenders countered that Volume 2 delivered necessary mythology answers and heartfelt closures, preparing for an epic conclusion. Strong moments, such as Dustin and Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) reconciling or Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) supporting Max, earned praise for character depth.
The Duffer Brothers, in interviews, described the season as balancing spectacle with intimacy, promising the 2-hour-8-minute finale would address stakes without gratuitous deaths. Executive producer Shawn Levy emphasized emotional authenticity over shock value.
As the finale approaches – streaming globally on December 31 with theatrical screenings in select U.S. and Canadian cinemas – viewership remains massive, though polarized. Global times include 1 a.m. January 1 in the UK and 6:30 a.m. IST in India.
Whether Volume 2’s perceived flaws doom the season or serve as deliberate setup remains to be seen. For now, Stranger Things – once a unanimous streaming triumph – faces its most divided reception yet, with fans hoping the New Year’s Eve closer restores faith in Hawkins’ final chapter.
