The show was an immediate success. Within its first five days, it reached 59.6 million views, making it the third-largest debut in Netflix history. After all episodes were released, viewership climbed to 115 million, and the series quickly became the #1 most-watched show on the platform.
Season five sees the return of many familiar faces, including Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, and Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, among others. New characters are also introduced, such as Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler and Jake Connelly as Derek Turnbow.
The final season was released in three volumes. Volume 1, which included the first four episodes, premiered on November 26, 2025. Nearly a month later, Volume 2 was released on December 25, 2025, featuring three episodes. The third and final volume consisted of a single, extended episode that premiered on December 31, 2025.
In Volume 1, the group sets out to find and kill Vecna, but their mission becomes more complicated when the military places Hawkins under quarantine and begins hunting Eleven. Meanwhile, Steve, Robin, Jonathan, and Nancy work at a radio station, using coded messages to communicate with the rest of the group. The stakes rise when Vecna starts targeting children in Hawkins, including Holly Wheeler, prompting Eleven and Hopper to work together to rescue her.
The third and final volume received heavy criticism for its ending. Many fans felt it was rushed, with some storylines wrapped up too quickly while others were left unresolved. “I was really disappointed by the ending and was expecting more from the series. The ending was supposed to be the best part, but it turned out to be the worst and was really disappointing,” said Mégane.
The disappointment led some fans to invent rumours about a secret episode supposedly to be released on January 7. Many believed this rumoured episode would explore the idea that Vecna could control people’s minds. The speculation spread rapidly on TikTok, fueled by the fact that Stranger Things appeared when users searched for “secret episode” on Netflix. This could also be an algorithmic glitch
However, not all viewers shared this opinion. Some felt the ending provided a satisfying conclusion, especially given the dark, emotional tone the series had established throughout its run.
