Where’s Suzie, Dustin’s girlfriend?

I thought the ending was lovely overall, wrapped up the characters' arcs really well.

Anonymous wrote:Finale spoilers ahead!!
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I think I liked the finale. I have mixed feelings. Not that I wanted a lot of people to die, but for almost everyone to survive was pretty unrealistic (I know, I know, it’s a show about monsters and other dimensions…but still). I think Mike’s theory about El finding a new life was sweet. Whatever helps him move on.

I am seeing people misunderstanding the ending online, though. Just like what happened with Lost with people complaining they were dead the whole time (they weren’t), and with this, people are saying that final book cover showing Stranger Things “a D&D story” (or whatever it said) means the entire thing didn’t happen and was just a campaign with Mike as the storyteller. That is not at all how I took that cover, and I really hope the Duffer brothers clear that up.

I didn't take the cover that way at all. I'm surprised anyone would.

I liked the finale. Endings are hard. You need to tell a good story, wrap major plot points up, and leave on a satisfying note. Ideally you don't want things to be overly predictable, but you also don't want a jarring twist that renders much of the earlier story moot. I think the finale, and season 5 overall, hit in the right places.

My only criticism would be the they never really used Dr. Kay, either in the finale or the season in general. The character and plot elements made sense. They needed a way to end El's arc, and this was a pretty good way to do it. I liked how they brought Kali back with it, but other everything else with Dr. Kay felt like they were just going through the motions.

Still, I think I'd rank this ending (not just the finale, but season 5 overall) as one of the best I've seen for a show like this.

Finale spoilers ahead!!
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I think I liked the finale. I have mixed feelings. Not that I wanted a lot of people to die, but for almost everyone to survive was pretty unrealistic (I know, I know, it’s a show about monsters and other dimensions…but still). I think Mike’s theory about El finding a new life was sweet. Whatever helps him move on.

I am seeing people misunderstanding the ending online, though. Just like what happened with Lost with people complaining they were dead the whole time (they weren’t), and with this, people are saying that final book cover showing Stranger Things “a D&D story” (or whatever it said) means the entire thing didn’t happen and was just a campaign with Mike as the storyteller. That is not at all how I took that cover, and I really hope the Duffer brothers clear that up.

The Lord of the Rings wrapped up faster than this.

Hopper is completely useless. The only characters worth rooting for at this point are Winona Ryder and Nancy.

So half of them are on another planet and the other half are inside El's mind. Too weird. Maybe I didn't watch the earlier episodes enough times but they lost me. Plus too much Botox on El and the guys who were cute kids grew up into not cute 20 somethings.

Anonymous wrote:We really liked 5 & 6 but 7 was a letdown for us. Will's big speech felt forced and flat and why would you tell everyone? Just tell your mom and brother and maybe the other 3 boys. Murray and Kali? No.

Will was clear that Vecna (kind of like Pennywise) uses his fears against him. His biggest fear is that his family and friends will not accept the true him. By telling them, he is free of Vecna in this way and can fight him.

Anonymous wrote:We really liked 5 & 6 but 7 was a letdown for us. Will's big speech felt forced and flat and why would you tell everyone? Just tell your mom and brother and maybe the other 3 boys. Murray and Kali? No.

His family and friends already knew, but the reactions weren't true to the time.

We really liked 5 & 6 but 7 was a letdown for us. Will's big speech felt forced and flat and why would you tell everyone? Just tell your mom and brother and maybe the other 3 boys. Murray and Kali? No.

Just watched the first episode of the latest batch. Will being able to “control” Vecna seems a little too pat, almost like Vecna wasn’t expecting it. I’m sure he’ll find a way to counter it. Waiting for all hell to break loose in the next episode.

So Vecna is gay for Will and only Mike can save him?

Just finished the last episode out right now and it was so good. Really great TV tying in so many threads from the past and also serving up a fairly coherent storyline.


SPOILERS









Seeing Will finally come into his own was so gratifying and also really well done. Absolutely loved it.

I agree that El has not been as compelling this season, but MBB is still great in this role. And honestly, El (the character) has kind of had her place in the sun for a few seasons now. There's nothing very exciting about her saving everyone again. I'm psyched that she's met up with 8 for the final battle.

Also impressed with Maya Hawke. She really sells that character. The part where she was talking to Will about feeling so free she looked so much like her mother it was crazy though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The characters aged with the actors, so that made sense, but the actress who played 11 just didn't fit the part anymore, probably they should have recast the role, it was distracting.

I get that the military brass is working against the kids, but Hopper mowing down "grunts" was disturbing. Bad timing so close to the shooting this week. The "good guy" keeps killing off soldiers by the dozen.

Recast one of the main characters? Who happens to be played by one of the biggest stars to come out of the show. Sure, seems smart.

She really didn't look like her younger self, and the costume designer must not like her very much.

El was supposed to be dressed like Brand from Goonies. It really didn't work. She had her shorts pulled up way too high and that crop top sweat shirt was not in style in the 80s or any decade. Steve was supposed to be dressed like Mouth, I'd have never guessed that, but at least he looked OK.

The best seasons of the show were 1 and 3, when they had the best bullies, Steve and Billy, they were better villains than all the monsters and scary government entities. The basketball players this season have no depth. I liked the new episodes but they weren't as good as the previous seasons.