#Happy stranger things finale series

But what’s discouraging about “Stranger Things” in Season 4 isn’t how closely it sticks to its tried-and-true pivot points - though, as a culture, we really have to move past action that culminates in magic people shooting CGI sparks at each other - it’s that the split season and its extended episodes are rendered so clearly unnecessary by what unfolds in the final two entries.

#Happy stranger things finale series

That’s the formula, and it’s gotten the series this far (which is, you know, pretty far). In past seasons, characters are introduced only to be killed off, creating temporary drama while preserving the core cast Eleven’s powers are doubted, but save the day with a little help from her friends the big cast is split up so they can reunite, relationship heart-to-hearts are stacked one on top of the next, and a perceived victory is revealed to be a temporary respite from Hawkins’ foretold doom. One issue is we’ve seen these shenanigans before. Owens could be dead (he’s M.I.A.), while Max (Sadie Sink) clinically checks out for a minute or two, but odds are low the Duffer Brothers would write her into a coma only to let her flatline in a hospital bed next season.ĭespite blaring music, endless slow-motion, and everyone getting their hero shot at Vecna - did we really need to see Steve (Joe Keery), Robin (Maya Hawke), and Nancy (Natalia Dyer) blast the bad guy to get that they, too, contributed to his defeat? - the finale moves at a steady clip that still feels flat. You died a hero, rather than live long enough to learn heroes don’t have to die getting eaten by bats.) Technically, Dr. In fact, no one we’ve known for longer than these very, very long episodes dies in the finale. The rest of the “kids” execute their respective plans, and those that don’t randomly deviate from the mission survive for Season 5. (How does the bubblegum phrase “mind fight” end up sounding cooler than it looks?) Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Murray (Brett Gelman) - a surprisingly lethal third-wheel - kill a few monsters in Russia. Eleven and Vecna fight by pointing their hands at each other and thinking really hard. ‘The Crown’ Got Dark in Season 5, but Its Best Scene Was Blueįrom there, the ending plays out with painful predictability.