The rating of the fifth season of Stranger Things has sharply declined

Fans Criticize the Second Half of Stranger Things’ Final Season

Following the launch of the second part of the fifth and concluding season of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things, audience ratings have significantly dropped. While earlier seasons enjoyed predominantly positive feedback, the latest episodes have sparked a wave of criticism, clearly reflected in the declining scores across major review platforms.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the audience rating for Season 5 has fallen to just 66 percent. This marks a sharp contrast to previous seasons, which scored much higher: the first season earned 96 percent, the second 90 percent, the third 86 percent, and the fourth 89 percent. Consequently, the final season now holds the lowest audience rating in the series’ history.

IMDb Ratings Take a Hit

The backlash became especially pronounced after the release of episode seven, titled “The Bridge.” This particular installment garnered a rating of only 5.4 out of 10 on IMDb, making it the lowest-rated episode across all five seasons. Furthermore, within just the first 12 hours post-release, the episode’s score continued to drop by over half a point.

Key Viewer Concerns

Among the most common criticisms, viewers pointed to the plot developments and dramatic choices featured in the season’s latter half. One specific scene that drew negative feedback was the farewell between Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), which many fans felt was tonally inconsistent and disrupted the overall narrative flow.

Another contentious point was the sudden prominence of Holly (Tinsley Price), a previously minor character, whose increased role in major events seemed insufficiently explained and jarring to the storyline.

Fans also expressed disappointment over the sidelining of central characters Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard), who appeared to be pushed into the background during the crucial final chapters of their arcs.

The resolution of Will’s (Noah Schnapp) coming out storyline was met with criticism as well. Many viewers expected a more intimate, heartfelt portrayal, but felt the final scene was overly public and lacked emotional depth.

Additionally, fans were unsettled by the new revelations concerning the Upside Down and its link to another dark dimension, which further complicated the series’ mythology just before the finale.

Looking Ahead

Only one episode remains: the eighth and final installment of Season 5. Early reports indicate this episode will run for approximately two hours. The creators are counting on this finale to wrap up multiple storylines and bring closure to the saga that began in 2016.

The concluding episode of Stranger Things is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on December 31, 2025.