The final chapter of the hit Netflix saga has begun streaming, but the first four episodes of the split-season finale have sparked a fierce debate online
November 27 2025: The long wait for the final confrontation with the Upside Down is finally over, but the reaction from fans to the premiere of Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 is anything but unanimous. The first part of the show’s fifth and final season—comprising four episodes—started streaming on Netflix on November 26, 2025, and instantly became the talk of the town on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
After a three-year gap since the last season, expectations for the final run were sky-high. However, the initial reviews from netizens reveal a stark division between viewers who feel the show has lost its touch and those who are thrilled by the beginning of the end.
Critics Decry “Corny” Dialogue and Slow Pacing
For a segment of the audience, the much-anticipated return has fallen flat. One netizen, a self-proclaimed “MASSIVE #StrangerThings fan,” expressed major disappointment, directly criticizing the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers.
“I am a MASSIVE #StrangerThings fan, I’ve been watching since the beginning of time, but these Duffer brothers really f***ed this show. It’s corny as hell with these grown a** kids and dialogue #StrangerThings5 (sic).”
Another X user was even more dismissive of the four-episode drop, tweeting:
“So you’re telling me we waited THIS LONG for #StrangerThings5 and this the slop and leftover entrails we are getting?? (sic).”
Thrilled Fans Praise the Mind-Blowing Start
Conversely, many long-time viewers were completely engrossed in the opening chapters, feeling the final season is living up to its blockbuster hype with big set-pieces and emotional character work.
One excited netizen shared their enthusiasm immediately after watching the first half of the volume:
“damn, the end of the second episode blew my mind, f*** what an awesome series #StrangerThings5 (sic).”
Across the board, the show has elicited a strong emotional response, indicating that even in its final outing, Stranger Things remains a major cultural event.
Remaining Release Schedule for the Final Season
The final season of the sci-fi horror series will be released in three parts, stretching the conclusion into the new year, which has itself been a point of discussion among fans.
- Volume 1 (4 Episodes): Streamed on November 26, 2025
- Volume 2: Premieres on December 25, 2025
- The Finale: Will start streaming on the OTT platform on December 31, 2025
The staggered release is intended to build anticipation, keeping the emotional moment of the series’ end—following its 2016 debut—alive through the holiday season. The final curtain will fall on the Duffer Brothers’ creation after a nearly decade-long journey, and it is “surely an emotional moment for the fans… as there won’t be a season 6 of the series.”